The Dave Foreman Wilderness Defenders program empowers volunteers to become the essential “eyes and ears” of New Mexico’s vast public lands. With agencies stretched thin, Defenders directly address this gap by hiking in wilderness areas to collect crucial data on wildlife, vegetation, and potential threats. This on-the-ground intelligence is directly used to build the case for stronger wilderness protections, propose maintenance projects, and defend these landscapes from harm.
No prior experience is needed, as training is provided, making it a powerful way for anyone to move beyond advocacy and take tangible action to preserve New Mexico’s wild legacy.