Santa Fe Conservation Trust

Trails program - sfct has been involved in the creation of over 80 miles of trails, including: the dale ball trails, atalaya trail, santa fe rail trail, the spur trail, la tierra trails, la piedra trail and, along with commonweal conservancy, the galisteo basin preserve trails. Sfct trails program works in partnership with the city of santa fe and it's volunteer group, along with other entities, to coordinate trail development and construction, organize volunteer trail work, identify and prioritize trail linkages, promote the trails, and provide the public with trail information and access through educational programs and events. Sfct is also leading a partnership support for the grand unified santa fe trail organization (gusto). Sfct is in charge of convening partners, researching and mapping existing trails, identifying gaps and opportunities for new trails, and prioritizing and implementing the trail connections that are identified in the planning process. The vision of the gusto initiative is an interconnected system of natural-surface trails that allows non-motorized users to travel in a loop around the greater santa fe area, as well as between the city center and the periphery. The gusto initiative has brought together many community partners who aim to have a unified, sustainable trail system around the entire metropolitan area.

Community conservation - because conservation easements are permanent and run with the land, sfct must monitor and enforce its conservation easements forever. This duty of perpetual care presents unique challenges to land trusts everywhere. Sfct must have broad community support to ensure its longevity and viability. Sfct is working to strengthen the organization through the implementation of "community conservation programs" that help sfct broaden and diversify its constituency. Sfct programs are designed to give everyone outdoor experiences that will help them become passionate defenders of nature and of conservation. Sfct's legacy of trails work is the natural way to implement community conservation programs. As such, sfct offers programs to ensure equitable access to nature and santa fe's trail resources. Since 2014, sfct has introduced over 5,000 south side kids and their families to santa fe's trail system (passport to trails). In 2018, sfct started an in-town walking program (vamonos: santa fe walks) for those whose access to nature is more challenging: the elderly, infirm, transportation limited, immigrant community, or to those afraid to walk alone. Through 2024, sfct had over 3,000 people walk on these trails, ranging in age from 98 to 2 years old. By working to ignite a passion for nature in everyone and give them access to the foothill trails and urban trails, sfct works to improve public health, build community on the trails and create the next generation of conservationists while promoting access to the life-enhancing qualities of the outdoors.