encouraging on-campus recycling

These recycling bins at the Taos Branch are an efficient way to dispose appropriately - Plastic Bottles (Green Bin) and Cans (Blue Bin). In my perspective this is an encouraging way for UNM students to also do it from the comfort of their homes. This is a practice that I've been doing for the last month or so, until I decided to drink from reusable water bottles.

Contribution by Jose Gonzalez, March 2015

fun in reusing

The Kit Carson Park play structure is made from recycled plastic containers, aluminum cans, and soup cans.

Contribution by Jose Gonzalez, March 2015

Whole community resilience - from the prairie dog community

The water from mountain snows would simply run into the river and float away from our local aquifers if not for some often undervalued neighbors in our community, the prairie dog (genus Cynomys). Prairie dog tunnel systems channel rainwater into the water table which prevents runoff and erosion, and can also change the composition of the soil in a region by reversing soil compaction that can be a result of cattle grazing. Their burrows aerate the ground, helping to cool it, which improves root health and encourages plant growth. These little locals are icons of resilience.

 

By Christopher Heron, March 2015

Data and image references:
Hoogland, J.L. (1995) The Black- tailed Prairie Dog: Social Life of a Burrowing Mammal, Chicago, IL: The University of Chicago Press.

Image - Jackson, L. D. "Sunday Hunt for Links – Prairie Dog Edition." Political Realities. N.p., 14 Nov. 2010. Web. 1 Mar. 2015.

Orographic Opportunities

One ubiquitous sign of resilience here are the mountains. They protect our valley from tornadoes and cyclones. They catch passing weather and keep our water table full. They provide fuel, food and medicine with the flora and fauna they house. Mountain streams enable successful farming here, and mountain pastures help keep ranch animals healthy.  For our modern culture, they offer a plethora of marketable activities for tourism which, in and of itself, is a wealth stream of opportunity for our community. 

By Christopher Heron, February 2015