Saving Nature’s Treasures for Future Generations Is a Priority

By Carol Romero-Wirth, Santa Fe City Councilor (District 2) and HECHO HCLC member.

Northern New Mexico is where my maternal roots lie.  My mother’s family spans many generations in the Mora Valley.

Some of my fondest childhood memories are camping in the mountains of Northern New Mexico, sharing time with grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. One memory that stands out is cutting a Christmas tree from the family land in Chacon with my mother and grandfather and getting his Chevy pickup stuck in the mud.

As a young person, my family lived in Colorado where my parents taught us to ski and my dad taught me to fish for trout.  We also hiked as a family in the Rockies.

My professional life over more than three decades in Santa Fe has been grounded by degrees in political science, public policy, and law.  My husband and I are in private practice together at the Wirth Law Firm.

I have always been an active community member participating in my children’s schools and on many non-profit boards including Literacy Volunteers of Santa Fe and the Santa Fe Community Foundation. I am currently an advisory board member with Breakthrough Santa Fe, helping middle school students in the public schools hone their academic skills for college.  

My husband and I raised our two children, now in their 20s, in Santa Fe. We wanted them to be comfortable in the outdoors and to respect and conserve nature’s beauty.

As a family, we fish, backpack, and hike. We especially love to get out with our dogs on the trails near our home. 

Expanding and creating opportunities for hiking, camping and experiences in the outdoors helps develop the values necessary to protect and strengthen our public lands. Time in the outdoors provides first-hand experiences about nature’s treasures. Saving them for future generations becomes a priority.

I wholeheartedly embrace HECHO’s goal of bringing more voices with different experiences to light. Sharing common values strengthens coalitions that help us attain important goals.

This is a powerful message that has been passed down among Hispanics in New Mexico as close ties to public lands helps develop resources that sustain community and are important places for family time.