New Mexico Forest and Watershed Restoration Institute

What New Mexico Forest and Watershed Restoration Institute does

New Mexico Forest and Watershed Restoration Institute (NMFWRI) is a nonprofit organization hosted at New Mexico Highlands University in Las Vegas, New Mexico, that delivers technical assistance, applied science, and collaborative infrastructure for forest and watershed restoration across the state. Its operations are organized around five programmatic areas: restoration advisory services, GIS and mapping, ecological monitoring, collaborative conservation support, and stewardship/STEM education. The institute was established in 2013 and employs approximately 30+ staff including a Director, two Deputy Directors, GIS specialists, monitoring technicians, collaboration specialists, and administrative personnel.

NMFWRI's technical core is a portfolio of web-based GIS applications built on ArcGIS Online infrastructure, including the New Mexico Fire Viewer (an interactive wildfire tracking and post-fire flood hazard tool with over 500,000 cumulative users), the NM Vegetation Treatment Geodatabase (polygon feature classes tracking treatment projects from 2012-present), the Hermit's Peak/Calf Canyon Fire Resources hub, the Field Monitoring Projects Web Map, and the New Mexico Collaborative Conservation Hub. Supporting the platforms is a UAS/Drone Monitoring Program built around a fixed-wing Sensefly eBee X drone capable of 90-minute flights over up to 1,235 acres with 3cm absolute accuracy, equipped with S.O.D.A. 3D and MicaSense RedEdge cameras. Field operations rest on standardized protocols documented in published Ecological Monitoring Field Manuals and a Data Sharing Portal exposing data from 2,500+ long-term riparian and upland monitoring plots, augmented by a public GitHub repository and searchable data catalog. The ReSHAPE (Resilient Systems for Assessment and Planning) program produced the Treatment and Wildfire Interagency Geodatabase (TWIG), which received the 2026 Fed GIS Award.

NMFWRI is funded almost entirely through grants and cooperative agreements, principally from the U.S. Forest Service under the Southwest Forest Health and Wildfire Prevention Act, with additional support from USDA NIFA, FEMA, the NM Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, and the New Mexico Water Trust Board. All services are provided at no cost to public stakeholders. Customer segments include federal and state land management agencies (USFS, BLM, NM State Forestry), tribal nations (e.g., Mescalero Apache Tribe), Soil and Water Conservation Districts, private landowners, community-based collaboratives (50+ supported), academic institutions, NGOs, and K-12 students. Go-to-market is community-led and mission-driven rather than commercial — delivered via direct technical assistance, workshops, conferences (e.g., IASNR), an annual report series, the Roots & Rivers newsletter, and educational programming through the Conservation Science Center.

Name

New Mexico Forest and Watershed Restoration Institute

Legal name

New Mexico Forest and Watershed Restoration Institute

Website

https://nmfwri.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

New Mexico Forest and Watershed Restoration Institute is a nonprofit hosted at New Mexico Highlands University that provides GIS mapping, ecological monitoring, UAS/drone surveillance, and collaborative support for forest and watershed restoration, serving federal and state agencies, tribes, landowners, and conservation organizations statewide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Restoration Services

NAICS

Support Activities for Forestry (11531), Support Activities for Forestry (115310)

SIC

Forestry (800), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYIMAMAAAD

Forest Management & Silviculture Services (Cruising, Planning, Compliance)

Industrials, Manufacturing & Construction/Paper & Forest Products/Forestry & Logging

SECONDARYAFAMAKAG

Timberland GIS, Remote Sensing & Data Analytics

Agriculture & Food Production/Forestry & Logging/Timberland Management Services

SECONDARYAFAMAEAH

Post-Fire Assessment & Rehabilitation (Erosion Control, Reseeding)

Agriculture & Food Production/Forestry & Logging/Forest Health, Pest & Fire Management Services

SECONDARYAFAMACAC

Site Assessment, Planning & Permitting (Reforestation Plans)

Agriculture & Food Production/Forestry & Logging/Reforestation, Afforestation & Tree Planting Services

Keywords

• Forest restoration services
• Watershed management
• Ecological monitoring
• Wildfire mitigation
• GIS mapping applications

Headquarters

HQ city

Las Vegas

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Federal Grants and Cooperative Agreements: Primary funding from the U.S. Forest Service through the Cooperative and International Programs under the Southwest Forest Health and Wildfire Prevention Act. Additional grants from USDA NIFA, FEMA, NM Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

NMFWRI delivers technical assistance, GIS/mapping, ecological monitoring, and collaborative facilitation services to support forest and watershed restoration across New Mexico. The institute develops and operates web-based mapping platforms (NM Fire Viewer, Vegetation Treatment Geodatabase), conducts long-term upland and riparian ecological monitoring, deploys UAS/drone technology for vegetation assessment, and supports community-based collaborative conservation organizations statewide.

