Ethan Aumack, left, Diane Vosick and Jean Palumbo gather with Gov. Janet Napolitano to celebrate the Statewide Strategy for Restoring Arizona's Forests they helped create.

NAU helps Arizona
form forest strategies

When Gov. Janet Napolitano and the Arizona Forest Health Advisory Council set out to plan for the future health of Arizona forests, they turned to Northern Arizona University for leadership.

Tom Sisk, an NAU ecology professor, co-chaired a committee that researched and wrote the Statewide Strategy for Restoring Arizona's Forests, a 20-year plan to bolster the sustainable use of forest resources.

"This report pulls together information about the current condition and desired future for Arizona's forests," Sisk said. "It provides a detailed set of recommendations for achieving ambitious objectives."

Ethan Aumack, a former graduate student from NAU's program in Environmental Sciences and Policy, served as the other co-chair for the committee, which also included scientists and policy experts from all three state universities, industry, government, tribes and numerous forest and fire organizations.

Sisk said Arizona is the first state to adopt a strategy addressing forest health in a comprehensive, statewide manner that moves beyond the different divisions of federal, state and private land mangers.

"This report reflects on a broad range of values and perspectives," Sisk said. "A practical strategy emerged from both the professional ranks and the public for moving forward with important actions, such as protecting water sources and the appropriate use of prescribed fire."

Jean Palumbo, an instructor in NAU's English Department, served as the project coordinator of the statewide strategy. She helped write the report and press materials and she coordinated research outreach efforts across the state.

Several members of the Ecological Restoration Institute also contributed to the report, including Wally Covington, Regents' professor, and Diane Vosick, associate director, who both co-chair the Governor's Forest Health Advisory Council, and Pete Fulé, associate professor and Dave Egan, editor.