A. All conservation projects shall be maintained to protect the public health and welfare and shall be for:

(1) preserving and conserving water quality and quantity;

(2) protecting agricultural production on working farms, ranches and other agricultural lands;

(3) protecting and restoring New Mexico's forests and watersheds;

(4) conserving wildlife habitat;

(5) maintaining natural areas;

(6) providing outdoor recreation opportunities, including hunting and fishing; or

(7) preserving cultural and historic sites with natural resource heritage value.

B. The department, working with the committee, landowners, conservationists and other interested persons, shall establish criteria for evaluating possible conservation projects. Criteria shall include:

(1) the degree to which the conservation project serves the purposes of the Natural Heritage Conservation Act;

(2) the amount of matching financial support for the conservation project from sources other than the state;

(3) the technical qualifications of the applicant and its ability to complete and maintain the proposed conservation project;

(4) the degree to which the conservation project fosters and integrates with existing conservation plans, strategies and initiatives;

(5) the potential for benefits at landscape and ecosystem scale;

(6) the potential for improved public access for outdoor recreation opportunities, including hunting and fishing;

(7) the potential for economic benefits of the completed conservation project; and

(8) other measurements and requirements required by the department and the committee.

C. The committee shall receive applications for conservation projects and shall evaluate them against the department's criteria. The committee may reject any incomplete applications or applications that do not meet the established criteria. After review, the committee shall make its recommendations on all evaluated conservation projects to the department.

History: Laws 2010, ch. 83, § 6.

Compiler's notes. — Laws 2010, ch. 83, § 6 contained a Subsection D, which provided that "The department shall make recommendations to the legislature from the committee's recommendation for approval.", but was line-item vetoed.

Effective dates. — Laws 2010, ch. 83 contained no effective date provision, but, pursuant to N.M. Const., art. IV, § 23, was effective May 19, 2010, 90 days after the adjournment of the legislature.