NEW MEXICO IS INCLUDED IN A 30-MILLION DOLLAR, TWELVE STATE EFFORT BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE TO REDUCE THE THREAT OF WILDFIRES THIS SPRING AND SUMMER. NEW MEXICO'S SHARE WILL BE ONE AND-A-HALF MILLION DOLLARS. IAN FOX IS WITH THE CIBOLA NATIONAL FOREST. HE SAYS THEY'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING TO WORK ON THAT IN MARCH.
THE FOREST RESTORATION IS ALSO AIMED AT PROTECTING WATER QUALITY AND IMPROVING WILDLIFE HABITAT, BY THINNING TREES AND REMOVING BRUSH.
