New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson signed SB 186, the Natural Heritage Conservation Act, into law on Monday.  The act allows the state to purchase conservation easements from private property owners to permanently prohibit development and undesired land use.

“Under the Natural Heritage Conservation Act that I signed today, New Mexico for the first time will have a permanent mechanism for funding conservation projects across our state,” said Governor Bill Richardson. “I am also pleased that we were able to secure nearly $5 million for restoration projects and conservation easements, so we will be able to start funding these important initiatives right away.”  

The fund can also be used to restore lands to a natural state after easements are acquired if necessary.  Funds will come from the state,  private donors, and the Federal Government, among other sources, according to Governor Richardson.

Conservation easements have become increasingly popular in states with one eye toward environmental concerns and the other toward tight budgets.  Conservation easements can be used to preserve water quality, keep forests intact, and limit urban sprawl, or for other conservation purposes in the public interest, while not requiring more costly outright purchases of land.  Responsibility for making sure that the land use adheres to the terms of the easement can remain with the private land owner, further keeping the costs to government down.

Conservation easements have been reported to be successful in other states.  In New Mexico's neighbor to the north, Colorado, a recent government report found that the state had gained an economic benefit equal to six times the approximately $500 million it had spent on conservation easements.