Taos Land Trust

Taos Land Trust is a nonprofit organization that works to conserve land, water, and agricultural heritage in the Taos area of northern New Mexico. The organization protects open space, farmland, and natural resources while supporting the traditional land-based culture and acequia-irrigated agriculture that have long defined the region.

The land trust works to permanently protect land through conservation easements and ownership, safeguarding agricultural lands, wildlife habitat, and scenic open spaces from development. By conserving these lands, the organization helps preserve the rural character, ecological health, and cultural traditions of the Taos region for future generations.

A signature project is the Rio Fernando Park, a property the organization stewards along the Rio Fernando de Taos, where it has undertaken wetland and habitat restoration, agricultural revitalization, and educational programming. The site serves as a living demonstration of the connections between land, water, food, and community, and as a place for public engagement and learning.

Water and acequias hold deep importance in northern New Mexico, where centuries-old community irrigation systems sustain both agriculture and culture. Taos Land Trust supports the protection of water rights and acequia traditions, recognizing that conserving land and water together is essential to maintaining the region's agricultural heritage and food systems.

The organization also offers education and community programs that connect people, especially young people, to the land and to traditional agricultural practices. These efforts help pass on knowledge and foster a sense of stewardship among residents.

Supported by donations, grants, and community partnerships, Taos Land Trust combines land conservation with cultural preservation and education. Its work reflects a holistic vision of conservation that honors the deep ties between the people of northern New Mexico and the land and water that sustain them.