Who donated Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge?

Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge was donated to The Nature Conservancy in 1973 by the Campbell Family and Campbell Farming Corporation, making it the largest private land gift in U.S. history. The land was then transferred to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

How large is Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge?

Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge encompasses 230,000 acres in central New Mexico, making it one of the largest refuges in the National Wildlife Refuge System in the lower 48 states.

Why is Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge significant?

Sevilleta is unique because four distinct biomes—Chihuahuan Desert, Great Plains Prairie, Colorado Plateau, and Montane Forest—converge here, creating unmatched biodiversity. It also serves as a world-class research station with over 700 scientific publications.

What is the Campbell Family conservation legacy?

The Campbell Family has a long-standing conservation legacy, including the 1973 donation of Sevilleta—the largest private land gift in U.S. history. Today, Campbell Farming Corporation continues this legacy through conservation efforts and responsible development in New Mexico's East Mountains.

National Wildlife Refuge

SEVILLETA

One of the largest and most ecologically significant refuges in the American Southwest spans 230,000 acres where four distinct biomes converge. This extraordinary landscape exists today thanks to a single act of philanthropy. In 1973, the Campbell Family made a historic donation, the largest private land gift in U.S. history.

230K

Acres Protected

700+

Scientific Publications

Major Biomes

An Intersection of Worlds

The Crown Jewel of New Mexico's Wild Lands

Located 50 miles south of Albuquerque, Sevilleta is one of the largest refuges in the National Wildlife Refuge System in the lower 48 states. It serves as a rare meeting point for four major ecosystems, creating biodiversity unmatched anywhere else in the Southwest.

Chihuahuan Desert

Sun-baked mesas and resilient desert flora adapted to the arid Southwest climate.

Great Plains Prairie

Endless shortgrass expanses where pronghorn roam beneath vast open skies.

Colorado Plateau

Ancient shrub-steppe ecosystems carved by millennia of wind and water.

Montane Forest

Coniferous highlands rising above the desert floor, a refuge for mountain wildlife.

A Vision Preserved

None of This Would Exist Without One Family's Vision

The Sevilleta you see today, this pristine expanse of wild land, this world-class research station, this meeting place of four biomes, exists because of a single family's extraordinary commitment to conservation.

Learn About Campbell Farming Explore Research

1928

Land Grant Sold at Public Sale

Following the public sale of the Sevilleta de La Joya Land Grant, Socorro County assumes ownership. Soon the county finds itself burdened by the mounting expenses and tax liabilities of such a massive acreage.

1936

Campbell Ranch Acquires the Property

Campbell Ranch acquires the property from the county, bringing the land under single ownership and providing Socorro County with much-needed financial relief.

1973

The Largest Private Land Donation in U.S. History

Honoring General Campbell's dying wish that the land be kept in its natural state for education and research, the Campbell Family and Campbell Farming Corporation donate the entire property to The Nature Conservancy, which immediately transfers it to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Pronghorn antelope grazing at Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge

230,000 Acres Preserved Forever

Today

A Legacy That Continues

Campbell Farming Corporation carries forward General Campbell's founding vision, having donated and preserved thousands of additional acres across New Mexico.

Scientific Legacy

A World-Class Laboratory

Unlike refuges focused on recreation, Sevilleta's primary mission is preservation and scientific inquiry. It is managed to allow natural ecological processes, including fire and flood, to function as they did centuries ago.

Sandhill cranes at Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge in New Mexico

Long-Term Research

Since 1989, the University of New Mexico's LTER program has produced over 700 scientific publications documenting climate change impacts and complex soil microbiota.

Wildlife Restoration

Home to pronghorn, mule deer, mountain lions, and migratory birds. The refuge provides a critical pre-release facility for endangered Mexican Wolf recovery.

Living Laboratory

Unlike refuges focused on recreation, Sevilleta allows natural processes to function as they did centuries ago—fire and flood create an unparalleled research environment.

Wetlands landscape at Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge

Experience the Wild

Explore Sevilleta

While much of the refuge is reserved for research, visitors can explore designated hiking trails, wildlife viewing areas, and seasonal tours highlighting petroglyphs and cultural history.

Learn About Campbell Farming

Continued Stewardship

The Legacy Continues

Today, Campbell Farming Corporation carries forward General Campbell's founding vision that New Mexico's most precious landscapes should be preserved for education, research, and future generations. Building on the family's conservation legacy, Campbell Farming has donated and preserved thousands of additional acres across New Mexico, particularly in the East Mountains communities near Albuquerque. There, the company demonstrates its commitment to responsible development while preserving the region's natural character.

Discover Campbell Farming