Volunteers and crews planted some 500 seedlings in burn scars from the largest wildfire in New Mexico history, with more to come; local land grant leads efforts
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Volunteers and crews have planted nearly 500 seedlings in wildfire burn scars from the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire since October, the New Mexico Forestry Division announced on Friday.
San Miguel County’s Los Vigiles Land Grant is overseeing the effort, and plans to plant another 500 seedlings in the ground before winter comes.
Some 300 seedlings were planted by the Rocky Mountain Youth Corps as part of their season capstone project.
The Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire remains the largest in New Mexico history and burned 341,471 acres between April and June 2022 in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of San Miguel, Mora and Taos counties. More than 900 structures were destroyed.
The fires were both the result of U.S. Forest Service projects.
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“The post-fire landscape holds many microsites that will protect young seedlings in their early days,” the Forestry Division said in a statement. “Felled burned trees and their remaining stumps offer an extra bit of shade or wind protection that can give these year-old pines the boost they need to grow.”
“It’s for the next two generations,” said Los Vigiles Land Grant President Eddie Quintana. Pine seedlings take several decades to reach full maturity.
“We’re putting in the work, but we probably won’t see the benefits. That’s for our grandchildren,” he said.
