Photo: USFS

The Carson National Forest is one of five National Forests in New Mexico. Some of the finest mountain scenery in the Southwest is found in the 1.5 million acres covered by the Carson National Forest.

The Agua Caballos Logging Project

4/4/05 - Despite endorsement of some forest thinning projects on the Carson National Forest, Forest Guardians and Carson Forest Watch has filed a lawsuit against the US Forest Service to stop the Agua Caballos Timber Sale, north of El Rito. The groups cite claims by the state Environment Department that logging may further degrade water quality in the Rio Vallecitos and irreparably harm the tassel-eared (Abert’s) squirrel, an indicator of quality ancient forest habitat. The timber sale, in planning since the early 90s, would be the largest of its kind in the state in over a decade: logging 6.4 million board feet (1,600 full log trucks) from nearly 4,000 acres of public forest land.
Read the Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief
Read more about Abert's squirrel

“This is another in a long line of examples of the reckless forest policies from the Bush Administration,” said John Horning, Forest Guardians’ Executive Director. “Contrary to the Bush Administration’s claims, this project has nothing to do with promoting forest health or protecting the public. It’s about giving away the public’s timber at fire sale prices and driving wildlife to extinction—plain and simple.”