Product overview

NMFWRI operates as a multi-component ecological restoration institute providing a portfolio of interconnected services: web-based GIS mapping applications (including the NM Fire Viewer, Vegetation Treatment Geodatabase, and Collaborative Conservation Hub), ecological monitoring programs with field crews and standardized protocols, drone-based UAS monitoring, community collaboration support through regional collaboratives, and STEM education via the Conservation Science Center. The core offerings include data platforms for wildfire tracking and vegetation management, field monitoring services with published protocols, and educational programs for workforce development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• New Mexico Fire Viewer Interactive web map providing real-time and historical wildfire data, integrating satellite imagery and GIS layers for tracking active wildfires, viewing perimeter boundaries and hot spots, and monitoring post-fire flood hazards. Used by emergency managers, agencies, and the public.
• NM Vegetation Treatment Geodatabase Geographic database containing polygon feature classes for completed, historical, ongoing, and planned vegetation treatment projects, accessible via an interactive web application. Used by land managers, agencies, and restoration practitioners.
• Hermit's Peak Calf Canyon Fire Resources Post-Fire Resource Hub and ArcGIS Story Map providing resources for recovery from the largest wildfire in New Mexico's recorded history, including recovery information and watershed impact data.
• Forest Visualization Virtual Tours Virtual forest tours and Story Maps showcasing examples of forest restoration activities across New Mexico, demonstrating restoration techniques used to make forests more resilient and sustainable.
• UAS/Drone Monitoring Program Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) service using drone technology for vegetation monitoring, environmental management, and mapping, including fixed-wing and multi-rotor drones with specialized cameras for capturing vegetation changes.
• Ecological Monitoring Data Sharing Portal Portal providing access to data from over 2,500 long-term monitoring plots in riparian and upland areas across New Mexico, with a GitHub repository and searchable data catalog. Used by researchers, agencies, and restoration practitioners.
• Conservation Science Center STEM education program building equitable pathways in science, technology, engineering, and math through place-based programming including K-12 student programs, summer field experiences, and community engagement.
• New Mexico Collaborative Conservation Hub Centralized online resource supporting natural resource collaboratives across New Mexico with mapping, organizational information, and networking capabilities.
• ReSHAPE Mapping Application Mapping application developed by the Southwest Ecological Restoration Institute's ReSHAPE Program, providing interagency data on treatments and wildfire for restoration planning.
• Ecological Monitoring Field Manuals Guidelines and protocols for monitoring upland forests and riparian restoration projects, including versioned field manuals with standardized data collection forms for restoration practitioners.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduced wildfire risk through collaborative restoration across property boundaries
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and regional.

