This illustrates the discrepancy between forest health and our normal activities.
In this article, we examine how healthy forests support a healthy economy by providing job opportunities, promoting tourism, and enabling all of us to enjoy outdoor recreational activities.
Coconino County, in partnership with the Coconino, Kaibab, Apache-Sitgreaves and Prescott National Forests, has established Stage Fire Restrictions to reduce the risk to public safety from catastrophic fires and subsequent catastrophic floods, which pose a potential threat for years after a forest fire . It’s all too easy to overlook how the health of our local economy relates to the health of our forest, as the connection between open campfires and log trucks is seldom made.
To test this point, imagine the last time you, your friends and family gathered around an open charcoal grill or campfire to grill hot dogs and burgers while avoiding the smoke that seems to follow you no matter where you are. Now imagine the part of your conversation where you talked about how great it was to have loggers treating the local forests, thinning the small trees and reducing the risk of a catastrophic forest fire.
It’s easy for most people to imagine a barbecue and campfire, but remembering the conversations about lumberjacks, lumberjack drivers, and sawmills is difficult. This illustrates the discrepancy between forest health and our normal activities. Given how unhealthy forests can pose increased threats to our communities as well as restrictions on our individual recreational activities, we can now discuss how supporting forestry can improve the health of our community.
One of Coconino County’s key efforts is its Forest Restoration Initiative, which received an Achievement Award from the National Association of Counties (NACo) in May 2021 for the county’s resilience: infrastructure, energy and sustainability.
NACo President Gary Moore said, “Over the past year, district officials and frontline workers have shown courageous, inspiring leadership. This year’s Achievement Award-winning programs illustrate the innovative ways counties across America are building healthy, safe, and vibrant communities. ”
As the county guides through its programs, partnerships with the US Forest Service, Greater Flagstaff Forest Partnership, the NAU’s Ecological Restoration Institute, and private forest products industry stakeholders are vital. They are the influential organizations that do the work of the yeoman farmers when it comes to improving forest health and quality of life for our communities. Job creation comes from the partnership of these organizations that protect our forests and valuable watersheds, preserve our regional ecosystems, and manage the wood resources that build our homes and pack our goods for transportation. These organizations represent the pace of commerce that enables Coconino County’s residents to enjoy a higher quality of life.
Community support from these organizations takes many forms, from paying for the use of the goods and services they offer, such as annual National Forest Access Passes and firewood permits, and camping in established campsites, to finding ways to do business with the forest product to make manufacturer. The support is also provided in non-monetary form, for example through the goodwill of the community towards the forest workers who manage the forest ecosystems with selective thinning and soil erosion protection. These active forest workers, lumber truck drivers, sawmill operators and heavy machinery operators do their job to protect our community so the forest firefighters don’t have to be called in to do their job.
Community support for forest restoration initiatives and private and public organizations that create jobs while protecting our natural renewable resources and personal property from the devastating forest fires is more important than ever. These initiatives and organizations create jobs while protecting our natural renewable resources and personal property from devastating forest fires.
With Phase 2 of the Four Forest Restoration Initiative (4FRI), logging companies are expected to be announced shortly and there will be more forest activity, more thinning and more trucks on the roads. If operations are in full swing, 1,000 new local jobs are expected to be created. These new jobs will pay $ 20 to $ 30 an hour an hour to the local men and women who operate the tools and machinery that protect our local economy by caring for the health of our forests.
So the next time you’re ready to enjoy a charcoal grill or open campfire, take a moment to talk about the forest workers who make it possible.
For those interested in the Coconino County Forestry Restoration Initiative, email our Forest Restoration Director Jay Smith at [email protected]
To learn more about specific business opportunities, please feel free to contact me by email or phone. FBN
By Chris Shepherd
Chris Pasterz is the economic development manager for Coconino County. He can be reached at [email protected] or 928-679-7134.
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