Pinaleño Ecosystem Restoration Project
Welcome
The Pinaleño (Graham) Mountains are located in Graham County, Southeastern Arizona, on lands administered by the Coronado National Forest, Safford Ranger District. They span nearly 7,000 vertical feet, from desert to subalpine forests. Prior to about 1870, the Pinaleños maintained healthy, resilient ecosystems that were adapted to naturally occurring fire regimes (primarily frequent, low-intensity wildfires). After European settlement, the natural ecosystem processes were interrupted by passive (overgrazing) and active fire suppression, and harvest of large-diameter trees. The result is that today the forests are composed of overly dense, small-diameter trees and snags with excessive amounts of downed wood. The composition of the mixed-conifer forest between about 8,500 and 10,000 feet elevation has shifted from fire-adapted to fire-intolerant tree species.
In addition, climate change and drought are helping to poise the Pinaleños for epidemic insect or disease outbreaks and catastrophic, stand-replacing fires. Indeed, both of these events have taken place in recent years. The flora and fauna have not evolved to tolerate these new conditions or catastrophic events, so there is a need to use silvicultural management and prescribed burning to begin to restore the natural balance in the remaining forests and woodlands.
The Safford Ranger District has conducted numerous restoration projects, including low-elevation prescribed burns and a forest thinning project higher on the Mountain. While these are good steps to help reduce the potential for crown fire in the mixed conifer zone, there is still an urgent need to further reduce fuel loads and restore the forest ecosystems. The next logical step is the Pinaleño Ecosystem Restoration Project.
This is a fuel reduction and forest restoration project proposal encompassing about 5,800 acres of Forest land in the mixed-conifer zone. It is composed of three elements:
- Important Wildlife Habitat Areas
- Forest Restoration Areas
- and Mt. Graham Red Squirrel Midden Protection Zones
This website contains information about the PERP, including important documents, maps, and photographs.
Instructions for public involvement and submission of comments are located on the Contact Us page. |
