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This content originally appeared at The Paper. (abq.news). Read it here: https://abq.news/2025/06/a-historic-investment-in-the-heart-of-albuquerque/
This year, for the first time in Albuquerque’s history, the City has funded three full-time positions in the Open Space program for the Rio Grande bosque — dedicated staff whose sole responsibility is caring for this special area. As the City Councilors who prioritized this funding in the City’s operating budget, we are proud to see this long-overdue investment take root.
The bosque is not just a scenic corridor; it is the living heart of our city. Stretching more than 16 miles and including over 4,000 acres in the metro area, it is home to countless plant and animal species. For generations, it has offered residents a place for recreation, reflection, and connection to the natural world. Yet, despite its ecological, cultural, and emotional significance, the bosque has lacked consistent, dedicated caregivers — until now.
Since 1997, the Open Space Division (OSD) of the Parks and Recreation Department has managed the bosque within Bernalillo County under an agreement with the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District and New Mexico State Parks. OSD has done great work, and these partners collaborate well together. Along with help from other City departments, volunteers, nonprofit organizations such as the Bosque Ecosystem Monitoring Program (BEMP), and some federal agencies (e.g. Bureau of Reclamation, Army Corps of Engineers, US Fish & Wildlife Service) the bosque gets lots of attention, mostly in the form of project funding. But the City has lacked adequate and consistent staff and funding for this huge responsibility, especially for day-to-day management and restoration efforts. The challenge is now greater to meet the growing challenges of invasive species, wildfire risk, cottonwood senescence, climate stress, water scarcity, and increasing public use. The addition of three full-time technicians is a game-changing step toward managing the bosque the way it deserves: as a vital and irreplaceable part of Albuquerque’s natural infrastructure.
These technicians will be responsible for everything from trail maintenance and habitat restoration to fire prevention, education, and maintaining recreation sites. They will implement the Bosque Action Plan that was developed years ago and recently updated. Most importantly, they will bring consistency and expertise to a space that has too often been treated as an afterthought in City budgeting. Their presence will allow the City to take a proactive, long-term approach to protecting and enhancing the bosque’s health.
This funding decision reflects a broader vision that guided our work on this year’s budget: that investing in the environment is investing in public health, quality of life, and community resilience. The bosque cools our city, filters our air, supports biodiversity, and provides mental and physical health benefits to thousands of residents each year. As climate change continues to pose serious threats to urban ecosystems, we must ensure that our natural resources are maintained and strengthened — not just preserved in name.
We also see this as an opportunity to deepen public engagement with the bosque. These new technicians will be a visible, approachable presence on the ground. Their work can help educate visitors, model responsible use, and foster a sense of shared stewardship that will benefit the bosque for generations to come. Indeed, every child in Albuquerque deserves to experience and learn in the bosque.
We know this is just the beginning. Three dedicated staff make a strong foundation, but they cannot do it alone. Continued investment — both in personnel and in community partnerships — will be essential. We are committed to supporting that ongoing work and ensuring that the bosque receives the resources it needs to thrive.
This was a historic step for Albuquerque. For the first time, we have people whose full-time job is caring for the living forest that defines our landscape and nourishes our spirit. We’re proud to have championed this effort and even prouder to see it become a reality.
Signed, Albuquerque City Councilors Tammy Fiebelkorn, Renée Grout and Joaquín Baca
A Historic Investment in the Heart of Albuquerque is a story from The Paper.. Publishing from New Mexico’s largest city, The Paper is your source for local, independent news, covering politics, arts, culture, and events.