Healthy Forests Initiative - Fact Sheet

Making A Difference
Gila National Forest - New Mexico

The following projects are being implemented using the new guidance from the Council on Environmental Quality on environmental assessments and Title I of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 or the new categorical exclusion under the Healthy Forests Initiative.

Wahoo Prescribed Fire EA/HFRA (Black Range District): 260,000 acre collaborative demonstration project for restoration of ponderosa pine forests. Collaboration partners include the Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, state and private. Phase 1 of the project focuses on demonstration and monitoring of different treatments. Treatment acres for phase 1 in 2004 are 70 acres of mechanical treatment; 2005 is 70 acres of mechanical and 70 acres of prescribed fire.

Burro Vegetation Management EA/HFRA (Reserve District): Hazardous fuel treatment in pinon-juniper, ponderosa pine, and mixed conifer which includes restoration of grasslands and commercial forest product sales. This project is in the early stage of planning and treatment acres have not been identified, project boundary is 27,000 acres.

Reserve Wildland Urban Interface EA/HFRA (Reserve District): Hazardous fuel treatment and vegetation restoration in 34,000 acres of pinon-juniper, ponderosa pine, mixed conifer and riparian areas. Treatments will include prescribed fires in 2,800 acres of pinon-juniper, 1,100 acres of ponderosa pine, 344 acres of mixed conifer, and 30 acres of riparian. Initial treatments will be followed-up in 2007 - 2008 with prescribed fire in 8 large burn blocks totaling approximately 30,000 acres.

Meadow Peak Burn - Phase 1 EA/HFRA (Silver City District): Project planning was initiated in 2002 and is now being revised and resubmitted using the new HFRA authority. Hazardous fuel reduction is proposed on approximately 5,000 acres of pinon-juniper and mixed conifer using prescribed fire treatment methods. Decision is expected for 9/2004.

Little Walnut Wildland Urban Interface CE 10/HFI (Silver City District): Hazardous fuel reduction in pinon-juniper and ponderosa pine on approximately 300 acres accomplished by thinning followed by use of prescribed fire to reduce fuels from thinning and maintenance burns to retain fire regime condition class 1. There is a slight potential for sale of commercial products.

For more information on the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 and the Healthy Forests Initiative, visit www.healthyforests.gov

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