SANTA FE CONSERVATION TRUST

LAND PROGRAM - SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 1993, SFCT HAS PROTECTED OVER 45,000 ACRES IN NORTHERN NEW MEXICO, IN RIO ARRIBA, SAN MIGUEL, SANTA FE, AND TAOS COUNTIES, WORKING WITH LANDOWNERS TO CREATE VOLUNTARY LAND PROTECTION AGREEMENTS USING CONSERVATION EASEMENTS, AS WELL AS PURCHASING FEE TITLE LAND WITH HIGH CONSERVATION VALUE. CONSERVATION EASEMENTS ARE LEGAL DOCUMENTS THAT PERMANENTLY PROTECT PRIVATE LAND, ENSURING IT REMAINS PRISTINE AND BEAUTIFUL FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS WHICH BENEFITS THE PUBLIC AT LARGE. SFCT WORKS WITH LANDOWNERS AND THEIR FAMILIES TO PRESERVE THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT FOR POSTERITY AND FUTURE GENERATIONS.

TRAILS PROGRAM - SFCT HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN THE CREATION OF OVER 80 MILES OF TRAILS, INCLUDING: THE DALE BALL TRAILS, ATALAYA TRAIL, SANTA FE RAIL TRAIL, THE SPUR TRAIL, LA TIERRA TRAILS, LA PIEDRA TRAIL AND, ALONG WITH COMMONWEAL CONSERVANCY, THE GALISTEO BASIN PRESERVE TRAILS. SFCT TRAILS PROGRAM WORKS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF SANTA FE AND IT'S VOLUNTEER GROUP, ALONG WITH OTHER ENTITIES, TO COORDINATE TRAIL DEVELOPMENT AND CONSTRUCTION, ORGANIZE VOLUNTEER TRAIL WORK, IDENTIFY AND PRIORITIZE TRAIL LINKAGES, PROMOTE THE TRAILS, AND PROVIDE THE PUBLIC WITH TRAIL INFORMATION AND ACCESS THROUGH EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND EVENTS. SFCT IS ALSO LEADING A PARTNERSHIP SUPPORT FOR THE GRAND UNIFIED SANTA FE TRAIL ORGANIZATION (GUSTO). SFCT IS IN CHARGE OF CONVENING PARTNERS, RESEARCHING AND MAPPING EXISTING TRAILS, IDENTIFYING GAPS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR NEW TRAILS, AND PRIORITIZING AND IMPLEMENTING THE TRAIL CONNECTIONS THAT ARE IDENTIFIED IN THE PLANNING PROCESS. THE VISION OF THE GUSTO INITIATIVE IS AN INTERCONNECTED SYSTEM OF NATURAL-SURFACE TRAILS THAT ALLOWS NON-MOTORIZED USERS TO TRAVEL IN A LOOP AROUND THE GREATER SANTA FE AREA, AS WELL AS BETWEEN THE CITY CENTER AND THE PERIPHERY. THE GUSTO INITIATIVE HAS BROUGHT TOGETHER MANY COMMUNITY PARTNERS WHO AIM TO HAVE A UNIFIED, SUSTAINABLE TRAIL SYSTEM AROUND THE ENTIRE METROPOLITAN AREA.