Urban forests are a key climate change adaptation strategy. The city of Albuquerque, New Mexico has a strong and successful urban forestry program. What lessons can be learned from the Albuquerque program that are applicable across the rapidly warming American Southwest?Jim O'Donnell talks with Dave Simon from the City of Albuquerque Parks and Recr…

Journalist Julia Daye hosts KNCE's informational special in response to community concern and recent protests over the Abeyta Water Rights Settlement and the future of the Taos, New Mexico valley watershed. This special was recorded in early June 2021.Door Taos Land Trust

New Mexico is in a battle to escape the powerful grip of the oil and gas industry. For nearly a century, the oil and gas industry’s influence on New Mexico has ranged from the education system to elected officials to issues of water and air quality. New Mexico has long been an oil and gas colony - and oil and gas is one of the top polluters in the …

Dr. Amy Brady is the Executive Director of Orion magazine and the author of Ice: An American Obsession, a cultural history of ice forthcoming from Putnam in 2023. Her writing about culture, environmentalism, and climate change has appeared in O, the Oprah magazine, Slate, The Los Angeles Times, The New Republic, The Village Voice, the Dallas Mornin…

In season three of the Taos Land Trust podcast, we will explore climate change in New Mexico. What can we expect? What impacts do we see right now? Most importantly, how can we adapt to the changes that are coming, like it or not?Jim O’Donnell talks with environmental reporter Laura Paskus, the producer of the series “Our Land: New Mexico’s Environ…

Since early 2019, the Taos Land Trust has been engaged in a long-term iterative process known as the Working Lands Resiliency Initiative. The goal of this work is to reconnect traditional farming families to their lands and their farming heritage. The land trust is asking: How can conservation easements, tax breaks, planning and zoning work togethe…

The Taos Land Trust and Vista Grande High School (VGHS) have joined forces to provide fresh weekly produce to Taos families, school food delivery programs, and local food pantries while offering paid technical training to Vista Grande students. The project is funded by Vista Grande High School’s Career Technical Education and Community Schools gran…

We have mismanaged our forests over the last century—and we are now paying the costs. Climate change is making forests drier, beetles and other pests (driven by warming temperatures) are making kindling of vast stretches of woodland, and “booming development…[has] filled forests with human-produced sparks and heat,” and far too many houses.What is …

Host Jim O'Donnell talks with John Fleck, Director of the University of New Mexico Water Resources Program and Eric Kuhn, self-described "Colorado River nerd" about their new book "Science be Dammed: How Ignoring Inconvenient Science Drained the Colorado River" and how the realities of water in the American West run up against the hopes and dreams …

We are at a critical time for agriculture and the environment. The realities of extreme weather events, conflicts over water, the blight of rural communities, and diminishing natural resources are bearing down on all New Mexicans, with farmers and ranchers at the forefront of these serious problems. At the same time, awareness that soil stewardship…

What is solutions-oriented environmental journalism and how do journalists make complex science accessible to the public? Host Jim O'Donnell talks with Todd Reubold publisher and co-founder of Ensia Media about journalism, climate change, story-telling and COVID19. This episode was recorded at the studios of Taos Sound and Media in Taos, New Mexico…

Jonathan P. Thompson is the author of RIVER OF LOST SOULS which the gripping story behind the 2015 Gold King Mine disaster that turned the Animas River in southwestern Colorado orange with sludge and toxic metals for over 100 miles downstream, wreaking havoc on cities, farms, and the Navajo Nation along the way. Host Jim O'Donnell talks with Thomps…

What are our nation's bedrock environmental laws? How do the National Environmental Policy Act, the Clean Water Act, the Endangered Species Act and others work and how effective are they? Host Jim O'Donnell speaks with John Horning, Executive Director of Wild Earth Guardians. Recorded at the studios of KNCE 93.5FM True Taos Radio on February 20, 20…

What is an urban forest? Forests are dynamic ecosystems providing critical benefits to people and wildlife. Forests within towns and cities are called urban forests. These systems help filter air and water, they control storm water, protect infrastructure, conserve energy, increase economic activity and provide animal habitat and shade. They also a…

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The Taos Land Trust has been monitoring the bat population at Rio Fernando Park in Taos, New Mexico for over a year. How do we do it? Bat expert Mike Balistreri explains the scientific process of monitoring bats, the status of bat populations in northern New Mexico and dives into the importance of bats for our ecosystems. Recorded at the studios of…

New Mexico has a very rough history. Violence, colonialism, racism and displacement all contribute in no small way to the poverty, low-educational attainment and other problems facing the state. This history often makes it difficult for people to talk to each even over shared goals such as natural resource protection. The Taos Healing and Reconcili…

Engineer Erin English describes green Infrastructure is a practice of hope. What is infrastructure and how can it be changed to improve water management, walkability and generally improve our quality of life? This podcast from the Rio Fernando Collaborative looks at green infrastructure options and financing in the town of Taos, New Mexico. Jim O’D…

