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Did you know that nearly six million acres of forestland in Arizona are privately owned?
This means a substantial portion of the state’s forested landscape is being managed by individuals and families with diverse objectives, resources, and levels of technical capacity. For many private landowners, effective forest management can be complex and resource-intensive. In some cases, landowners may not even view their day-to-day decisions—such as grazing practices, vegetation removal, or wildfire risk reduction—as “forest management,” despite their direct impact on forest health and resilience.
Managing forestland is further complicated by ongoing drought, site-specific ecological conditions, and evolving science-based best practices. Keeping pace with these challenges can be difficult without technical support. The Forest Stewardship Program exists to address this need.
The DFFM Forest Stewardship Program assists private landowners in actively managing their forests to sustain and enhance the environmental, economic, and social benefits these lands provide. The program delivers technical assistance and educational resources tailored to landowner goals and property conditions. Services include guidance on timber harvesting, invasive species and forest pest management, development of forest management plans, and recommendations for wildfire risk reduction. Staff also provide information on a wide range of topics, from tree identification to forest health and restoration strategies, and can help connect landowners with funding opportunities to support on-the-ground forestry activities.
Each year, DFFM’s Forest Stewardship Program serves more than 300 private landowners across Arizona. Whether managing the iconic ponderosa pine or unique saguaro forests, landowners throughout the state can access program support. If you have a forest management objective or concerns about vegetation on your property, the Forest Stewardship Program may be able to assist. Interested landowners are encouraged to submit a Landowner Information Request Form, after which a staff member will follow up directly.
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