The Apache Tribes of Arizona have harvested acorns from Emory oak trees for centuries, using them in cultural ceremonies and as a traditional food source. However, in recent decades, tribal elders noticed a decline in the overall health of Emory oak groves, resulting in fewer acorns to harvest.

To help restore Emory oak groves and increase acorn production on National Forest System lands in the Southwest, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Forest Service actively participates in the Emory Oak Collaborative Tribal Restoration Initiative (EOCTRI). The coalition strives to unite traditional ecological knowledge, Western science and land management to ensure the long-term availability of acorns on public land for Western Apache Tribes.

Tonto National Forest Payson Ranger District staff factored the protection of Emory oak trees into restoration projects over the past four years, resulting in the treatment of 1,734 acres. The Payson Ranger District is located about 90 miles northeast of Phoenix, encompassing the town of Payson and continuing north to the Mogollon Rim.

Chipping to restore

The district’s inaugural Crackerjack Road project contracted crews to remove and chip up—or grind — vegetation on 53 acres in 2021.  The Forest Service then removes the ground vegetation at a later date through prescribed fires.

In 2022, the Sparky project covered 228 acres of chipping and grinding (also known as mastication) and provided commercial fuelwood sales to support the health of Emory oak groves.

The district’s Dude Fire Restoration Project program includes efforts to aid the restoration of Emory oak groves. Phase 1 concluded earlier this year with the mastication of 1,453 acres.

“Phase 2 is underway with plans to masticate 1,143 acres,” said Patricia Ringle, Forest Silviculturist. “As of October, we’ve treated about 90% of that project.”

The large-scale Dude Fire Restoration Project is a collaboration between the Tonto National Forest and state partners to improve the health and resilience of ponderosa pine trees in the Dude Fire burn scar and confront the wildfire crisis along the Mogollon Rim.

According to Payson District Ranger Matt Paciorek, these and future projects open the canopy and forest floor around Emory oak groves.

“Reducing competing vegetation will benefit Emory oaks by providing access to more nutrients, sunlight and water,” Paciorek said. “Healthier trees may produce more acorns.”

Ringle added that monitoring plots in the Crackerjack Road and Sparky projects observed the effectiveness of treatments.

“Comparison of pre-and post-treatment data in the Crackerjack plots showed a growth response from Emory oaks after completion of the mastication project,” said Ringle, a staff member at the Payson Ranger District.

The Emory Oak Collaborative Tribal Restoration Initiative intends to install more monitoring plots during Phase 3 of the Dude Fire project to collect pre-treatment data.

“We plan to start Phase 3 in 2025 and treat 2,140 acres,” Ringle said. “Phase 4 begins in 2026 and will treat 2,643 acres.” Both will involve a mixture of ponderosa pine and woodland / Emory oak trees.

Concern leads to collaboration

Drought and an increase in wildfires – combined with decades of wildfire suppression—contributed to the declining health of Emory oak trees and acorn production.

In 2018, elders’ concerns evolved into a collaborative partnership consisting of tribal historic preservation offices, tribal forestry programs, tribal natural resource programs, ecologists at Northern Arizona University (NAU) and the Tonto and Coconino National Forests.

These partners identified and assessed important Emory oak stands and discussed restoration and protection activities, leading to the creation of EOCTRI. Announced in November 2020, the initiative includes the Dilzhe’e Apache of the Yavapai-Apache Nation, the Tonto Apache Tribe, the White Mountain Apache Tribe, and the San Carlos Apache Tribe along with Northern AZ University and the Tonto, Coconino, and Kaibab National Forests.  

For their significant contributions in the formation, implementation and support of the Emory Oak Collaborative Tribal Restoration Initiative, the Kaibab, Coconino and Tonto National Forests won the USDA Nation to Nation Innovation Award in 2023 for work in the category of “Incorporating Tribal Values and Priorities” from the director of tribal relations in the USDA Office of the Secretary.

Tribal elders identified 18 Emory oak groves in need of restoration on the Tonto and Coconino National Forests and the White Mountain Apache reservation. Multiple sources, including the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management, the Salt River Project power and water utility company, and Resolution Copper Inc., provide funding.

Emory Oak Collaborative Tribal Restoration Initiative meetings occur quarterly with locations rotating among participants. Paciorek and Ringle hosted the July meeting and represented the Tonto.

“These meetings provide a great opportunity for us to share updates on various projects and engage with tribes to determine ways we can mutually help one another,” Paciorek said.

“For example, the tribes shared that access to acorns in traditional areas in and around Payson has changed over the years due to the town’s growth,” Paciorek said. “We worked with representatives from Gila County and the Town of Payson to discuss access and bring awareness to the tribes’ preferences. Now tribal members and other segments of the public can harvest acorns in more parts of town.”

“The work being done through this partnership enriches our understanding of how to care for Emory oaks,” Paciorek said. “That shared understanding is valuable to the Forest Service and tribes by promoting more resilient and productive forests and providing opportunities for tribes to continue important cultural traditions.”

Mark Altaha is the tribal historic preservation officer for the White Mountain Apache Tribe. Altaha said he hopes the Forest Service’s collaboration with Emory Oak Collaborative Tribal Restoration Initiative sends a positive message to tribal entities.

“Cultural heritage preservation efforts can be achieved and accomplished through meaningful consultation with federal agencies,” said Altaha, also a Chi’chil (acorns) Advisory Board member.

“We would like to see the Forest Service place more emphasis on tribal collaboration for the protection and preservation of cultural heritage resources in an effort to better understand the way of life Indigenous people endured for generations,” Altaha said.

“The Tonto definitely deserves recognition for its work with Western Apache tribes on the Emory Oak Collaborative Tribal Restoration Initiative,” Altaha said. “Hopefully the success of this initiative, through collaborative efforts, can be shared by other national forests throughout the Southwest.”

Restoration projects on the Payson Ranger District support the Four Forest Restoration Initiative, one of 21 landscapes the Forest Service identified as part of the agency’s 10-year strategy for confronting the wildfire crisis.