Tree-lined acequias and irrigated farmland, forested mountains and wildland habitat, expansive sagebrush mesas and inspiring views — this extraordinary natural and cultural landscape is one of our greatest assets and lies at the core of northern New Mexico’s distinctive rural character and quality of life.

As the only New Mexico land trust north of Santa Fe, Taos Land Trust has worked since 1988 to preserve that landscape and the many benefits it provides to the public through permanent land conservation. Voluntary conservation easements are an important tool we use to help landowners protect their family lands. The dozens of conservation easements we have completed allow landowners to decide how their land will be cared for in the future by voluntarily retiring some or all of their development rights. They still own the land and are not required to provide public access, they can continue farming, ranching or other sustainable uses, can sell it or pass it on to heirs, but the protection stays with the land forever no matter who owns it. Retiring development rights on private land is a real gift to the public and future generations. In recognition of that gift, we make sure that landowners at any income level qualify for all the federal and state tax breaks and other financial benefits they are entitled to.

Taos Land Trust has also partnered with other organizations to save places like the Taos Valley Overlook and Ute Mountain, which are now protected public lands owned by you, the public. Through our De la Tierra a la Cosecha (From Earth To Harvest) collaboration, we promote productive family farming and ranching and food security. And we work with local government to make sure that land conservation is always a part of long-range planning.