The Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management (DFFM) has completed two timber removal projects on U.S. Forest Service lands south of Flagstaff recently. Both projects are located within the area of the Four Forest Restoration Initiative (4FRI), a joint project of the Coconino, Tonto, Apache-Sitgreaves and Kaibab national forests to reduce wildfire risk and improve forest health.
The Baker Timber Sale, initiated in May 2022 on the Coconino National Forest’s Mogollon Rim Ranger District, included approximately 1,000 acres near Happy Jack. The Poco Pino Timber Sale began in January 2024 on the Tonto National Forest’s Payson Ranger District and included 718 acres east of Pine.
DFFM was the primary contractor for thinning and timber harvesting operations on both parcels under the Forest Service’s (GNA) program, which enables partnerships with state forestry agencies.
“The completion of these projects marks a significant achievement in proactive forest management,� DFFM’s GNA program manager Christine Mares said in a press release. “The Good Neighbor Authority program is proud to be increasing pace and scale to protect our state’s priorities, including community and water resource protection. These projects highlight the successes of collaborative efforts between the state and federal agencies, private partners and conservation stakeholders.�
Scot Rogers, 4FRI project manager for the Forest Service, stated, “Through the Good Neighbor Authority, DFFM serves as a critical partner in meeting the Forest Service’s goal of active forest management in northern Arizona. DFFM plays an important role in providing implementation efficiencies while ensuring these projects are met to federal standards and protection measures for a sustainable forest. Most importantly, this cooperative approach helps the Forest Service meet its hazardous fuel reduction goal while supporting the vital timber industry necessary to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire to our communities and watersheds.�
President Donald Trump issued an executive order instructing the U.S. Forest Service to “facilitate increased timber production,� including the potential adoption of “categorical exclusions� to the National Environmental Protection Act. Following that order, new Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins declared an “emergency situation� on over 100 million acres of Forest Service lands -- roughly 59% of the agency’s total managed area -- in order to expedite timber sales and logging.
Both of the projects recently completed by DFFM began prior to these declarations. Whether the executive and secretarial orders will result in significantly accelerated sales or harvesting of timber in northern Arizona remains to be seen.