2025 Impact Report
Stewards of the Southwest
New Mexico Tribal Forest & Fire Summit
The 2025 New Mexico Tribal Forest & Fire Summit
The summit convened in the homelands of the Mescalero Apache Nation on March 4-6, bringing together Indigenous foresters, natural resource experts, wildland firefighters, emergency response agencies, hydrologists, NGOs, state and federal agencies, and land stewards to highlight the successes, challenges, and opportunities of Indigenous-led conservation in the Southwest.
Statistics:
Over 200 Participants
14 Pueblos/Tribes
16 NGOs
3 Businesses
2 Municipalities/Utility
4 State Institutions
4 Academic Institutions
6 Federal agencies
Highlight Session: New Mexico Tribal Fire & Forestry Working Group Work Sessions
In a world cafe style, participants attended three 30 minute work sessions to share goals, needs, and action items on topics ranging from funding, to tools and technology, to storytelling.
Feedback from these sessions are a part of the working group’s strategic plan to center and support Indigenous-led conservation and land stewardship.
Highlight Session: Tribal Leadership Panel
The Tribal Leadership Panel, featuring President Thora Padilla - Mescalero Apache Tribe, Former Governor Michael Chavarria - Santa Clara Pueblo, 2nd Lieutenant Governor Matthew Gachupin - Pueblo of Jemez, and Former Secretary Dwayne Lefthand - Taos Pueblo, highlighted the importance of maintaining Tribal sovereignty while collaborating with external entities in emergency response and post-fire restoration.
These leaders shared their experiences, expertise, and advice for Tribal leaders and resource managers, and for non-Indigenous agencies to improve their collaborative skills to best support Tribal partners.
Speaker Highlights:
Serra Hoagland, PhD, National Program Lead - Tribal Research; U.S. Forest Service
Reed Robinson, Director of Tribal Relations; U.S. Forest Service
Indigenous Guardians Network - Enhancing First Nation’s Sovereignty
Case Study Presentation: Post-fire Recovery in Mescalero Apache Tribe - Targeted Prevention Approach and Tactical Risk Management
Mescalero Apache Department of Resource Management & Protection (DRMP) shared their expertise on post-fire restoration and wildfire mitigation approaches.
“The summit provides an opportunity to gather and engage with other Tribes that are in the same field to work together and share resources. I find it very important for me and my field crew to network with Tribes and Non-Tribal folks for future collaboration to reheal and protect our landscapes.”
—John Galvan - Jemez Forest Manager
“What ended up bringing me to the summit is my passion for the environment, conservation work and fostering youth stewardship pathways. I see the summit as a space for all of us to brainstorm how to support Indigenous youth conservation corps programs.”—Ty Declay - Southwest Conservation Corps
“Right now I think Tribal Forestry is in the best position it’s been in for a long time. People are recognizing and acknowledging Traditional Knowledge and the role it can play, so I think we are in a good position through the development of Tribal-focused forestry initiatives. The summit allows us to acknowledge and celebrate these successes and plan for more in the future. But I’m also really encouraged that the summit has brought together a lot of young adults so they can understand the need for them to carry on the next generation of success.” Jon Martin (Navajo) - Ecological Restoration Institute
A special thank you to our co-organizers: Mescalero Apache Tribe, Forest Stewards Guild, New Mexico State Forestry
Division, and The Nature Conservancy - New Mexico.
Financial Contributors:
