Press Releases

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernández, alongside U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich and Ben Ray Luján, and Representatives Melanie Stansbury and Gabe Vasquez, sent a letter to President Joe Biden urging the designation of the Caja del Rio Plateau as a national monument under the Antiquities Act. This request highlights the urgent need to protect one of New Mexico’s most ecologically, historically, and culturally significant landscapes.

“Consistent with [your] historic legacy, we request that you designate the Caja del Rio Plateau as a national monument through your authority under the Antiquities Act,” said the members of the New Mexico delegation. “This extraordinary landscape is as ecologically diverse as it is historically and culturally significant to New Mexico. We appreciate that members of your Administration met with community members and visited the land with us to listen to their stories. It is imperative that we act swiftly to safeguard the Caja’s future.”

The 106,000-acre Caja plateau, situated near Santa Fe, is home to unique wildlife, including ponderosa pines, piñon, and sabina trees, which provide essential habitats and support critical ecological processes. The region also serves as a living historical record, reflecting millennia of use by Native American Tribes for ceremonial practices, hunting, and herb gathering. Hispano communities have similarly relied on the Caja for over 200 years, utilizing it for religious ceremonies, grazing, and firewood collection.

The letter continues, “the Caja del Rio needs federal protection. The absence of adequate stewardship has led to environmental degradation, vandalism, and excessive trash. This threatens the very fabric of this sacred and biodiverse landscape. On November 4, 2024, Tesuque Pueblo entered into a stewardship agreement with the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management to try and address these challenges. However, without a formal national monument designation, the area will remain vulnerable to further damage.”

The letter emphasizes the critical need for swift action and calls for the continued collaboration of Tribes, Hispano villages, local governments, and other stakeholders who have formed a broad coalition to advocate for this designation.

The New Mexico delegation is committed to ensuring that the designation reflects the unique needs of the region’s communities and ecosystems while providing the necessary resources for long-term preservation and management.

Read the full letter here.

About Caja del Rio:

The Caja del Rio Plateau is a region of immense ecological and cultural significance in northern New Mexico. It includes landmarks such as Diablo Canyon, the La Cieneguilla Petroglyphs, and remnants of the Camino Real. The plateau’s diverse ecosystems and rich history make it a priority for conservation efforts.