Nature is amazing, particularly in New Mexico — our brilliant blue skies and stunning sunsets, the multicolored canyons around Ghost Ranch in Abiquiú, the majestic peaks of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and the glistening sand dunes at White Sands. Every time we step out into nature, we’re overcome with gratitude for the beauty that surrounds us and for the respite from the craziness of the world that it offers us.

Sadly, nature is being threatened more and more these days. Overpopulation of the planet, overuse of natural resources and lack of education have led to polluted skies, an abundance of trash at campgrounds and on the trails, and desecration of our sacred spaces.

We are deeply saddened by recent graffiti vandalism at La Cieneguilla Petroglyph Site on the Caja del Rio plateau. This is a sacred, ancient, powerful area in New Mexico that deserves to be seen, witnessed, experienced and most importantly, protected. We read articles about the vandalism, saw the outcry of environmental advocates on social media and understood the deep pain local Indigenous communities felt.