| In 2012, the United States Forest Service adopted a new land management planning rule, governing the development, revision, and amendment of national forest plans. The rule includes direction to manage national forest landscapes to maintain and restore ecological connectivity to promote ecosystem resiliency and wildlife persistence. Multiple government agencies, conservation organizations, and private landowners in Colorado and New Mexico are working to create a network of connected wildlife habitats across the Upper Rio Grande Watershed. Three national forests, Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and other federal lands make up about 50 percent of the area with private, tribal, and state accounting for the rest. Over 750 miles of waterways support Rio Grande cutthroat trout and other imperiled fish and provide riparian habitat for federally protected species including the southwestern willow flycatcher, western yellow-billed cuckoo, and New Mexico meadow jumping mouse. The area is home to wide-ranging wildlife such as federally listed as threatened Canada lynx and other carnivores, pronghorn, elk, mule deer, and Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep. The Carson, Santa Fe, and Rio Grande national forests and BLM's Rio Grande del Norte National Monument are revising their management plans, providing an unprecedented opportunity to incorporate coordinated direction to promote cross-boundary wildlife movement.
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