Last week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service signed the Arizona National Scenic Trail Comprehensive Plan. The plan establishes a long-term framework to guide the coordinated management of the 807-mile trail that spans Arizona from the U.S. – Mexico border to Utah.
Required by the National Trails System Act, the comprehensive plan outlines administrative objectives, policies, and management guidance for the Arizona National Scenic Trail. The plan supports future stewardship actions by the Forest Service and partners, including landowners, land managers, and volunteer organizations, while preserving the trail’s unique ecological, historical, and recreational values. The plan’s approval is a significant step in continued coordination across multiple jurisdictions and landscapes.
“This plan reflects years of collaboration and a shared commitment to protect one of the country’s most iconic, non-motorized long-distance trails,” said Michiko Martin, Regional Forester for the Southwestern Region. “The Arizona National Scenic Trail not only showcases the natural and cultural diversity of the state, but it also connects communities, supports local economies, and inspires environmental stewardship.”
More information, including a link to the final plan and related documents, is available on the project page.
About the Forest Service: The USDA Forest Service has for more than 100 years brought people and communities together to answer the call of conservation. Grounded in world-class science and technology– and rooted in communities–the Forest Service connects people to nature and to each other. The Forest Service cares for shared natural resources in ways that promote lasting economic, ecological, and social vitality. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, provides assistance to state and private landowners, maintains the largest wildland fire and forestry research organizations in the world. The Forest Service also has either a direct or indirect role in stewardship of about 900 million forested acres within the U.S., of which over 130 million acres are urban forests where most Americans live.