Southwestern Region

Southwestern Region
333 Broadway SE [map]
Albuquerque, NM 87102
(505) 842-3292
TTY: (505) 842-3198

NEWS RELEASES: 2006

ARIZONA NATIONAL FORESTS FOCUS ON THE FUTURE

ALBUQUERQUE (May 1, 2006)—Arizona National Forests are about to embark on a new plan revision process.  All six National Forests are or will soon begin revising plans that need updating.  A new planning rule provides an updated structure for revising these plans, making them more adaptable and more strategic than current ones.  These revised plans will set the framework for major topics of interest; ranging from recreation to the community fire protection and ecological restoration work being conducted across the Southwest Region.

To learn more about this planning effort and collaboration opportunities, please join us at one of the three open houses.  All open houses will share the same information and all will begin at 6:30pm and end approximately at 8pm.  There will be ample time for questions.  The dates and locations are:

• May 2:  Four Points Sheraton, 1900 E. Speedway Boulevard, Tucson, AZ
• May 3:  Embassy Suites, 1515 N. 44th Street, Phoenix, AZ
• May 4:  Radisson Woodlands Hotel, 1175 Route 66, Flagstaff, AZ

“Current land management plans for the Apache-Sitgreaves, Coconino, Coronado, Kaibab, Prescott and Tonto National Forests are about 20 years old,” stated Regional Forester Harv Forsgren.  “These revised plans will better help me address the desires of local communities, numerous partners, and Congress for restoring fire-adapted forests and grasslands in the Southwest,” he added.

Land management plans will be revised with early and frequent opportunities for public involvement.  The new planning rule places a strong emphasis on working with various groups and individuals through a collaborative process with the ultimate goal of improving on-the-ground management. Revised land management plans will emphasize desired conditions of these public lands in the future. 

For questions regarding these open houses or future public involvement, please contact Karen Carter at 505-301-1290 or kmcarter@fs.fed.us.  If you have questions regarding the new 2005 planning rule or the Region’s planning process, please contact Matt Turner at mturner@fs.fed.us. Or view our web site at: www.fs.fed.us/r3/plan-revision/

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