The cooperator will 1) develop, conduct research on, transfer, promote, and monitor restoration-based hazardous fuel reduction treatments to reduce the risk of severe wildfires to vulnerable…

The Department of Agriculture Forest Service R3-Southwestern Region awarded Northern Arizona University $2.2 million under the Southwest Forest Health and Wildfire Prevention program (CFDA 10.694) on August 24, 2026, to develop and conduct research on restoration-based hazardous fuel reduction treatments across the Interior West. The recipient will synthesize and adapt scientific findings to implement landscape-scale fuel reduction treatments using an adaptive management framework, translate scientific and interdisciplinary knowledge to affected entities, assist with the design of adaptive management approaches including monitoring protocols, and provide peer-reviewed annual reports. Work encompasses developing, transferring, promoting, and monitoring restoration treatments to reduce severe wildfire risk to vulnerable communities and improve health of dry forest and woodland ecosystems. The award obligates $2.2 million with performance through December 31, 2027, and takes place in Arizona. Long-term impacts may include challenges around public and partner acceptance of increased timber harvesting, methods used, and various exceptions or variances to expected operational rules. Northern Arizona University operates as a sub-recipient under Arizona Board of Regents, which serves as the ultimate recipient entity.

The cooperator will 1) develop, conduct research on, transfer, promote, and monitor restoration-based hazardous fuel reduction treatments to reduce the risk of severe wildfires to vulnerable communities and improve the health of dry forest and woodland ecosystems in the interior west; 2) synthesize and adapt scientific findings from conventional research to implement restoration-based hazardous fuel reduction treatments on a landscape scale using a more modern and efficient adaptive management framework; 3) translate for and transfer to affected entities any scientific and interdisciplinary knowledge about hazardous fuel reduction treatments; 4) assist affected entities with the design of adaptive management approaches (including monitoring) for the implementation of reducing wildfire risk; and 5) provide peer-reviewed annual reports. Long-term impacts may be around adverse public and partner acceptance of increased timber harvesting, methods used, and various exceptions/variances to expected rules of operation.