The Southwestern Region is 20.6 million acres. There are six national forests in Arizona, five national forests and a national grassland in New Mexico, and one national grassland each in Oklahoma and the Texas panhandle.The region ranges in elevation from 1,600 feet above sea level and an annual rain fall of 8 inches in Arizona's lower Sonoran Desert to 13,171-foot high Wheeler Peak and over 35 inches of precipitation a year in northern New Mexico. map of forest locations »
Forest Planning Rule
The final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for the planning rule has been published. This action brings us one step closer to a final planning rule.
The Impact Statement identifies Modified Alternative A as the preferred alternative. This alternative is in response to public comment and Tribal input, it reflects the latest science, and it builds on years of Agency forest planning. experience. The Under Secretary of Agriculture will review the alternatives in the Impact Statement and issue a final rule and record of decision in approximately 30 days. more about the forest planning rule »
WASHINGTON, July 14, 2011–Forests play a more significant role in removing carbon from the atmosphere than first reported by absorbing one-third of carbon emissions annually, a new U.S. Forest Service study says.
WASHINGTON, July 7, 2011 -- The United States has 751 million acres of forests that have remained remarkably stable during the past 50 years, according to the U.S. Forest Service's
The United Nations (UN) General Assembly has declared 2011 as the International Year of Forests to bolster efforts to promote sustainable management, conservation and development of forests.
The Southwestern Region is 20.6 million acres. There are six national forests in Arizona, five national forests and a national grassland in New Mexico, and one national grassland each in Oklahoma and the Texas panhandle.The region ranges in elevation from 1,600 feet above sea level and an annual rain fall of 8 inches in Arizona's lower Sonoran Desert to 13,171-foot high Wheeler Peak and over 35 inches of precipitation a year in northern New Mexico. 
