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.