New Mexico § 75-5-4 - Administration of the act

§ 75-5-4. Administration of the act

A. The Natural Lands Protection Act shall be administered by the secretary of natural

resources in consultation with a committee consisting of the secretary of natural

resources, who shall serve as chairman of the committee, the director of the department

of game and fish, the commissioner of public lands, the director of the New Mexico

department of agriculture and three public members appointed by the governor, one

of whom shall represent the ranching or farming industry. B. The secretary of natural resources shall present a list of projects to the committee

based on priorities generated by the natural resources department. C. The committee shall recommend lands to be acquired under the provisions of the

Natural Lands Protection Act and, subject to appropriation for such purpose by the

legislature, pay the state's share of acquisitions. No land shall be acquired unless a corporation jointly acquires the land with the

state. A corporation must participate in acquiring a minimum of at least ten percent undivided

interest in the land or the state cannot participate in the acquisition. Title to lands acquired shall be held as cotenants having undivided interests in

proportion to the state's and the corporation's share of the acquisition and shall

be held in the name of the state of New Mexico and the corporation. D. Priority among projects qualified under the Natural Lands Protection Act shall

be determined in descending order as follows: (1) the degree to which the lands in question are subject to the threat of immediate

alteration or destruction; (2) the degree to which ecosystems in question are unduplicated elsewhere; and (3) usefulness for teaching and research.