Gov. Richardson Appoints Martin Heinrich as Natural Resources Trustee

From the Office of the Governor:
(Santa Fe, NM) – Governor Bill Richardson yesterday appointed Martin Heinrich as the Natural Resources Trustee for the State of New Mexico.

“Martin Heinrich is a proven conservationist,” said Governor Richardson. “He is someone who has successfully worked to protect our land and water for the benefit of the people of New Mexico. As our state’s Natural Resources Trustee, I am confident Heinrich will continue that commitment to New Mexico’s environment.”

The Office of the Natural Resources Trustee (ONRT) is charged with the restoration of damaged natural resources, and when that is not possible, with the replacement or acquisition of equivalent natural resources to those which were lost or impaired. When possible, the Office of Natural Resources Trustee accomplishes these goals through a cooperative process with the responsible parties.

Martin Heinrich currently serves as the President of the Albuquerque City Council. He has worked on numerous successful preservation and restoration projects on both public and private land. These have included working cooperatively with New Mexico’s congressional delegation and the Pueblo of Zia to create the Ojito Wilderness and preserve over 10,000 acres of archeologically unique land in Sandoval County, restoring ponderosa pine forest on private land in the Zuni Mountains, and preserving several hundred acres of the Sandia Mountains as Albuquerque Open Space.

Heinrich replaces Jim Baca who recently stepped down as Natural Resources Trustee. Baca was appointed by Governor Richardson in 2003.

“Jim has served the state, our people and our resources well,” said Governor Richardson. “He has been an excellent steward of the state’s natural resources and especially of our water. I thank him for his service and wish him the best.”