How do sidewalks enhance the safety, equity, economy and beauty of a community? How can sidewalks and increased pedestrian activity benefit small and rural communities? What is good sidewalk design? Jim O'Donnell of the Taos Land Trust talks with Michelle Lieberman and Danielle Sherman of the National Safe Routes Partnership. This episode was recor…

What is the Taos Mainstreet Accelerator Project? How will it impact the future of Taos? The Taos MainStreet Accelerator project (TMSA) is an independent, nonprofit, local program to facilitate a shared vision for our downtown, encourage economic vitality, and celebrate Taos’ cultural and historic assets. Jim O'Donnell talks with Elizabeth Palacios …

How will New Mexico and other western states manage forests in the age of Climate Change? Taos Land Trust's Jim O'Donnell talks wtih Collin Haffey, the conservation coordinator with The Nature Conservancy in New Mexico. Before joining TNC Haffey worked on climate-related forest disturbance processes, ranging from drought- and fire-induced ecosystem…

When did we become so tame? How has "the good life" come to mean addiction to screens and status, fossil fuels and financial fitness? Can we break free to become the joyful and prophetic people God calls us to be? Jim O'Donnell talks with wilderness guide Todd Wynward as he "rewilds" the Jesus Way. This episode was recorded at the studios of KNCE T…

Why should New Mexicans care about climate change? What will the impacts be on our daily lives and in our communities? How do scientists know that climate change is happening and how do they know what it will impact? Jim O'Donnell of the Taos Land Trust talks with New Mexico State Climatologist Dave Dubois. This episode was recorded at the studios …

Climate change is already impacting New Mexico. How do we deal with this to protect our waters, our communities and our children? How do we think strategically and long-term when it comes to dealing with what is truly an existential threat. What are the issues facing New Mexico and what is being done both at a Federal and State level? Jim O'Donnell…

Tourism is one of the largest industries in the world, and perhaps the leading economic engine in your community -- an industry with tremendous potential to change the social economic, and natural landscapes of every place it touches. In this "reframed" approach to travel and tourism, Dan Shilling encourages the caretakers of place to craft a resto…

Legends don't come close to capturing the incredible story of the coyote In the face of centuries of campaigns of annihilation employing gases, helicopters, and engineered epidemics, coyotes didn't just survive, they thrived, expanding across the continent from Alaska to New York. In the war between humans and coyotes, coyotes have won, hands-down.…

Taos Land Trust's Jim O'Donnell talks with ornithologists Steve Knox and Robert Templeton about the health of birds and bird populations in northern New Mexico. They discuss the impact of climate change and habitat destruction on bird health and migration. Most importantly, they get philosophical as to why birds are so interesting and important! Re…

Taos Land Trust's Jim O'Donnell talks with Judy Torres of the Taos Valley Acequia Association (TVAA) about irrigation in northern New Mexico, the Abeyta Settlement, the history of acequias, water in the valley and where we are headed. Recorded at the KNCE studios in Taos, New Mexico on October 4, 2018…

Taos Land Trust's Jim O'Donnell talks with Gillian Joyce of Rio Chiquito consulting about the development of community agricultural plans, public gardens and the creation of Rio Fernando Park. Plus they dive into their shared Irish heritage.... Recorded September 20, 2018 at the KNCE studios in Taos, New Mexico.…

Taos Land Trust's Jim O'Donnell speaks with restoration ecologist Jen Vrooman of Keystone Restoration Ecology about the ongoing watershed restoration efforts along the Rio Fernando in Taos, New Mexico. Recorded October 19, 2018 at KNCE studios in Taos, New Mexico.Door Taos Land Trust

Amy Bell of Groundwork Studio joins Taos Land Trust’s Communication Coordinator Jim O’Donnell to discuss the how the Land Trust and its partners developed a master plan for the new Rio Fernando Park through a year-long community driven process. The new 20-acre park in the center of Taos will feature. Recorded September 6, 2018 at the KNCE studios i…

Olivia Romo from the New Mexico Acequia Association talks with Taos Land Trust’s Jim O’Donnell about acequias, water, culture, and farming and how art and activism go hand-in-hand. Recorded July 26, 2018 at the KNCE studios in Taos, New Mexico.Door Taos Land Trust

Environmental Journalist Ben Goldfarb discusses his new book “Eager: The Surprising, Secret Life of Beavers and Why They Matter”Door Taos Land Trust

Host Jim O’Donnell talks to Ben Wright, Education Coordinator at the Taos Land Trust, about so-called “invasive” species, why they are so persistent and how we might eradicate, manage or even welcome them into our landscapes.Door Taos Land Trust

The first episode of the Taos Land Trust Radio Hour hosted by Jim O'Donnell feat. Kristina Ortez. In this episode Jim and Kristina highlight the work of Taos Land Trust. Recorded May 31, 2018 at the KNCE studios in Taos, New Mexico.Door Taos Land Trust