FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — Coconino National Forest, along with partner Ecoculture, will be hosting a community volunteer planting event, where tree planting will begin across various fire scars on the Flagstaff Ranger District.
Volunteers can sign up to help plant trees on October 25 by contacting Wade Gibson at wade.gibson@ecoculture.us. These plantings will take place in fire scars that include the 2010 Schultz Fire, 2000 Pipe Fire, 1996 Horseshoe and Hochderffer fires, and 1951 White Horse Fire.
Areas of these wildfires burned extremely hot, killing nearly all of the existing live trees. Many of these areas have reburned in subsequent fires, reducing the abundance of dead woody material and creating a clean slate for a new generation of trees to grow.
These plantings will help reforest areas that may not naturally regenerate for hundreds of years, which will help reduce soil erosion and improve wildlife habitat, while also restoring some of the timber base that was lost in these fires.
Members of the public who are interested in volunteering to help planting at this event should RSVP to Wade Gibson at wade.gibson@ecoculture.us.