Tag: Southwest

New Mexico's forests are facing growing pressure from drought, rising temperatures and a dramatic increase in bark beetle infestations, according to a new state report. Scientists say climate-driven stress is leaving ponderosa and piñon forests increasingly vulnerable, raising concerns about the long-term health of one of the Southwest's defining landscapes.

The U.S. Supreme Court’s approval of a landmark Rio Grande settlement ends a 13-year water war between Texas, New Mexico and the federal government, giving New Mexico farmers certainty while helping the state avoid potentially devastating financial penalties. The agreement reshapes water management in the drought-stricken Southwest and signals a rare legal and political victory for New Mexico in an era of escalating climate pressures.

New Mexico has launched a centralized website to help residents identify, report and respond to the threat of New World screwworm, a parasitic fly whose larvae feed on living tissue and can devastate livestock, wildlife and pets. Officials say the platform could become a critical early-warning system against outbreaks.