A pinyon jay sits in a juniper tree. The bird is a keystone species whose range extends across 13 Western states. Credit: NPS This story was originally published by Undark and is republished here ...

For the tree, for the bird, and for the people, she said, “it would just be tragic for us to lose these woodlands.” Sara Van Note is a print and audio reporter based in New Mexico. More deals ...

ESPANOLA — New Mexico’s iconic piñon trees (P. edulis), sometimes called the Two Needle Piñon, is engrained into the culture and lives of the people of our state. It has been important to ...

The large trees that once produced over a hundred pounds of piñon nuts are dying because of drought, he said. Val Panteah, governor of Zuni Pueblo in northwestern New Mexico, said many tribal ...

Sep. 19—Tlahuicole Morales Cortes was far up a piñon tree as a pack of people stooped over below him on the slopes of the rocky landscape northeast of Santa Fe, their heads lowered and eyes ...

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – New Mexico’s state tree — and the bird that calls it home — could be in jeopardy because of the ongoing drought conditions.

Of the global population of 770,000 birds, about 220,000 or 29 percent survive in New Mexico, the petition read – the most of any state in the bird’s range.

Permits are available for pinon and juniper trees through Dec. 24 for $5. They can also be purchased at the Las Cruces District Office at 1800 Marquess St.

Pinion tree (type of pine nuts) is also something we "grow" here in the Southwest. Ours were harvested off of our property but you can buy them but they can be pricey.

Within the Gila, permits for pinion trees only are free. Permits are available for purchase in person through Dec. 24 and online through Dec. 31.