Department; powers and duties

A. The department may: (1) after consultation with landowners, conservationists and other interested persons, adopt and promulgate rules to carry out the provisions of the Natural Heritage Conservation Act; (2) enter into contracts; (3) enter into joint powers agreements pursuant to the Joint Powers Agreements Act [11-1-1 to 11-1-7 NMSA 1978] to carry out the provisions of the Natural Heritage Conservation Act; (4) make grants to qualified entities for conservation projects; (5) apply for and receive in the name of the department, any public or private funds available to the department to carry out the purposes of the Natural Heritage Conservation Act; (6) acquire conservation or agricultural easements by itself or with a conservation entity or qualified entity; and (7) do all other things necessary or appropriate to carry out the provisions of the Natural Heritage Conservation Act. B. The department shall: (1) establish a competitive application process for grants from the fund; and (2) establish criteria and priorities for funding conservation projects. History: Laws 2010, ch. 83, § 4.