• Western Collaborative Conservation Network (WCCN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of community-based, conservation-focused collaboratives across the western US that NMFWRI partners with for collaborative conservation mapping and shared learning initiatives.
• Southwest Collaborative Support Network (SWCSN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional network of experienced facilitators in Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado working to identify needs of collaboratives and develop capacity-building resources.
• Center for Collaborative Conservation (CCC)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocated at Colorado State University, the CCC helps create innovative conservation solutions through collaboration and represents diverse voices in conservation decisions.
• Agricultural Research Service (ARS) - Southwest Watershed Research CentermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUSDA research agency collaborating on hydrologic research, watershed modeling, and applications at field to watershed scales with local landowners and partner organizations.
• Mountain Studies Institute (MSI)regionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndependent non-profit research and education center in Silverton, CO focused on environmental issues in the San Juan Mountains region.
• RiversEdge WestregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit focused on riparian forest and floodplain health in the American West, addressing invasive species, drought impacts, and facilitating cross-boundary restoration.
• U.S. Forest ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary federal funding partner providing support through the Southwest Forest Health and Wildfire Prevention Act Cooperative and International Programs. USFS Region 3 works with NMFWRI on restoration projects.
• New Mexico Highlands UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost institution providing institutional infrastructure, academic partnerships, student internship opportunities, and GIS/GPS capacity support for NMFWRI operations.
• Otero Working GroupmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInteragency collaborative organization addressing forest and watershed restoration in the Sacramento Mountains with partners including Lincoln National Forest, Mescalero Apache Tribe, and Otero SWCD.
• Mountainair CollaborativemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative bringing partners and stakeholders in the Mountainair Ranger District landscape together to build relationships for benefitting social, ecological, and economic well-being of communities.
• Connecting for Conservation (C4C) - Santa FeregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork connecting collaboratives and partners working on forest and watershed restoration in the greater Santa Fe area, supporting capacity building and information sharing.
• Greater Rio Grande Watershed AlliancemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWatershed alliance conducting riparian ecological monitoring and restoration work in collaboration with NMFWRI's monitoring team and data sharing platforms.
• Southwest Decision ResourcesregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization in the collaborative mapping project supporting decision-making and resource management in the Southwest region.
• Arizona Cross Watershed NetworkregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner network in the collaborative mapping initiative connecting watershed groups across Arizona and supporting regional conservation efforts.
• Hermits Peak Watershed AlliancemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal watershed alliance working on post-fire recovery in the Hermit's Peak/Calf Canyon burn scar area, collaborating on monitoring and restoration activities.
• Soil and Water Conservation DistrictsmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartnership with Edgewood, East Estancia, Claunch-Pinto, and other SWCDs for watershed monitoring, restoration projects, and collaborative conservation in New Mexico.
• Lincoln National ForestmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal forest management partnership for restoration work in the Sacramento Mountains through the Otero Working Group collaborative.
• Mescalero Apache TribemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTribal partner participating in the Otero Working Group for forest and watershed restoration in the Sacramento Mountains region.
• Bureau of Land ManagementmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal agency partner contributing to vegetation treatment mapping, land cover classification, and collaborative restoration projects statewide.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• National Forest Foundation: Congressionally chartered non-profit partner of the USDA Forest Service funding on-the-ground restoration across all national forests. Overlaps NMFWRI's federal-grant-funded forest restoration model but at far larger national scale and brand recognition.
• The Nature Conservancy: Global conservation non-profit operating at massive scale across New Mexico and the Southwest, conducting forest and watershed restoration with significant GIS, policy, and grant capacity. Functions as an incumbent with overlapping conservation and restoration programs but a much broader portfolio.

Direct peers

• Quivira Coalition: New Mexico-based non-profit building resilience through collaboration, land management, and restoration education with ranchers and communities. Comparable in geography, collaborative-conservation model, and Southwest-specific natural resources focus.
• Forest Stewards Guild: National non-profit advancing ecological forestry and forest-based livelihoods through practitioner education, policy, and applied demonstration projects. Comparable mission and non-profit structure serving forest managers and landowners, with comparable reliance on grants and practitioner networks.
• RiversEdge West: Non-profit dedicated to riparian forest and floodplain restoration across the American West, addressing invasive species, drought, and cross-boundary restoration. Directly comparable as a listed NMFWRI partner with overlapping riparian monitoring and collaborative conservation focus.
• Ecological Restoration Institute (SWERI), Northern Arizona University: Sister Southwest forestry research institute at NAU focused on ponderosa pine restoration and wildfire resilience. Directly comparable as a federally funded, university-hosted ecological restoration organization developing GIS tools, and NMFWRI's actual ReSHAPE/TWIG co-development partner.
• Center for Collaborative Conservation, Colorado State University: CSU-based center building collaborative conservation practice through research, convening, and partnership support. Highly comparable as a listed NMFWRI partner and as an academic-hosted institute advancing collaborative conservation methodologies.

Emerging players

• Watershed Management Group: Arizona-based non-profit building community-driven watershed restoration capacity with monitoring, education, and on-the-ground projects. Comparable in mission emphasizing watershed health, community engagement, and field-based monitoring, though Tucson-focused.

Regional players

• Mountain Studies Institute: San Juan Mountains (Colorado)-based non-profit research and education center supporting environmental monitoring and watershed restoration. Listed NMFWRI partner; comparable as a peer mountain-region research institute with monitoring and education programs.
• New Mexico Land Conservancy: State-focused land trust conserving natural and working lands across New Mexico through easements and stewardship. Operates in the same New Mexico geography but with a land-conservation/transactional model rather than NMFWRI's restoration and GIS service model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/NMFWRI
• Facebookfacebook.com/nmfwri

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about New Mexico Forest and Watershed Restoration Institute