FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, September 12, 2024
Conservation Advocates Issue Statements on the Passing of Kent Salazar, Lifelong Advocate for New Mexico Lands, Wildlife and Equity
SANTA FE – Today, a community of conservation, lands, wildlife and water advocates and organizations reflect on the legacy left by lifelong conservation and equity advocate Kent Salazar. Salazar spent his life advocating for the protection of the very things New Mexicans treasure about our state: public lands, wildlife, clean water, healthy families and resilient communities. In his many roles, he worked to help establish the Organ Mountains Desert Peaks National Monument, the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund, and served in both advisory and formal roles on the federal, state and municipal level. Salazar served for two decades as the director of environmental health for the City of Albuquerque, on the New Mexico Climate Change Task Force, and on the New Mexico State Game Commission. He also supported conservation nonprofits through board service, including Conservation Voters New Mexico (CVNM), H.E.C.H.O. and the National Wildlife Federation.
Conservation organizations and advocates issued the following statements in response:
“Today, we mourn the passing of a true champion for the Land of Enchantment. In addition to his many accomplishments, Kent was also a humble, kind, and passionate leader who centered equity, inclusion, and compassion in all that he did. As a former board member of CVNM, he led work to spearhead the organization’s first equity and inclusion efforts, bringing his deep knowledge from his groundbreaking national environmental justice work to us and other conservation nonprofits. He was also deeply beloved for his humor and honesty, making him an approachable yet fierce advocate in the policy arena. Kent will be remembered as a mentor and a model of what it takes to make meaningful change happen: persistence, kindness, passion, and justice. The conservation community is better because of the work he led, and all that he accomplished. The staff and board of CVNM express our deepest condolences to the Salazar family, and all of the people that he profoundly and deeply influenced. ~ Demis Foster, CVNM Chief Executive Officer
“Kent was a kind and gentle person who spent his life working to protect the natural resources we care about so deeply. He accomplished great things through his tireless advocacy, yet remained committed to being part of a team. Until the very end, he was interested and engaged in the work we were doing and are planning to do into the future. He understood that his work was part of a centuries-long effort to conserve land, water, and wildlife for future generations. The entire conservation community learned from him, and will be better advocates because of him. We are all mourning the loss of a great friend, colleague, and mentor”. ~Judy Calman, New Mexico Policy Director for Audubon Southwest
“Kent was a true New Mexican caballero, and a champion for our communities, our wildlife, our natural environment, and our way of life. We at Amigos Bravos consider it an honor and a privilege that we were able to work with Kent on these issues, and we will deeply miss his wisdom and his mentorship.” ~ Joe Zupan, Executive Director for Amigos Bravos
“Kent leaves a remarkable legacy through his selfless work to protect New Mexico’s landscapes, his passionate protection of wildlife, and advocacy for equity in accessing the outdoors. It has been an exceptional honor to be guided by his leadership, touched by his mentorship, and to continue to experience the stunning places he fought to protect for generations to come. Thank you Kent Salazar for your service, New Mexico has lost a leading environmental advocate and dear friend.” ~ Tahlia Bear, Indigenous Peoples Engagement Manager, Western Resource Advocates
“The New Mexico Wildlife Federation is immensely grateful for Kent’s contributions to our organization and his leadership in wildlife conservation. I had the honor of working closely with Kent and have benefited from his extensive knowledge, kind spirit and love for both people and wildlife. Kent said that in order to make a difference, we have to work with everybody and never give up. Kent demonstrated that advice every day in all he did. His infectious smile and positive attitude were a reminder to all who knew him that our time is limited but we have a responsibility to help others and leave this place better than we found it. Kent definitely did that. He will be dearly missed but always remembered. Let’s allow Kent’s legacy to guide our work, help us smile and inspire our goals.” ~ Jesse Deubel, NMWF Executive Director
“New Mexico has its share of legendary conservation heroes. Champions like Aldo Leopold, Dave Foreman, David Soules and Ester Garcia are but a few that top the list. Kent Salazar is another individual who deserves a place in this special New Mexico conservation hall of fame. One of Kent’s most special attributes was the effortless mentorship role he played throughout his remarkable conservation career. His passion for protecting and stewarding our precious natural resources was infectious. Kent inspired countless grassroots and grasstops advocates to engage in conservation initiatives that normally would not have done so without his powerful presence. Many of these people, myself included, eventually became conservation professionals because of Kent’s passion and selfless guidance. His remarkable conservation legacy lives on in the hearts of the hundreds of people he mentored and inspired throughout his lifetime. Kent will be greatly missed by so many of us who looked up to him and learned to love the wild world through his ceaseless commitment to protecting it.” ~ Garrett VeneKlasen, Northern Conservation Director, NM Wild
“Through countless campaigns and across millions of acres, Kent Salazar distinguished himself as an ambassador for wildlife and open spaces. We will see the lessons he taught us and his signature on conservation for generations to come.” ~ Toner Mitchell, Trout Unlimited
“Kent wasn’t just an advocate for the cherished landscapes, but was a mentor and booster for so many young people who shared his love of the land. He stood for fair access for all to the outdoors and a supportive booster for the next generation of land protectors.” ~ Camilla Feibelman, Sierra Club Rio Grande Chapter Director.