Fite Ranch
July 29, 2024
On Thursday, July 25th the New Mexico Land Conservancy (NMLC) completed a conservation easement on Fite Ranch—permanently protecting over 5,000 acres of undeveloped land adjacent to Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge.
“Fite Ranch plays a critical role in supporting the wildlife and ecology of the greater Chihuahuan Desert ecoregion,” said Traci Burnsed, NMLC’s Southern Project Manager. “These protections will ensure that the land remains undeveloped as a ranch for generations to come—preserving southern New Mexico’s rich agricultural heritage and natural landscape in one fell swoop.”
The owners of Fite Ranch are lifelong ranchers whose deep respect for their land motivated them to protect their ranch in perpetuity. “As a rancher, my land is not just where I work; it’s a legacy passed down through generations,” said the owners. “By creating this conservation easement, we’re ensuring that this land remains a haven for wildlife and viable ranchland for future generations. It’s about conserving the natural beauty of our landscape, sure–but also about preserving our way of life.”
Part of the ‘buffer area’ surrounding White Sands Missile Range, Fite Ranch was eligible for funding through the Department of Defense that helped make their vision for the future of Fite Ranch a reality. The New Mexico Land Conservancy brokered the deal—the tenth such project with DOD to help avoid land-use conflicts near military facilities and promote natural resource conservation in those areas. “The Fite Ranch project builds on over five years of collaboration with the folks at White Sands to achieve commons goals,” said NMLC Executive Director, Jonathan Hayden. “This is truly a win-win-win for wildlife, New Mexico’s ranching heritage, and our national security.” In addition to its adjacency to Bosque del Apache, Fite Ranch also borders the largely undeveloped expanse of White Sands Missile Range; provides a corridor habitat for bobcats, badgers, and eagles; and contains the remnants of three mining ghost towns as well as innumerable cultural resources.
