EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Greater Flagstaff Forests Partnership (formerly the Grand Canyon Forests Partnership) is a partnership between the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service and the Greater Flagstaff Forests Partnership, Inc. (a non-profit, 501(c)(3), corporation). The Partnership is formally recognized through a Cooperative Agreement that was signed on March 31, 1998. As established in the Cooperative Agreement, there are four primary objectives of the Greater Flagstaff Forests Partnership (GFFP):

• Develop, test and demonstrate approaches to forest ecosystem restoration that are environmentally sound, economically sustainable, and socially acceptable.
• Involve multiple and diverse interests and viewpoints at the local, regional, and national levels in identifying, analyzing and reaching consensus on practical and workable solutions to critical forest ecosystem health problems in the region.
• Monitor and document the ecological impacts, effects and tradeoffs of different restoration forestry techniques.
• Monitor and document the economic and social impacts and tradeoffs of different restoration forestry techniques, including the development of new uses and products associated with small diameter timber.

The Greater Flagstaff Forests Partnership focuses its efforts within the 180,000-acre Flagstaff Urban/Wildland Interface. The GFFP is advised by the Partnership Advisory Board (PAB) consisting of representatives from twenty-five organizations (as of January 2003):
:

Arizona Game & Fish
Arizona Public Service
Arizona State Land Department - Fire Management Division
City of Flagstaff
Coconino County
Coconino County Farm Bureau and Cattle Growers Association
Coconino Natural Resource Conservation District
Cocopai Resource Conservation and Development District
Ecological Restoration Institute
Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce
Flagstaff Native Plant and Seed
Grand Canyon Trust
Greater Flagstaff Economic Council
Highlands Fire Department
Indigenous Community Enterprises
Northern Arizona Conservation Corps
Northern Arizona University - College of Engineering
Northern Arizona University - School of Forestry
Perkins Timber Harvesting
Practical Mycology
Society of American Foresters - Northern Arizona Chapter
Southwest Environmental Consultants
The Arboretum at Flagstaff
The Nature Conservancy
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

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USDA Cooperators include the Coconino National Forest, Rocky Mountain Research Station, and the USFS Forest Products Laboratory.

This document is the Partnership's second Annual Plan. It includes descriptions, objectives, activities and timelines for all Partnership initiatives. Partnership initiatives are those projects that have been formally recognized and endorsed through unanimous vote of the Partnership Advisory Board. Each of these projects is recognized as being essential to meeting the Partnership's four primary objectives.

The purpose of the Annual Plan is to articulate and document the breadth of GFFP initiatives on an annual basis and to facilitate the ongoing prioritization of resources among projects. This document, therefore, is intended to serve as a tool by which we prioritize resources allocated among projects; it is not intended to do the prioritizing. As such, it does not include a budget.

Throughout its first four years of existence, the GFFP has expanded the amount and scope if its collective work through the further development of existing projects and inception of new projects. These expansions require increased planning and tracking of project direction, progress and success in order to maintain overall clarity about program direction and facilitate allocation of resources.

The following initiatives are described in this document:

• Project Planning
• Project Implementation
• Science, Research and Monitoring
• Public Information and Involvement
• Economic Development and Utilization
• General Operations
• Satellite Projects

For more information about any of these initiatives and resulting projects, please refer to corresponding supporting documentation or contact GFFP staff.

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Project Descriptions, Objectives, and Specific Activities

I. PROJECT PLANNING

The Forest Service and the Greater Flagstaff Forests Partnership, Inc. agree to work cooperatively to demonstrate new forest management approaches that improve and restore ecosystem health of Ponderosa Pine forest ecosystems in the Flagstaff urban-wildland interface area. All project planning decisions ultimately rest with the United States Forest Service. The Greater Flagstaff Forests Partnership, Inc. can inform this planning process within the confines of existing laws and regulations (from the Cooperative Agreement).

Objectives:

1. Continue utilizing the “Guide for Standardized Restoration Project Planning.”

2. Conclude formal discussions about GFFP’s Wildland/Urban Interface definition (working group created at the Oct. 2002 PAB meeting).

3. Continue to refine the “Flagstaff Urban Interface Restoration Strategy” document.

4. Complete project planning for the Woody Ridge Project.

5. Begin evaluation of Fort Valley Ecosystem Restoration Project Phase II activities & treatments.

6. Begin field analysis for the Mountainaire Project.

7. Finalize implementation strategy for the Airport Project.

8. Complete field analysis for the Timberline Fernwood Project.

9. Identify out-year projects, if any, for GFFP.

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Specific Activities:

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II. PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION

The GFFP recognizes the urgent need to develop and demonstrate the potential restoration forestry management approaches, including research and testing, that can improve ecological health in the Coconino National Forest (from the Cooperative Agreement, p. 2). During the next ten years, the Partnership will undertake a series of annual projects to restore forest health and reduce fire risk.

