In an unexpected move last month, the US Forest Service (USFS) cancelled the solicitation for the Four Forest Restoration Initiative (4FRI) Phase 2 Request for Proposal (RFP) for landscape-scale forest management. According to Navajo County administration, the actions by USFS halted a critical endeavor for forest restoration for protecting communities from catastrophic wildfires. The impacts of which affect watershed functions that serve major metropolitan areas, ecological systems, local rural economy through forestry, ranching and recreation economies. Phase 2 would have restored more than 500,000 acres of forest to its natural, fire-adapted state by attracting public and private investment in forest industry and biomass energy. The sudden cancellation of the RFP interrupts a process that has been developing for the past three years. “The safety of our communities and economies in the White Mountains are directly tied to forest health, and the cancellation of the RFP leaves our communities vulnerable to catastrophic forest fires,” said Navajo County Supervisor Jason Whiting. “We want our residents to know that the County took immediate action and reached out to our Congressional Delegation to express our concern and frustration with the cancellation and we have already begun to engage directly with the Forest Service and other stakeholders to develop possible solutions that preserve our homes, businesses and industries.” On Oct. 12, County officials participated in the first of a series of roundtables with the Forest Service, forest industry leaders and utility companies. During the meeting, the USFS, forest industry leaders and key utility companies agreed to work collaboratively to develop realistic, long-term solutions to address the overdue forest management concerns. A second roundtable will be held next with additional stakeholder groups including conservation organizations, and other local and tribal governments to define next steps for expedited forest management. Besides being an active participant in these discussions, Navajo County is working to arrange site visits with Congressional delegates to help them better understand possible solutions and the need for on-going partnership.
