In an effort to bolster forest health and reduce the danger of wildfires in Arizona, the state has signed a new Shared Stewardship Agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). This move comes as a cooperative promise between state and federal land management agencies to address the escalating threat of wildfires that has plagued Arizona landscapes.
The agreement, signed by USDA Undersecretary for Natural Resources and Environment Dr. Homer Wilkes and Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs, builds upon a 2020 Memorandum of Understanding. The partnership aims to enhance efforts like the Four Forest Restoration Initiative (4FRI), and employs funding from recent federal acts. According to a statement from the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management, the funding will be sourced from the Biden-Harris Administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and, Inflation Reduction Act to tackle high-priority "firesheds."
"I am thankful for Governor Hobbs’ commitment to the long-standing partnership between the USDA Forest Service and the State of Arizona," Dr. Homer Wilkes stated to the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management. Under the new agreement, the collaborative efforts will look to improve the condition of forests on a landscape scale. Governor Hobbs expressed the importance of partnership for protecting communities, infrastructure, and ecosystems from the destruction of wildfires. "This Stewardship Agreement renews our commitment to working with the US Forest Service to mitigate wildfire threats to Arizona communities and ensure healthy forests and ample water supply," Hobbs affirmed.
The collaborative strategies will aim to restore ecosystems adapted to fire, reduce wildfire risks to communities, address forest health threats, and develop economic strategies to maintain productive working forests. By working together, state and federal agencies are poised to increase resilience against fires, manage forest health, and foster sustainable economic development.
