From left, Monica T. Rodriguez, Secretary of the San Joaquin del Rio de Chama Land Grant, Leonard Martinez, President of the San Joaquin del Rio de Chama Land Grant, Shaun Sanchez, Forest Supervisor, Santa Fe National Forest. Courtesy/SFNF
SFNF News:
SANTA FE — The Santa Fe National Forest and the San Joaquín del Río de Chama Land Grant signed a first ever Memorandum of Understanding March 27, to advance both organizations’ goals of improved coordination, communication, and collaboration on land and natural resource management.
“This is truly a momentous occasion,” said Santa Fe National Forest Supervisor Shaun Sanchez. “This memorandum solidifies the land grant’s status as a consulting partner with the Forest Service, allowing the land grant to maintain their connection with the land within the bounds of the laws, regulations, and policies that guide the Forest Service.”
“This agreement is more than just a document; it is a long-awaited acknowledgment of our deep-rooted connection to this land that predates the Forest Service itself,” said Leonard Martinez, San Joaquin del Rio de Chama Land Grant/Merced President. “The core mission of our Merced is guided by nuestras costumbres, patrimonio y cultura. For generations, our families have cared for the mountains, acequias and fields for sustenance, spirituality and survival. By formalizing this partnership, we are ensuring that our heirs can continue to practice our traditional way of life and honor our ancestors while having a meaningful voice in how these sacred resources are managed for the future.”
The purpose of the memorandum of understanding is to document ongoing cooperation and coordination between the San Joaquín Land Grant and the Santa Fe National Forest on current and future projects of mutual interest, as well as on historical and traditional uses. It also establishes a general framework for cooperation in anticipation of costewardship opportunities on former land grant common lands within the Coyote Ranger District and, to a lesser degree, the Cuba Ranger District.
The San Joaquín Land Grant traces its historical acreage to a 1806 grant from the Spanish government. The grant encompassed several thousand acres now within the boundaries of the Santa Fe and Carson National Forests. The land holds historical and cultural significance for current land grant heirs, including visitation to ancestral cemeteries, grazing livestock, and the collection of culturally significant forest products, such as medicinal plants, piñon nuts, and fuelwood.
About the Forest Service
The Forest Service has, for more than 100 years, brought people and communities together to answer the call of conservation. Grounded in world-class science and technology—and rooted in communities—the Forest Service connects people to nature and to each other. The Forest Service cares for shared natural resources in ways that promote lasting economic, ecological, and social vitality. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, provides assistance to state and private landowners, and maintains the largest wildland fire and forestry research organizations in the world. The Forest Service also has either a direct or indirect role in stewardship of about 900 million forested acres within the U.S., of which over 130 million acres are urban forests where most Americans live.