UWC-USA recently received a grant from the New Mexico Energy, Minerals, and Natural Resources Division. In the aftermath of the Calf Canyon/Hermit’s Peak Fire, the school has been seeking state and federal funding to make the campus more resilient and sustainable. The Natural Resources Division has funded “a project primarily for the prevention of forest health issues” on the UWC-USA 220+ acre campus. The application for funds cites an “outbreak of bark beetles that have killed a large portion of trees on the western ridge facing the school.”
The school will receive up to $18,000 to thin trees which will reduce competition for water and combat the bark beetles and dwarf mistletoe that have proven to be destructive to the ponderosa pines that are an important part of the forest ecosystem.
“We are finalizing our forest management plan,” said Bob Nash, senior director of operations and safety, “and will continue to apply for cost-sharing through the Forest Health Initiative program for additional treatments based on the recommendations from this plan.”