New Mexico Backyard Refuge Program
The New Mexico Backyard Refuge Program (NM ByR) is a partnership between Ciudad SWCD, the Friends of Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge, and Valle de Oro NWR. We invite residents, as well as public and private businesses in Albuquerque and surrounding communities, to create wildlife habitats in their outdoor spaces, such as yards, patios, and balconies. Participants can certify their spaces to support local wildlife while receiving resources and recognition for their efforts. This, in turn, increases urban green space with inviting habitats for local and migrating wildlife and local humans, spreads knowledge about conservation and local wildlife habitats, and ultimately increases biodiversity in the region by creating a mosaic of wildlife habitats throughout communities.
It is free to certify and your space and your certification will provide valuable data on habitat connectivity for native pollinators and birds.