This week, we are incredibly excited to sit down with our new partner, Defenders of Wildlife. Bryan Bird, the Southwest Program Director, discussed their recent efforts.
Defenders of Wildlife is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the protection of all native animals and plants in their natural communities, which involves working with communities to coexist peacefully alongside at-risk wildlife.
Their Southwest Program is very active and currently working on collaborative efforts such as working with ranchers to operate peacefully alongside the endangered Mexican gray wolf, for example.
Protecting the gray wolf is a particularly poignant issue for Defenders of Wildlife because the wolves were extirpated from the wild and then re-introduced into their natural habitat in the 1990s. During the time they were removed, communities moved in and established ranches in the area. This scenario made it necessary to figure out how ranchers could raise and protect livestock while not harming the wolves. Their methods include using specially trained range riders (modern day cowboys), who will be present when the cattle are out on the range, and using trained guardian dogs.
Aside from direct community outreach, Defenders also works on smart policies that protect our wildlife – notably identifying and working with agencies to identify and protect wildlife movement corridors. They also facilitate the development of ReNew Mexico’s primary focus – renewable energy!
Defenders recognizes renewable energy as an important solution to solving our climate crisis and biodiversity loss. Their focus is centered around ensuring the transition toward a clean energy future is made without harming wildlife, which can be done by looking at safely siting energy projects in areas of minimal impacts to endangered or at-risk species. Defenders sees communication between stakeholders and governmental agencies as a crucial step to identifying how renewable energy can benefit rural communities and reduce conflicts that potentially slow down project development.
Defenders of Wildlife is leading by example and recently joined a new collaborative project with the New Mexico Avian Conservation Partnership to bring together NGOs, businesses, and researchers to look into the impact on avian wildlife and how to develop energy without harming the avian population.
We are excited to work with Defenders of Wildlife to continue developing our state’s energy potential. To see more on what our local chapter is working on, you can visit their website here.