Objectives:

1. Complete Phase 1 of the Fort Valley Ecosystem Restoration Project.

2. Begin implementation of the Kachina Village Forest Health Project.

3. Continue implementation of Elden, Arboretum, and Ft. Valley fire treatments.

4. Update “Project Implementation Strategy Document” for Ft. Valley and Kachina Village Projects.

III. SCIENCE, RESEARCH, AND MONITORING

According to the GFFP Research Reference Guide, there are currently 71 Urban-Wildland Interface studies being supported by the Rocky Mountain Research Station, the Ecological Restoration Institute at NAU and various other participants of the GFFP. Many of these studies are associated with the Fort Valley Ecosystem Restoration Project and include participation of investigators from over a dozen research institutions. All the research projects highlighted in the Research Reference Guide relate directly, in some form, to the Partnership's urban/wildland restoration efforts (see Research Reference Guide). In addition to research, significant monitoring is occurring at the project level also.

Objectives:

1. Implementation of the Multi-Party Monitoring Plan. Begin monitoring activities.

2. Print and distribute the second edition of the “GFFP Research Reference Guide,” to include all new research and other pertinent studies not included in the first edition.

3. Whenever appropriate, participate in venues where GFFP can share its findings and learn from others doing similar work in the region (Four Corners, Mogollon Rim, Southwest) and throughout the country.

4. Participate in FERA, ERI’s Southwest Fire Initiative Conference, and Pacific NorthWest Research Station’s Joint Fire Science Program project.

5. Assess effects of beetle infestation for Partnership projects.

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Specific Activities:

IV. PUBLIC INFORMATION AND INVOLVEMENT

The Cooperative Agreement of the GFFP states that one of “the objectives of the cooperative project [is to]: involve multiple and diverse interests and viewpoints at the local, regional and national levels…”
To this end, the GFFP’s Public Information/Involvement Team (PIT) was reformed in the summer of 2001, comprised of the public information and outreach specialists of various PAB member organizations. The following objectives correspond to the PIT and their planned 2003 activities.

Objectives:

1. Continued development of GFFP outreach and educational materials designed to increase local public understanding and support of restoration issues and involvement in restoration activities.

2. Provide on-the-ground learning and volunteer experiences/activities for those who wish to learn more about and participate in GFFP restoration work.

3. Continue to identify and participate in opportunities for public outreach and education.

4. Participate with The Nature Conservancy’s Joint Fire Sciences Program project.

5. Continue PIT facilitation and progress.

6. Continue to convene the GFFP Community Forest Forum.

7. Participation in the Flagstaff Festival of Science and Grand Canyon Forests Festival.

8. Achieve the objectives of the GFFP SFA Public Education Grant.

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Specific Activities:

2. Research and Coordinate the appropriate disbursement of the Partnerships established Enterprise Development Fund.

3. Continue local (Greater Flagstaff Area) forestry & wood business outreach and support efforts.

4. Participate in the Arizona Department of Commerce’s new Industries of the Future Forestry Program.

5. Coordinate the Partnership’s Utilization and Economic Team, and associated work groups (e.g., biomass utilization w.g.).

6. Research additional compatible small wood utilization technologies and evaluate their market opportunities.

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Specific Activities:

VI. GENERAL OPERATIONS

The non-profit Greater Flagstaff Forests Partnership, Inc. is responsible for managing general operations needs for itself, the Partnership and PAB. In addition, the non-profit operates funding and personnel wages as needed, along with information and tools that will facilitate research, education, communication and management for the Partnership.

Objectives:

1. Maintain general operations through the appropriate personnel, information and tools, along with other necessities as they arise.

2. Maintain regular meetings of the non-profit Board of Directors.

3. Research, identify and pursue funding necessary to support GFFP, Inc. operations and GFFP projects.

4. As time and need allows GFFP, Inc. (internal/organizational) and GFFP (project) policy statements will be addressed and completed.

5. Convene and maintain all designated working groups (e.g. from the PAB) and teams (e.g., PT, PIT, UET, MMT).

6. Organize and convene the 2002 Annual Review.

7. Organize and convene the 2003 Annual Retreat.

8. Update and renew the Cooperative Agreement.

Specific Activities:

VII. SATELLITE PROJECTS

Several other efforts in the Greater Flagstaff Area that are related to the GFFP's efforts in some capacity are included here as "satellite projects." GFFP recognizes the importance of the congruency of these positive efforts. These relationships may include working together in certain situations or otherwise providing mutually beneficial assistance as needed. The following activities are recognized in this cooperative capacity (in alphabetical order):

• Arizona State Land Department Fire Risk Reduction/Private Lands Fuels Management Projects and other State Fire Assistance Program projects
• Centennial Forest, Northern Arizona University, particularly in regards to the Woody Ridge Project and the development of FREC
• City of Flagstaff Fire Department Urban Fuels Management / Private Lands Fuels Management
• Coconino National Forest Fuels Reduction Projects, FLEA planning, and grazing analyses within the Flagstaff WUI
• Dry Lake planning and project funding
• Fuel wood projects for local food banks, Cameron Chapter, and others
• Northern Arizona Conservation Corps
• Ecological Restoration Institute Ecosystem restoration projects and associated research
• Grand Canyon Trust Conservation Planning and Volunteer Program
• Highlands Fire Department Urban Fuels Management / Private Lands Fuels Management
• Indigenous Community Enterprises — The Hogan Project
• Ponderosa Fire Advisory Council
• Practical Mycology projects
• Summit Fire Department Urban Fuels Management / Private Lands Fuels Management

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