The Mission

Wildlife in the arid Southwest depend on the availability of water and on the riparian vegetation that grows along the banks of our rivers, streams, and lakes. As wildlife face increasing threats from climate change and habitat loss, protecting and restoring these riparian corridors—or ribbons of life—is key to helping Western wildlife and human communities thrive. In partnership with the Healthy Headwaters Alliance, Hispanics Enjoying Camping, Hunting, and the Outdoors (HECHO), and others, National Wildlife Federation is building on existing efforts to develop a regional assessment of the needs and opportunities affecting riparian corridor networks in the Upper Rio Grande Watershed in northern New Mexico and southern Colorado.