Amid concerns of wildfire and drought, Coconino County officials sat down with USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack to press for more federal dollars in the fight for forest restoration. According to a recent press release from the county, the September 12 roundtable brought into sharp focus the critical need for continued investment in ongoing forest restoration efforts.
Supervisor Jeronimo Vasquez underscored the urgency, pointing to a history marred by wildfire destruction. "Coconino County is no stranger to wildfire," Vasquez told those gathered. Since 2010, the county has been scarred by nine major wildfires which have gone on to rapidly consume over 250,000 acres. The County Board of Supervisors has taken a proactive stance since 2017, acknowledging wildfire and post-wildfire flooding as major public safety threats, which has spurred the Forest Restoration Initiative, backed by local tax dollars to draw in federal support. This initiative seeks to not only to restore but also to reduce wildfire risks through critical projects like the Upper Rio de Flag Watershed Project and the Bill Williams Mountain Project.
Jay Smith, the county's Forest Restoration Director, shed light on the monetary demands of restoration. "Our Forest Restoration Initiative has invested over $7.5 million since 2018 and will invest another $9.6 million this year," Smith said, as disclosed in the same press release. He emphasized that for work to be far from over, sustaining support from Washington is crucial to keep these projects moving forward. Smith also noted that investments from the USDA have been indispensable in fostering the regional forest industries that bolster restoration efforts.
Smith went on to highlight the significant role that the forest restoration industry and partnerships, like The Nature Conservancy, play in tackling the wildfire crisis. An economically resonant note struck when Smith detailed the county's over 280 employees tied directly to forest industry engagements, a robust $155 million in industry assets and investments, and an impressive $65 million accumulated from partnership grants and funding over the past decade. "We are stepping up locally," Smith added, telling those present, "And we need consistent federal funding to leverage local dollars as we work collaboratively with our federal, state and non-profit partners to protect our communities."
The Secretary's Roundtable wasn't just a local affair. It saw the involvement of multiple stakeholders, including Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego, a representative from Governor Katie Hobbs' office, and entities like the Salt River Project and The Nature Conservancy. Secretary Vilsack himself spotlighted the historic levels of investment poured into the state and region, underlined by the financial backing from legislature like President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act. For those seeking deeper insight into Coconino County's forest restoration strategies, the county encourages visits to its official webpage dedicated to these efforts.
