Nature Tourism:
Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge encompasses a large portion of central New Mexico and is a vast landscape that supports Chihuahuan Desert, Great Plains Short Grass Prairie, Colorado Plateau Shrub Steppe, and Pinyon-Juniper Woodlands.  The largest river in the state, the Rio Grande, bisects New Mexico’s largest National Wildlife Refuge.  Sevilleta is truly as unique and varied as the plant communities and wildlife it supports.  The refuge offers some amazing opportunities to take in the beauty of the diverse landscape and promotes surrounding communities by encouraging visitors to enjoy the many services offered nearby. 

Home Values:
A national study conducted in 2012 shows that owning a home near a national wildlife refuge increases home values and helps support the surrounding community’s tax base.  According to the study, homes located within half a mile of a refuge and within eight miles of an urban center were found to have higher home values.  This report is the first national study to analyze national wildlife refuges’ impact on land values.

Helpful Information:
National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation (2011).
Wildlife Watching in the U.S.:  The Economic Impacts of National and State Economies (2006).