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How Will Climate Change Impact Recreation And Tourism In New Mexico?

Grace Martinez

More than ten-million tourists come to the Land of Enchantment per year to participate in outdoor recreation and to view our scenic mountains and valleys. These attractions will be greatly affected by the effects of climate change.

Water Recreation
The warmer weather caused by climate change will bring about severe droughts that will greatly reduce water levels. Warmer weather will also cause earlier run-off which means bad news for river activities because the appropriate conditions for these sports will occur during the school year rather than the summer. Such things like boating, sailing, white-water rafting, kayaking, and swimming are popular in New Mexico and will eventually attract less and less people because these activities will no longer be available.

Skiing and Other Snow Sports
Climate change will severely affect the weather, especially during winter and spring. Snow will more likely fall as rain rather than snow. Mountain snowpack and the duration of the existing snow will be greatly reduced. When this happens, ski areas will be forced to close due to little or no snow. Other winter recreation areas at high elevations will suffer due to the unpredictable snow conditions.

Camping, Fishing and Hunting
The frequency and duration of forest closures are expected to increase due to the rise of wildfire hazards. This means many mountain activities such as camping, hiking, rock climbing, etc. will be restricted. The rise in water temperatures in lakes and rivers will affect fishing because the population of fish will be reduced. The hunting industry will be devastated due to habitat destruction.

Scenic Vistas
Year after year, New Mexico’s scenic vistas are enough to attract tourists from all over the world. Increased levels of air pollution will affect these vistas and habitats.

Conclusion
Warmer weather and increased levels of air pollution caused by climate change will not only affect the quality of life for New Mexicans but also the tourism economy because outdoor attractions will be lost.