Four Corners Sustainable Forests Partnership
Building Linkages Between Healthy Forest Ecosystems and Healthy Communities
GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
Merge environmental and economic concerns by identifying the link betweenproduction and marketing of higher value forest products and ecosystem needs;
Strengthen and diversify rural economies through community-led collaborativestewardship projects that achieve forest restoration through the manufacture ofvalue-added small-diameter wood products;
Prevent the loss and waste of natural resources by restoring at-risk forestecosystems;
Make the best use of available forest products technical assistance and bringmore expertise on small-diameter forest products technology and innovativeforest restoration strategies to the region; and
Develop and expand markets for higher value forest products fromsmall-diameter material.
CURRENT ACTIVITIES
In Fiscal Year 1999, Congress appropriated $500,000 to the U.S. Department ofAgriculture to allow New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, and Utah to beginimplementing the Four Corners Sustainable Forests Partnership A steeringcommittee was formed, and work was begun in November 1998.
The steering committee implemented the three objectives of the Partnershipsfirst phase in 1999:
1. The first draft of an integrated resource assessment was completed, including forest conditions, available resource supply, and existing and potential markets. As a result of the assessment, it has become apparent that scientific information sufficient to inform forest restoration is not available at the regional level. A forest restoration science conference is being planned in Flagstaff, Arizona, in April 2000 to address information gaps in an open and objective manner.
A region-wide strategic action roundtable was held in Taos, New Mexico, in August 1999 resulting in a strategic plan for the Partnership. Nearly 300 people, representing many perspectives, attended the roundtable and helped develop a prioritized plan of action to address the problems of forest restoration and community economic recovery in the Four Corners Region.
Seven demonstration projects in the Four Corners area have been funded to help communities demonstrate and implement creative solutions to the forest restoration and economic sustainability needs of the region. Progress made on these projects has been significant.
CURRENT DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS
has had the organizational support to develop a forest restoration plan for theNegrito Ecosystem, create a Local Economic Development Plan, gain legalnon-profit status, and write a business plan for a log sort yard/businessincubation center to be developed in the county.Catron County Citizens Group
Madera Forest Products Association, in Vallecitos, NM, is developingsignificant capacity for business management, working with the Forest ProductsLab to provide critical research on strength characteristics of small-diameterPonderosa pine, and helping to design and build a greenhouse, gazebo and drykiln from small-diameter roundwood in their community.
Zuni Pueblo has purchased a self loading truck to increase theirharvesting efficiency in forest restoration activities. They are working withthe Cibola National Forest to conduct these activities. Market research is alsounder way to allow them to identify new markets for this small-diametermaterial, in addition to using it in their sawmill to produce lumber forbuilding Shalako houses.
Colorado State Forest Service has enhanced its technical assistancecapabilities in alternative wood treatment technologies and is conductingvigorous outreach throughout the Four Corners Region to provide this informationto local businesses. The first workshop, held in Durango, CO, had 40 attendees.
The Southern Utah Forest Products Association is working to assist smallbusinesses in southeastern Utah maintain supply and identify markets forsmall-diameter timber. They are working with a local high school to provideinterns to local wood products businesses.
The Grand Canyon Forests Foundation is working with businesses inNorthern Arizona to help them identify market utilization options for low-valuewood products, assessed the feasibility of a post and pole enterprise, andexamined the feasibility of a log merchandising and manufacturing center in theregion.
The Arizona Sustainable Forest Partnership has conducted ananalysis of harvesting techniques to improve the efficiency of harvestingsmall-diameter timber, created a blueprint for the development of a log sortyard, and conducted ecosystem monitoring to assist small wood productsbusinesses in Northeastern Arizona expand into new markets.
TARGETED FUTURE ACTIVITIES
Congress appropriated $1 million for the Partnership for Fiscal Year 2000.The action plan for the next few years is based on the input from theroundtable. The Partnership is moving forward on the following activities:
Development of expanded technical assistance resources to assist communities in the region with utilization and marketing of forest restoration by-products. Colorado State Forest Service has been allocated $146,000 for the next two years to hire a wood technology specialist to provide assistance for the four-state area.
The Partnership is implementing another round of demonstration projects and has allocated $670,200 to this effort, to be managed by New Mexico State Forestry. This funding will go directly to communities and local organizations to address forest restoration and market development needs, as outlined at the roundtable. During the first year of the demonstration program, requests exceeded available funds ($275,000) by nearly $1.5 million. Outreach being conducted by the Partnership is increasing interest in the program even further. The focus on monitoring and measurement is being strengthened.
Social awareness and public information materials are being developed to provide information about the links between community and ecosystem health. Funding in the amount of $60,600 has been allocated to Montezuma County, Colorado, for this effort.
Additional activities include support of a forest restoration science conference in Flagstaff, AZ ($2,500); sponsorship of a problem on the use of small-diameter round wood at the Waste Management Education and Research Consortium Design Contest in New Mexico in 2001 ($10,000), provision of tours for Congressional staff and other key individuals on Partnership activities ($5,000), and administrative costs for the state and tribal coordinators ($90,700).
Participants in the Four Corners Partnership include county commissioners,tribal oganizations, forest products associations, environmental coalitions,public land managers, state foresters, and other local, state, and Federalrepresentatives from the Four Corners regions of New Mexico, Colorado, Utah,and Arizona. A full list of supporting organizations and individuals isavailable upon request.
For More Information
New Mexico Judy Kowalski, New Mexico State Forestry, (505) 827-7474
Colorado Carla Harper, Montezuma County, (970) 565-6061
Utah David Schen, Utah Division of Forestry, (801) 538-5555
Arizona Amber Hill, Little Colorado RC&D, (520) 524-6063 ext 5
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