Recent progress in forest restoration in Arizona includes the closure of two major timber sales by the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management. The Baker and Poco Pino timber sales are part of the Good Neighbor Authority agreements, which involve collaboration between state and federal agencies to improve forest health, reduce wildfire risk, and support local ecosystems.
As part of the Four Forest Restoration Initiative landscape, these areas were identified by the U.S. Forest Service as being at risk for wildfire. The Baker Timber Sale, which began in May 2022, has concluded, covering about 1,000 acres in the Mogollon Rim Ranger District near Happy Jack. The Poco Pino Timber Sale, completed in 2024, focused on 718 acres east of Pine in the Payson Ranger District of the Tonto National Forest.
Christine Mares, who manages DFFM's GNA Program, asserted the importance of these projects in a statement obtained by DFFM. “The completion of these projects marks a significant achievement in proactive forest management. 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,” said Mares.
The Forest Service equally recognizes the Good Neighbor Authority's efforts with Scot Rogers, 4FRI Program Manager for the service, illustrated the synergistic impact of these collaborations. With DFFM providing critical assistance in meeting federal forestry standards and protections for a sustainable future. “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,” Rogers told DFFM. “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,” he explained.
Not to be overlooked is the financial input from the Salt River Project (SRP), which has been instrumental in supporting these forest management endeavors. Elvy Barton, SRP’s Water and Forest Sustainability Senior Manager, praised the projects' effect on local water resources and forest resilience. “We are excited to see DFFM – USFS – SRP partnership projects on the Coconino and Tonto National Forests successfully completed. The Baker and Poco Pino projects are the first of a series of projects in the C.C. Cragin and Verde River watersheds that are reducing wildfire risk, protecting water supplies, and improving watershed health,” Barton told DFFM.
For additional information about these forest restoration efforts, Tiffany Davila from the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management can be reached at 602-540-1036 or through email at [email protected].
