THE MALPAI BORDERLANDS
THE MALPAI BORDERLANDS
The Project
The Malpai Borderlands Project is a community based ecosystem management effort under the leadership of a number of landowners within the planning region, which extends along the Mexican Border from near Douglas Arizona to Antelope Wells, New Mexico and North to New Mexico Highway 9. This 800,000 acre planning area includes about 57% private land, 20% state trust lands, 11% National Forest, and 7% BLM administered land. Included in the Malpai Borderlands effort are a number of partners from the private sector, and all local state and federal land management agencies.
Development of the Concept
A group of neighbors began to meet at Malpai Ranch in the early 90's to discuss mutual concerns about perceived threats to their culture and lifestyle. They were concerned about the future of public land grazing in the West, as well as environmental and economic issues. Viewpoints of a number of prominent environmentalists were sought out. A common desire to protect the open space nature of this landscape quickly became apparent.
One area of general agreement was that the exclusion of wildfire from the borderlands was contributing to a decline in herbaceous plant cover with resulting loss of watershed stability, wildlife habitat, and livestock forage. Thirty five neighbors got together and created the first "Malpai Fire Map", a document which showed their desires concerning fire suppression.
All involved land management agencies were invited to a meeting to review the map and discuss suppression strategies. All agencies agreed that current federal and state policy allows for a "confine/contain" strategy in these fuel types.
In order to plan for management of wildfire and the use of fire as a tool, it was necessary to describe present and desired vegetation - the first step in ecosystem management planning.
The Goal
The Malpai Borderlands Group invited all neighbors in the region to come together for a goal setting session. With a great deal of community input the following goal statement was drafted:
"Our goal is to restore and maintain the natural processes that create and protect a healthy unfragmented landscape to support a diverse, flourishing community of human, plant, and animal life in our Borderlands region.
Together we will accomplish this by working to encourage profitable ranching and other traditional livelihoods which will sustain the open space nature of our land for generations to come."
Ecosystem Management Planning
Guided by this goal the group embarked on ecosystem management planning for the entire 800,000 acre area. Ron Bemis of the Natural Resource Conservation Service (formerly Soil Conservation Service) and Larry Allen of the Coronado National Forest were recruited as agency liaison and advisors to the group. It was believed that intelligent management of this landscape will require the best available science and a science committee was formed with ecologists Ray Turner and Ben Brown coordinating the effort. The Forest Service agreed to a five year Borderlands Ecosystem Management Research Project, providing funding for research on a number of aspects of the ecosystem. Also involved in the science effort are the University of Arizona, New Mexico State University, University of New Mexico, and US Geological Survey Desert Lab.
Meanwhile Back at the Ranch
Simultaneous with the formation of the Malpai Group The Nature Conservancy had purchased the 300,000 acre Gray Ranch in the heart of the Borderlands. This purchase was an attempt to preserve the biological uniqueness of this ecologically rich area. After a period of inventory and planning, it was decided that the Conservancy would seek a buyer who shared their vision for the ranch.
Rancher Drummond Hadley created a non-profit corporation, the Animas Foundation, for the purpose of buying and operating the Gray. They purchased the ranch, with certain conservation easements held by The Nature Conservancy. The objective of the Animas Foundation was to demonstrate sustainable agriculture in harmony with the environment - a goal which is completely compatible with the Malpai Group goals. The Animas Foundation then became one cooperating landowner within the Malpai Group. The foundation is particularly important to the group in that they own more than a third of the planning area.
The Ecosystem Management Planning Process
An interdisciplinary team from the Douglas Ranger District is working on ecosystem planning for a 100,000 acre area of the Coronado National Forest and adjacent BLM and state lands. Progress to date includes the first 6 steps of Region 3's Integrated Resource Management Process, with public involvement currently underway.
Although the Malpai Group prefers to focus on managing the ecosystem, rather than planning; pressures to produce "a plan" are increasing. This is due to agency requirements, fund raising needs, and the coordination of such a complex effort among numerous agencies and parties.
Is This a Model That Can Be Applied Elsewhere?
Yes, but...
Must be a local initiative.
Not a government project.
Must have one or more dedicated agency representatives.
Must be flexible.
Every area is different.
