Completion of Baker and Poco Pino Timber Sales Marks Major Milestone in Forest Restoration Efforts
Flagstaff, AZ (4/7/2025) – The Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management (DFFM) proudly announces the recent, successful completion of two critical forest restoration projects, the Baker and Poco Pino Timber Sales. These projects, executed under Good Neighbor Authority (GNA) agreements between DFFM and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service, reflect significant strides in enhancing forest health, reducing wildfire risk, and restoring vital ecosystems. These projects are within the Four Forest Restoration Initiative (4FRI) landscape, an area identified as having high wildfire risk by the Forest Service.
The Baker Timber Sale, initiated in May 2022 on the Coconino National Forest’s Mogollon Rim Ranger District, treated approximately 1,000 acres near Happy Jack.
The Poco Pino Timber Sale began in January 2024 on the Tonto National Forest’s Payson Ranger District and was completed across 718 acres east of Pine.
“The completion of these projects marks a significant achievement in proactive forest management. The Good Neighbor Authority program is proud to be increasing pace and scale to protect our state’s priorities, including community and water resource protection. These projects highlight the successes of collaborative efforts between the state and federal agencies, private partners, and conservation stakeholders,” DFFM’s GNA Program Manager, Christine Mares said.
“Through the Good Neighbor Authority, DFFM serves as a critical partner in meeting the Forest Service’s goal of active forest management in northern Arizona. DFFM plays an important role in providing implementation efficiencies while ensuring these projects are met to federal standards and protection measures for a sustainable forest. Most importantly, this cooperative approach helps the Forest Service meet its hazardous fuel reduction goal while supporting the vital timber industry necessary to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire to our communities and watersheds,” said Forest Service 4FRI Program Manager Scot Rogers.
Salt River Project (SRP) also played a crucial role as a major financial partner to both projects, supporting the efforts to safeguard water resources and forest resilience in the region.
“We are excited to see DFFM – USFS – SRP partnership projects on the Coconino and Tonto National Forests successfully completed. The Baker and Poco Pino projects are the first of a series of projects in the C.C. Cragin and Verde River watersheds that are reducing wildfire risk, protecting water supplies, and improving watershed health,” stated Elvy Barton, SRP’s Water and Forest Sustainability Senior Manager.
For more information, contact Tiffany Davila at 602-540-1036 or by email at [email protected].
