As 2024 comes to a close, we celebrate the Coconino National Forest鈥檚 successes with our communities. While this article series has focused on the Wildfire Crisis Strategy, and this year was record-breaking for timber production and prescribed and managed fire, other accomplishments highlight the broader impact of our efforts. Employees, volunteers, and partners not only exceeded previous accomplishments but led the Southwestern Region which includes New Mexico and Arizona 鈥� and often the country 鈥� in these milestones.
We thinned nearly 8,000 acres, awarded almost 175,000 CCF (hundred cubic feet) of timber, and treated over 68,000 acres through prescribed and managed fire. Additionally, volunteers contributed over 116,000 hours to projects like trail maintenance, Oak Creek Canyon clean-ups, Camp Elden support, OHV ambassador programs, and bald eagle surveys.
The Coconino is the most visited forest in the Southwestern Region, welcoming over 5.5 million visitors in 2024, and ranks fifth nationwide. These visitors enjoyed diverse landscapes and recreation opportunities, including trails, campgrounds, and open spaces restored through work with timber and fire. And, millions more visited our public website, which leads all national forests in online engagement.
These accomplishments go beyond the Wildfire Crisis Strategy and priority, creating ripple effects in watershed protection, recreation, hunting opportunities, forest products, resilient forests, and, most importantly, resilient communities.
鈥淩ecord accomplishments are really something to be proud of, and I am even more pleased that our work this year had a direct and positive impact on wildfire risk reduction, sustainable recreation management, and the many other things our communities value and expect of us,鈥� said Aaron Mayville, Coconino National Forest Supervisor. 鈥淢y staff and I live here -- in the communities that we serve -- and I am so proud to be part of a team that had a great year successfully managing these beautiful public lands.鈥�
POWER IN PARTNERING
Partnerships are one of the keys to our success. They strengthen relationships with communities, Tribes, and private and public entities while enabling us to accomplish projects and build public support. Whether large landscape-scale collaborations or smaller project-based efforts, partnerships are integral to the work we do. Your dedication, hard work, and determination have driven our collective success, ensuring restored landscapes, resilient forests, resilient communities, and economic and social vitality.
The Forest has over 100 active partners, including Federal and State agencies, Tribes like the Navajo and Hopi Nations, national organizations like The Nature Conservancy and National Forest Foundation, and local groups such as the Sedona Red Rock Trail Fund and Diablo Trust.
Some examples of our efforts include collaboration with Coconino County on the Pipeline Fire Flood Mitigation projects to protect communities by repairing flood corridors; work with the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management and Salt River Project to leverage funding for fuels reduction in the C.C. Cragin Watershed; and offering and/or delivering close to 5,800 cords of wood through the Wood for Life Partnership to our Tribal communities.
鈥淎ny success the Coconino has realized is only possible due to the incredible network of partnerships and support from the broader community,鈥� added Mayville. 鈥淚n 2024, we had close to 100 formal agreements with partners that amounted to over $19 million in additional funding across the forest. That extra capacity -- and everyone coming together to do this work -- is what really made the difference this year.鈥�
WHAT IS ON TAP IN 2025
As we look to 2025, work to prioritize wildfire risk reduction, timber industry support, restoring fire-adapted ecosystems, and fuels reduction will remain the Coconino National Forest鈥檚 focus. We will also strive to keep developed recreation sites open, advance a forest-wide fee proposal, honor commitments to partners, and advance vital equity and planning work on the San Francisco Peaks Traditional Cultural Property. The Coconino is ready for another busy and productive year.
In January, we will highlight our efforts around watershed restoration in the CC Cragin Watershed, including spring and meadow restoration, channel stabilization, and riparian habitat improvement 鈥� all serving as natural wildfire breaks.
Thank you to everyone who has read and enjoyed this article series and from all of us at the Coconino National Forest, we wish you a happy and healthy holiday season.