Arizona Forest Stewardship Committee
Forest Stewardship Plan Guidelines
Reforestation & Nurseries
State Priority Plan
Spacial Analysis

Welcome to Arizona’s Forest Stewardship Program

The Forest Stewardship Program strives to improve and protect private, state, and tribal forest lands in Arizona by providing educational, technical, and financial assistance to landowners.  Service Foresters are available throughout the state (see About Us) to educate landowners about their forest resources and how they can be improved to meet landowner objectives. Landowners are provided with management recommendations In a Landowner Forest Stewardship Planto help them achieve their objectives for the property.  When the LandownerForestStewardship Plan is complete, Service Foresters can assist with implementing the management recommendations.  Assistance can include resource inventory, development of prescriptions, boundary designation, tree marking, help in hiring consultants and contractors, and project administration.

Arizona’s Forest Stewardship Program was developed by the State Forester in consultation with the
Arizona Forest Stewardship Committee.  Guidance for the program is provided through the Statewide Strategy, the
State Priority Plan, and the recently-completed Spatial Analysis Project.

Six of the sixteen recommendations in the Statewide Strategy For Restoring Arizona’s Forests pertain to the
Governor and Executive Branch agencies. The State Forester and other state agencies are encouraged to develop forest
restoration and fire management strategies for critical watersheds, and to enhance the utilization of small-diameter wood
and biomass.

The State Priority Plan is a strategic plan developed by the State Forester with input from the ArizonaForest Stewardship Committee.  This plan identifies the top priorities for delivery of the Forest Stewardship Program and the
Forest Land Enhancement Program.

The Spatial Analysis Project (SAP) evaluated the impact of our landowner assistance efforts across the landscape and
identified areas of stewardship suitability to provide for strategic delivery of the Forest Stewardship Program.  The SAP
has two main components:  an historic spatial database of stewardship plan tracts, and a layer-based suitability analysis.
Both components are used together in a GIS (Geographic Information Systems) analysis to categorize areas within a
state according to their stewardship potential, and evaluate the effectiveness of program delivery efforts in those priority areas.

Division of Forestry personnel also provide technical assistance with reforestation and tree nurseries.  Landowners
are assisted with species selection and tree seedling procurement, as well as site preparation, planting, care and maintenance.

To request assistance or further information on forestry assistance programs, contact the office nearest you for information and assistance (see About Us) or call the Forest Management Section at 928-774-1425, extension 203.