The time I spent in Albuquerque provided insight into the way that landscape changes affect people on an individual level. I think that it is difficult for most people to understand all the ways that climate change impacts their daily lives in a more indirect way, they only think about the direct effects on a larger scale. In New Mexico, people have been faced not only with increasing temperatures, but also an increase in both frequency and severity of flash floods, which we experienced twice in the short five days that we spent there. The changing weather patterns jump from one extreme to another, from flash flooding to drought. This fluctuation of weather extremes has serious consequences to plant growth across the region.

We had many conversations with Nani concerning landscape changes in her region, from both increasing development and a result of climate change. She told us that she is very concerned for our future generations if we don’t become more aware of how these changes to our landscape are affecting us at the community and individual level. It is because of these concerns that she has been drawing inspiration from local landscapes when painting the murals in her community over the last several years. She hopes that doing so will draw attention to these important issues, inspiring the community to act in protecting their land.

As an herbalist, Maclovia possesses an intimate understanding of the medicinal uses of many plants, as well as their growth patterns and requirements. Two of the four plants that Maclovia chose to be painted on the mural with her, are considered weeds that are native to specific regions around the Southwest U.S. and specific parts of New Mexico. One is Osha plant, which only grows high in the mountains because it requires moist soils and elevations between 9,000-10,000 ft. Because of the strict growth requirements and wide range of medicinal properties, Osha plants are overharvested and threatened in many areas. Changing climate and weather patterns could push this valuable plant to extinction before too long. The other important plant Maclovia talked about is called Yerba Mansa, or Swamp Root. While Native Americans and Spanish settlers have used the plant for many different healing properties, Nani told us that recent research has actually led scientists to believe that the scope of healing properties of this plant is far greater than originally thought. Swamp root needs damp, wet soil to grow well. Maclovia told us that she usually harvests the swamp root in July, but this year she had not been yet, and was unsure how the weather fluctuations had affected it. I suspect that over time, as drought conditions become more severe, there will be a serious impact on this super weed and it’s ability to grow the long, valuable roots that help so many people.

Being able to meet and spend time with Maclovia and Nani has been an invaluable experience, and an opportunity I am extremely grateful for. This internship as a whole allowed me to further explore my creative side, while allowing me to gain important perspectives on understanding the real value of our landscape, and what is really at stake from losing it. I hope that the films we made about Nani and Maclovia communicate these points to a broader audience, and inspire people to ask questions about how landscape changes in their regions are affecting them, and how they can get involved in their community to protect it.