Tuesday, April 21, 2015

Arizona Game and Fish Applauds Record of Decision for Four Forest Restoration Initiative

(FLAGSTAFF)-- On Friday, April 17th, Supervisors of the Coconino and Kaibab National Forests signed a Record of Decision for the Four Forest Restoration Initiative (4FRI), an unprecedented, collaborative effort to restore 1 million acres of at-risk ponderosa pine forest across northern Arizona.

Arizona Game and Fish Department Director Larry Voyles applauded the signing, saying "this is an historic day for conservation in Arizona and the nation as a whole. Our Southwestern forests have borne the brunt of catastrophic wildfires for over a decade, conflagrations that have adversely impacted local communities, wildlife habitat, wildlife-associated recreation and resource-based economic activity. I'm optimistic that we have finally turned the corner to embrace a collaborative, proactive approach to conserving and actively managing this natural legacy for current and future generations of Arizonans."

Through the Four Forest Restoration Initiative, forest managers are able to implement the suite of restoration activities – from watershed maintenance and habitat improvements, to prescribed burning and thinning – on a much larger scale. The goal of 4FRI is to increase the pace and scale of forest treatments in Northern Arizona in order to increase resilience and function of the ponderosa pine forest and restore the fire-adapted ecosystem.

Director Voyles expressed appreciation to the U.S. Forest Service, the diverse group of 4FRI stakeholders, and the Arizona Governor's office for bringing this effort to fruition. "It's been a long haul and we've cleared hurdles that naysayers said were insurmountable," said Voyles. "But we're not done yet, we need to translate this success to other Arizona forests that are at risk and in need of restoration."

One such area is the Kaibab Plateau, home to the iconic Kaibab deer herd and extensive tracts of old-growth ponderosa pine. The Forest Service recently initiated the Burnt Corral Project, a new collaborative restoration effort for that area.

Director Voyles expressed his support, saying "restoring forests on the Kaibab Plateau is a top priority. However, we are concerned that a recent proposal to convert those lands to a national monument via unilateral executive action will deprive the public of their voice and add layers of bureaucratic overhead compromising our ability to maintain forest health, wildlife habitat, and other important resource values."

This spring, as conditions allow, operations will begin work on 4FRI thinning task orders. For additional information on thinning task orders and other 4FRI efforts, visit the 4FRI website at www.fs.usda.gov/4FRI.

Did you know?

The Arizona Game and Fish Department has trust responsibility for managing more than 800 native wildlife species – the most of any inland state – for current and future generations of Arizona citizens. www.azgfd.gov/h_f/northamericanmodel.shtml


Contact:
Bill Andres
Information Branch Chief
BAndres@azgfd.gov 623-236-7223