Mission

View the proposed national monument from above with stakeholders, conservationists, Tribal members, town officials, and filmmakers. This arid region of southern New Mexico holds a rich history of Indigenous movement, routes of colonizers, and archeological remnants that enliven the mountains and flatlands of the Mimbres. Located in the Chihuahuan Desert in Luna County, this area is one of the most biologically diverse deserts in the Western Hemisphere and is home to rare species, some of which have existed here since the Cretaceous and Mesozoic eras. The Mimbres Peaks’ water resources are much more ample than the surrounding arid landscape and are critical to sustaining regional communities and agriculture.

We flew over these sacred mountains and from above, many of Mimbres Peaks’ deep values came alive. We flew over Cookes Range, home to over fifty documented archaeological sites including numerous residential structures and extensive petroglyphs. The craggy spire of Cookes Peak rises 3,700 feet above the valley it rests in and is a prominent landmark visible for miles in every direction. We few over the historic Butterfield Trail, the route followed by the Unites States’ first overland mail and passenger transporation between the Mississippi River and the Pacific Ocean. The Butterfield Overland Mail service only provided services for a few years, ceasing operations in 1861 with the impending Civil War. We also learned about the Deming Air Base, where aerial bombing was practiced to test new technologies for World War ll. And we passed over the Florida Mountains and saw abundant water resources that support ecologically rich lands, beloved by hunters and wildlife alike, including the prized Persian Ibex.

To protect these vast historic, ecological, cultural, and recreational values of the Mimbres, in the fall of 2023, the idea of establishing a Mimbres Peaks National Monument in Luna County gained traction and now local leaders and stakeholders are uniting to collectively advocate, strategize, and plan areas for a new Mimbres Peaks National Monument.

EcoFlight and our partners are calling on President Biden to designate Mimbres Peaks National Monument in Luna County New Mexico to provide immediate and everlasting protection to this beloved, ecologically vibrant, and sacred landscape. Monument designation ensures the preservation of critical wildlife habitat, watershed health, and recreational opportunities for generations to come.

Click for photos from the flights, geo-referenced photos from the flight, and aerial footage.