In Taos County, traditional communities are employing ancient models of natural resource management to improve the health of neighboring forests, protect themselves from dangerous wildfire, and improve their social and economic health.

In 2018, residents of Váldez and San Cristóbal formed the Cerro Negro Forest Council in order to give locals better access to wood products while empowering them to be stewards of their traditional lands.

In partnership with the Carson National Forest, this project has put more than 100 leñeros (woodcutters) to work, harvested more than 400 cords of valuable wood, and improved a fraught relationship between community members and government agencies.

Two similar projects are using a similar approach to encourage residents to make a more active role in forest management. One project on National Forest lands near Las Trampas is being managed by the Rio de Las Trampas Forest Council in partnership with the Forest Stewards Guild. The other project is being managed by the Santa Barbara Land Grant on State Trust Land, with funding and technical support from Taos County.