New Mexico Ranches for Sale with Excellent Conservation Potential

The Land of Enchantment has such a rich history, full of people from all parts of the world which ended up calling this state home. Many of them were attracted by the stunning landscape and decided to start working the land, which is a tradition which continues today.

Even though vast tracts of land remain untouched in New Mexico, the use of the property has put a strain on the land. For conservation-minded investors, these New Mexico ranches for sale represent excellent long-term investments.

A Brief Introduction to Land Conservation in the US

As the population of the US has increased the need for food and land has gone up exponentially. Converting land into farmable land has had a massive impact on the local ecosystems, resulting in a decrease in the numbers of wild animals roaming these idyllic lands.

The federal government and state governments realized the damage that human encroachment was doing and started many initiatives to protect the land we should have been cherishing instead of hurting it.

At the forefront of these movements were local landowners who decided to dedicate or give up parts of their property to help improve local habitats and encourage growth in big game numbers.

Benefits of Conservation

There are numerous benefits which occur as a result of successful conservation programs:

• Enable existing ecosystems to flourish
• Increase numbers of animal species
• Bring back endangered species from the brink of extinction
• Protect the natural landscape for future generations
• Control or limit the level of development on the land
• Tax benefits for conservation easements such as credits or reduced rates

Conservation in New Mexico

Ensuring that the land of New Mexico remains full of life hard is a major priority for the state government. Numerous initiatives have been put in place to protect the natural landscapes and habitats of the 6000 plus species of wildlife which call the state home.

The state government works in conjunction with landowners to provide sanctuaries for species such as elk, mule deer, pronghorn, black bear, mountain lion, wild turkey, and grouse.

Making sure the water remains clean and the soil fertile helps to support the various ecosystems throughout the state. It also helps the land be more productive, which when combined with ethical farming practices ensures the land will stay that way for years to come.

The current focus of conservation efforts in New Mexico is to restore natural habitats, so they are able to regulate themselves better. Landowners can help in these efforts by designating land for conservation, lease water rights, or rotate their pasture lands.

Properties on The Market

Some of the existing properties on the market already participate in various conservation initiatives, while others have been earmarked for their conservation potential.

For prospective buyers, it is a good idea to look at the surrounding area to see if the ranch land is in or nearby a Wildlife Management Unit or State Controlled Land. Having a precise idea of the lay of the land will highlight flora and fauna in the area and any unique conservation values the property may have.

Two such properties which are currently on the market are the Big Blue Ranch in Angel Fire and Twenty Hatchets Ranch in Springer. Both ranches offer significant long-term conservation and investment potential due to the diverse landscape in and around their borders.