The division is authorized to enforce all laws, rules and regulations relating to all forested, cutover or brushlands lying within the state under the following circumstances:

A. prevention and suppression of fires;

B. logging and timber operations and practices;

C. trespass, waste and littering; and

D. conservation of commercial forest lands and products.

In addition, the state forester and all persons designated by him are authorized to go upon such lands to make investigations concerning violations of the laws, rules and regulations and are given the necessary police powers to apprehend and arrest on warrant issued by any magistrate of the state for violation of the laws, rules and regulations, or without warrant for violations thereof committed in their presence, and shall not be liable to civil actions in trespass for acts done in discharge of their duties.

History: 1953 Comp., § 62-3-9, enacted by Laws 1959, ch. 122, § 9; 1977, ch. 254, § 83; 1979, ch. 395, § 4.

State power not exclusive. — The provisions of Sections 68-2-16 and 9-5A-4 NMSA 1978 and this section do not give the forestry division exclusive power to enforce and administer laws and regulations relating to timber harvesting and do not expressly prohibit local governments from enacting and enforcing such laws. Rancho Lobo, Ltd. v. Devargas, 303 F.3d 1195 (10th Cir. 2002), cert. denied, 538 U.S. 906, 123 S. Ct. 1483, 155 L. Ed. 2d 225 (2003).

In passing the Forest Conservation Act, Section 68-2-1 NMSA 1978 et seq., the legislature left room for concurrent jurisdiction over local forestry issues; thus, the act does not impliedly preempt a county ordinance, dealing, inter alia, with economic development, local employment, and hours of operation, by occupying the entire field of regulation relating to timber harvesting in New Mexico. Rancho Lobo, Ltd. v. Devargas, 303 F.3d 1195 (10th Cir. 2002), cert. denied, 538 U.S. 906, 123 S. Ct. 1483, 155 L. Ed. 2d 225 (2003).

Law reviews. — For note, "Forest Fire Protection on Public and Private Lands in New Mexico," see 4 Nat. Resources J. 374 (1964).

Am. Jur. 2d, A.L.R. and C.J.S. references. — 52 Am. Jur. 2d Logs and Timber § 61.

98 C.J.S. Woods and Forests § 13.