A coalition of Highlands University, New Mexico State University, the University of New Mexico and the state Forestry Division described a phased plan to build a New Mexico Reforestation Center to address large high‑severity burn patches and a limited reforestation pipeline.

Owen Birnie of New Mexico State University said the Hermits Peak‑Calf Canyon footprint alone had about 83,500 acres of high‑severity burn and that reforesting just that high‑severity area could require 10–25 million seedlings. At current seed and nursery capacity he said the state would need centuries to meet the backlog: “At our current seed and nursery capacities, that would take us 500 years to reforest that landscape,” Birnie said.

Dr. Matt (J.) Huerta (presenting for the New Mexico Reforestation Center team) outlined bottlenecks across the reforestation pipeline — seed availability, nursery capacity, planting crews and post‑planting maintenance — and described research to improve seedling survival where ground temperatures and drought reduce establishment. He said a graduate‑level survey of regional seedling plantings found average survival rates near 25 percent and that thermal conditions after high‑severity fires can exceed lethal temperatures for juvenile trees.

The phased NMRC plan has secured $38.5 million for phase 1, including full design and about 20 percent of greenhouse capacity (roughly 1.1 million seedlings) with construction slated to start January 2026 and the first crop in 2028. Subsequent phases would add greenhouse and seed‑program capacity to approach a multi‑million‑seedling annual output; the panel estimated an additional roughly $88 million would be needed across three later phases.

Panelists said the center combines operational goals (seed collection, processing, nursery production, planting) with research and workforce development — training climbers, nursery technicians and planters — to reduce bottlenecks. Highlands University is already running seed collection and processing pilots; NMSU will lead nursery development at the John T. Harrington Forestry Research Center.

Lawmakers and presenters discussed the workforce challenge and training partnerships with organizations such as Youth Corps and extension programs; the panel announced a Forestry Field Day at the Harrington research center on Aug. 22 to showcase work and build partnerships.