Forests Partnership [email protected]
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Mark Brehl (928) 853-2735 Greater Flagstaff [email protected] Anne Mottek Lucas (928) 213-0413 Forests Partnership [email protected] A long-standing collaborative , the Greater Flagstaff Forests Partnership COMMUNITIES is made up of academic, environmental and private organizations as well working in the as municipal, county, state and federal agencies. Since 1998, the Partner- Greater Flagstaff ship has endeavored to increase community protection through research and demonstration of various approaches to restore natural ecosystem area of northern Arizona structure, function and composition in the ponderosa pine forests surrounding Flagstaff. The Partnership has helped lead a shift in public http://FACNetwork.org understanding and support for proactive forest management designed to In 2012, City residents chose promote the safety and sustainability of our community and forests. Key Partners Friends of Northern Arizona not to be helpless victims in the face of Arizona Game and Fish Forests inevitable wildfire, but instead voted with overwhelming support (74 Department Northern Arizona University— percent) to spend municipal bond money to fund forest treatments on Arizona Prescribed Fire Council Ecological Restoration Institute state and federal land that would reduce risks of severe wildfires and The Partnership’s work Arizona State Forestry Division Northern Arizona University— minimize post-fire impacts such as flooding. Centennial Forest School of Forestry to advance the goals of the Flagstaff Watershed City of Flagstaff Ponderosa Fire Advisory Council Protection Project (FWPP) is well aligned with Fire Adapted Communities Coconino County Southwest Fire Science and national Cohesive Strategy frameworks. The Partnership hosted and Coconino Natural Resource Consortium participated in numerous events in 2014 to promote these goals. Events Conservation District The Nature Conservancy included community meetings, open houses and activities associated Flagstaff Fire Department U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service with the annual Flagstaff Festival of Science, including the Science in the Park Festival, a “Forest Fires & Floods Hike” into the Dry Lake Hills and a Brown Bag Lunch detailing the history of our local forest ecosystems and efforts—current and planned—to create sustainable communities andThe resilientPartnership forests. also collaborated 2015 FAC Learning Network Projects with the Arizona Firewise / Fire Adapted Landscaping Contest Rural Policy Institute, City of Flagstaff and Ecological Greater Flagstaff Forests Partnership promoted this community-wide Restoration Institute on the FWPP Cost Avoidance Study. contest at Earth Day celebrations. The contest encouraged home- The study conservatively estimates the FWPP’s proactive owners to prepare landscapes around their homes and communities funding of $10 million was a sound investment that will for the threat of wildfire. Prizes totaling $1000 were awarded based on overall appeal, with an emphasis on incorporation of Firewise avoid between $552 million and $1.2 billion in potential concepts and aesthetics damages—not to mention the scenic and spiritual loss the Helping initiate discussions community would endure. Prescribed Fire Smoke Awareness Campaign Greater Flagstaff Forests Partnership and students from Northern Arizona University’s School of , planning efforts and permit- Communication created a video that describes the need for prescribed fire and the efforts made ting with the Navajo Nation, the Partnership facilitated the by professionals to mitigate smoke effects on the community. The video will be shared on Flagstaff Fire Department’s Wildland Fire Management various websites and used during outreach events. View it at https://vimeo.com/128093109. Division meadow restoration project, eliminating pine encroachment on a 140-acre tribal in-holding in the middle of the Dry Lake Hills area surrounded by the Coconino National Forest. A two-panel log kiosk was built and installed on the property to host Outreach Highlight: GFFP Combines Culture, Art and Science to Teach project details, parcel history and Forest Restoration to Kids forest and fire management In 2015 information. The Greater Flagstaff Forests Partnership developed the Yellow Belly , we continue to promote Ponderosa, an outreach program that began as an exciting play created by fire adapted communities concepts middle and high school students, for elementary students. The play combines and actions at various community culture, art and science to convey an understanding of sustainable forests events, host field trips and produce and watersheds, and support a lifelong connection to them. Originally designed as a traveling