About us
What are Land Trusts/ Conservation Easements?
Land trusts offer a nonprofit solution for land conservation that does not rely on government tax dollars or government programs to help protect the land. Land trusts conserve Texas’s special lands and waters by permanently protecting them. Land trusts conserve natural areas by negotiating private, voluntary agreements with property owners to leave their land undeveloped.
There are over 30 land trusts in Texas that have helped to conserve over 1.6 million acres of farms, wetlands, deserts, mountains, forests, watersheds, and coastlines.
The Frontera Land Alliance protects – forever- natural open spaces, farms and ranches, watersheds, and wildlife of the northern Chihuahuan Desert.
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Our Vision
Vision: Protecting our regional landscapes, landforms, watersheds, wildlife and other natural resources for the benefit of our community today and future generations.
Frontera will achieve this through the facilitation of a shared community commitment to protecting, now, our open spaces for future generations.
Mission: The Frontera Land Alliance protects – forever- natural open spaces, farms and ranches, watersheds, and wildlife of the northern Chihuahuan Desert. by:
-Ensuring the region will enjoy steady water supplies, ample open space, and well-planned growth
-Investing in the sustainability of our natural assets with education, resource management, stewardship, and collaborative public-private partnerships
-Supporting our economy while enhancing our quality of life by making smarter choices
-Passing to future generations the beauty, wildlife, water, and natural resources we have today
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Our Goals
We all have a shared responsibility to conserve and educate the community about our natural world: to use what we need, make smarter choices, and pass on to future generations the beauty, wildlife, water, and natural resources we have today. Investing in conservation is also an investment in our economy since tourists are drawn to the region for the mountains, the Rio Grande, our parks, and our natural areas.
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Our Core Values
We believe…
…the conservation of our natural resources positively impacts the regions quality of life and contributes to the community’s health and economic growth. In doing so, we contribute to the World’s efforts of dealing with climate change.
…effective education about our environment causes smarter choices regarding the preservation of natural resources.
…our lands create a unique identity and a sense of place for our region.
…in the protection of and equitable access where appropriate to our natural world.
…that investing in land conservation is investing in our future.
The Frontera Land Alliance
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Statement
One of nature's most essential and fundamental principles is that diversity cultivates stability and prosperity in any environment. The Frontera Land Alliance believes that diversity is significant to the outdoor environment we work to protect and within our workplace environment. We strive to create a collective space, acknowledging equity and inclusion as key factors, that we welcome all individuals and communities to our organization and our properties regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, socioeconomic condition, age, or physical ability. By embracing, respecting, and valuing different viewpoints, identities, and experiences, we become better stewards of the Chihuahuan Desert and cultivate mutual respect within our organization, the environment, and the communities we serve. We will continue to reflect upon our organization's actions and policies as a nationally accredited land trust to collectively foster a more inclusive workspace and outreach environment.
Our Story that started in 2004
Richard Teschner and Charlie Wakeem ribbon cutting in 2005 for Resler Canyon.
The Frontera Land Alliance, a non-profit organization, was founded in 2004 when a group of community members realized there was an urgent need to help preserve some of the important remaining natural and working lands in the greater El Paso and southern New Mexico region. The organization has developed the knowledge and expertise to provide guidance to landowners wanting to maintain the character of their land.
The El Paso region sits within the northern portion of the Chihuahuan Desert, one of the three most biologically diverse deserts in the world. It also has a rich history of human occupation from its earliest hunter/gatherer residents through its ranching and agricultural heritage and on to the bustling El Paso/Juarez metroplex of today.
The Rio Grande is one of the world’s major rivers and its waters are the lifeblood of the El Paso region. For millennia, the people of this region have benefited from the exceptional diversity of our natural resources, not just from a monetary standpoint, but also from the strong sense of community and spiritual strength derived from the rigors and beauty of the land.
Outdoor recreation is part of our way of life from hikers to young children who play in parks. Protecting our natural areas will ensure that we still have places to hike, bike, boat, fish, hunt, see wildlife, or just enjoy the quiet pleasure of nature.
Accomplishments
2004
Formation of The Frontera Land Alliance
2005
Established to work in the state of New Mexico. Established the 91-acre Wakeem/Teschner Nature Preserve, known as Resler Canyon
2006
Accepted 5 acres of donated land Colonia Vista.
Preserved a 26-acre parcel of land in an established neighborhood, known as Thunder Canyon
2010
Awarded $300,000 grant from Office of Economic Adjustment for Castner Range study on Conservation Conveyance
2011
Went from an all-volunteer Board of Directors to Hiring an Executive Director
2012-2013
Closed out Office of Economic Adjustment Grant
2014-2016
Spearheaded the Castner Range National Monument Campaign that seeks to preserve the Range’s 7,081 acres in perpetuity
2015
Installed Burrowing Owl nests at Resler Canyon, with TPWD, EPEC and TMN
2017
Became a Nationally-Accredited Land Trust in the region. Created Nature Discovery Education Program
2018
Created First Strategic Plan. Established an endowment with the El Paso Community Foundation
2019
Engaged with over 8,750 children, teens and adults, hosting over 72 events that exposed them to El Paso’s natural environment and volunteers donated over 600 hours of time
2021
Leading the Castner Range National Monument Campaign that seeks to preserve the Range’s 7,081 acres in perpetuity. Completed Conservation Easement on Lost Dog, 1006 acres. Completed Conservation Easement on Knapp Land, 353 acres.
Annual Report 2021: https://daffodil-octagon-l49y.squarespace.com/s/Final-Annual-Report_Jan-23-22-1-wcby.pdf
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2022
Throughout 2022, we connected with over 4,441 people, of which 80% were adults and 20% were children. We accomplished this together by hosting and participating in over 85 events. These activities included over 367 volunteers donating over 974 hours toward education and stewardship. To date Frontera has conserved over 1,470 acers of land. Hosted and partnered on guided walks, presentations, education booths, school lessons and Spanish-led hikes, to attending community meetings. And we completed our 2023 - 2027 Strategic Plan.
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2023
Castner Range Designated as a national Monument March 21, 2023!
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2024
