BLM New Mexico has new state director

Copyright © 2022 Albuquerque Journal

Melanie Barnes first interacted with the Bureau of Land Administration 18 years in the past as a College of New Mexico graduate pupil researching restoration ecology.

In Could, Barnes stepped into the position of BLM New Mexico state director.

She mentioned “it’s an honor” to handle public land for individuals and wildlife.

“Once I labored on uncommon vegetation, I realized that the primary purpose that species are endangered or uncommon is due to habitat loss,” she mentioned. “I actually needed to get on the opposite aspect of that habitat equation, which is land administration.”

Barnes will oversee 800 staff, 13.5 million acres of public lands and 42 million acres of federal minerals.

The federal company’s New Mexico workplace additionally regulates land in Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas.

Barnes has held varied positions with the BLM in New Mexico since 2007 and has been appearing state director since June.

The company’s four-state area generated $22.5 billion in financial output in 2020 – a lot of it funded by oil and fuel leasing.

The BLM research find out how to defend land and water, and endangered species from power improvement.

In southeast New Mexico’s lesser prairie rooster habitat, the BLM limits when drill rigs can function through the uncommon fowl’s mating season.

Barnes mentioned she’s additionally pleased with the work to spice up renewable power on public lands.

“We’re seeing huge will increase in photo voltaic challenge purposes in our Las Cruces workplace, and wind power purposes in our Roswell workplace,” Barnes mentioned.

State officers need to protect cultural landscapes as outside recreation visits enhance.

The New Mexico company is contemplating adopting an initiative just like Utah’s “Respect and Shield” program.

That marketing campaign trains volunteers to watch archaeological websites.

BLM nationwide director Tracey Stone-Manning mentioned such leaders as Barnes are necessary because the company “proceed(s) to rebuild.”

“Her pure assets and land administration expertise and deep understanding of New Mexico will profit the communities and constituents we serve,” Stone-Manning mentioned in a press release.

The federal company’s headquarters moved from Washington, D.C., to Grand Junction, Colorado, below the earlier administration.

Of the 328 positions moved, solely three BLM staff relocated to Grand Junction.

The present Inside Division mentioned the upheaval led to a “vital lack of institutional reminiscence and expertise.”

The company plans to maintain the Colorado workplace as a Western bureau headquarters, but additionally needs to revive the D.C. nationwide places of work.