Who: TAOS LAND TRUST

Mission Statement: Taos Land Trust is a thirty-four-year-old non-profit that empowers people to protect the land and traditions they love through education, advocacy, and conservation.

Business Details: Established in 1988

Darien Fernandez	Executive Director
Sarah Schildknecht	Operations Director
Jim Johnston	Working Land Director/Rio Fernando Park Manager
Nora Wicks	Education Director
Sanjay Poovadan	President, Board of Directors
Joe Wells	Vice-President, Board of Directors
Lynn Aldrich	Treasurer, Board of Directors
Tim Sweeney	Secretary, Board of Directors
Christopher M. Smith	Land Committee Chair
Teresa Pisaño	Board Member
Cameron Martinez	Board Member

Accreditation: Taos Land Trust is an accredited member of the national Land Trust Alliance (LTA) in New Mexico and has formally adopted LTA Standards & Practices.

Vision: A legacy of open, productive, and natural lands for future generations.

Story: Taos Land Trust was founded in 1988 by a group of community volunteers who watched a beautiful tract of open land get sold because the owners could not afford to pay exorbitant inheritance taxes. This group wanted to give local families another alternative. By saving the extraordinary landscape of northern New Mexico, these visionary community members were also helping save the distinctive qualities of our area that make it truly a “Land of Enchantment.” Since then, we have been helping landowners create voluntary conservation easements and using other creative approaches to permanently protect family lands, working with other organizations to buy and protect land for the public and staying involved in long-range land conservation planning at the local, county, and state levels. Overall, we have permanently protected more than 25,000 acres of irrigated farms and ranch lands, wildlife habitat, and beautiful open landscapes throughout northern New Mexico.

Services:  Conservation Easements: Conservation easements are voluntary agreements between a landowner and a qualified organization such as Taos Land Trust to restrict future development of a property. 

 Education Programs: Designed to inspire curiosity, foster hands-on learning, and connect people of all ages to the land we all love. Education programs include the Emerging Ecologist School Program, Community Programs, and Internships.

 Rio Fernando River: This project will revitalize a section of the Rio Fernando River, bring an acequia back to life, and restore the once-productive agricultural lands of this property. 

 Rio Hondo Fishing Park

 Seed Exchange: Taos Land Trust is proud to continue the tradition of the local seed exchange. Seeds are donated by non-gmo seed companies across the country and distributed at the eleven seed box locations throughout Taos County.

 Working Lands Resiliency Initiative: Combines community organizing with research and advocacy to begin venturing solutions and support to protect Taos’ agricultural heritage and landscapes. The project is generously supported by LOR Foundation, Thornburg Foundation, and The Taos Ski Valley Foundation, an affiliate of The Moore Charitable Foundation. 

Ways to Give: There are many ways to support the Taos Land Trust. Donate online at www.taoslandtrust.org; by check: Taos Land Trust, PO Box 376, Taos, NM 87571; by phone (575) 751-3138; Many more ways to donate.

Our work depends on the support of individuals, foundations, and community organizations collaborating together for the benefit of a greater good. We invite you to become a supporter and help us continue to protect the open spaces that create northern New Mexico’s spectacular vistas, the productive agricultural and ranch lands that help sustain us, and the parks and trails that promote healthier minds and bodies by connecting us with nature. 

MEMBERSHIP MATTERS!