performance delivered at elementary schools in northern videos related to prescribed fire Arizona, the program has been adapted for classroom use, with a professionally- and smoke management. We held produced DVD of the performance, pre- and post-lesson plans, and an a community wildfire preparedness evaluation. This curriculum was developed by teachers to meet State contest in conjunction with the Standards and is now used across the state. Salt River Project, the largest 2015 National Wildfire Community utility company in the state, funded development of this curriculum and hosts Excerpt from a post on the FAC Learning Network the materials on its website, as well as conducting teacher workshops based on Preparedness Day and are also blog—read the post at http://facnetwork.org/ working on yard signs recognizing progress-promoting-treatments-in-flagstaff/ it throughout the state. (Find the materials at http://www.srpnet.com/education/yellowbelly.aspx) property owners who are working proactively to reduce wildfire risk. MORE INFORMATION Greater Flagstaff Forests Partnership http://www.gffp.org/ Flagstaff Fire Department Wildland Fire The Fire Adapted Communities Learning Network is Management Division http://www.flagstaff.az.gov/wildlandfire supported by Promoting Ecosystem Resilience and Fire Adapted Communities Together (PERFACT), a coopera- Coconino National Forest http://www.fs.usda.gov/COCONINO tive agreement between The Nature Conservancy, the USDA Forest Service and agencies of the Department Flagstaff Watershed of the Interior. For more information, contact Protection Project http://www.flagstaffwatershedprotection.org/ Nick Goulette ([email protected]). Informational kiosk on Navajo Nation parcel in An equal opportunity provider. v. 22 May 15 the Flagstaff Watershed Protection Project. California Fire Safe Katie Martel (626) 335-7426 Council [email protected] COMMUNITIES The California Fire Safe Council working throughout the state of California (CFSC) is a state-wide non- profit that provides wildfire education and outreach support and capacity-building assistance to organizations in California that are engaged in fire preparedness. This wide-reaching influence Key Partners and support of local community groups makes us especially well CAL FIRE http://FACNetwork.org positioned to spread innovative ideas from local California Fire National Fire Protection Safe Councils and Firewise Communities through the FAC Association—Firewise Learning Network, and to bring innovations back to our USDA Forest Service CaliforniaFor more partners.than 20 years and local Fire Safe Councils , CFSC has been a leader in California’s throughout the state fight to reduce the impact of wildfire. CFSC is recognized by state and federal fire agencies as a vital link to communities. Since 2004, CFSC has administered nearly 800 grants for wildfire mitigation projects and education programs totaling over $80 million in federal funds. These grants have helped communities across California prepare for wildfire and become more fire adapted. In addition to the federal funders, private corporations, including insurance and utility companies, have shown generous supportCFSC offers for CFSC’s workshops work. and one-day conferences on fire and disaster prevention topics several times each year in locations Attendees visit exhibitors at the 2014 Fire Summit, which was hosted by the Southern throughout the state. Fire Safe Councils communicate regularly Homeowners participatePhoto: in home CFSC/Katie ignition Martel zone California Regional Area Taskforce andPhoto: CFSC assessment training orgnized by the California sposored by California Fire Safe Council. with CFSC to share information about local events and successful Fire Safe Council. projects and outreach programs. In turn, CFSC offers networking Siskiyou County FSC of Siskiyou County Lower Scott River FSC Scott Bar FSC French Creek FSC McCloud FSC, Inc Scott River Watershed Greater Lake Shastina FSC Mt. Shasta Area FSC Coalition of FSCs and training opportunities that help the local groups continue Greater Weed Area FSC Orleans-Somes Bar FSC Scott Valley FSC California Happy Camp FSC Quartz Valley Area FSC Seiad Valley FSC A key area of focus Juniper Flat FSC Rattlesnake Creek Upper Mid Klamath Klamath River FSC Watershed FSC Watershed Council their critical work in wildfire prevention and preparedness. Salmon River FSC Yreka Area FSC Del Fire Safe Councils Norte Siskiyou County Modoc County County as part of the FAC Learning Network this Modoc FSC a key area of focus for the year is to advance networking among local Fire Safe Councils Shasta County Humboldt County Lassen County California Fire Safe Council’s Lakehead FSC and Firewise Communities in California. CFSC will create an Humboldt County FSC Trinity Shasta County FSC