ARIZONA — The Forest Service’s partnership with the Mule Deer Foundation is restoring natural habitats for Arizona’s mule deer population while also supporting the San Carlos Apache Tribal Forest Protection, one of 21 landscapes the Forest Service recently identified as part of the agency’s 10-year strategy for confronting the wildfire crisis. 

Following the signing of a keystone agreement in September 2023, the Tonto National Forest and MDF committed to restoring 1,000 acres through “lop and scatter” and 2,314 acres via mastication of grasslands within the Tonto’s Globe Ranger District which is adjacent to the San Carlos Reservation.

Work began in November 2023 with a supplemental agreement that was used to apply mechanical hand-thinning techniques – such as the use of chainsaws – to “lop and scatter” 1,000 acres. San Carlos Apache Tribe Reserve Treaty Rights Land crews cut off branches from juniper woodland and scattered them across the grassland area in preparation for future prescribed burns. Crews completed this portion in December 2023 within the Highway Tanks area.

Highway Tanks is a local, cross-boundary initiative between the Tonto National Forest and San Carlos Apache Tribe that, in turn, falls under the overarching San Carlos Apache Tribal Forest Protection landscape. This large-scale, landscape project involves the Apache-Sitgreaves, Coronado and Tonto National forests as well as San Carlos Apache tribal lands.

The mastication portion of the collaboration with MDF began in June 2024. Mastication involves the use of various equipment to grind, chip or break apart brush and small woodland tree species and turn them into smaller pieces. The completion timeline for this section is September 2024.

The Forest Service and MDF are in talks for a second keystone agreement to continue restoration efforts. Tonto officials ultimately plan to treat 10,000 acres through collaboration with and support of partners. 

Keystone agreements allow the Forest Service to execute priority projects quickly and efficiently while facilitating new local agreements and/or expanding existing agreements at the region and unit levels.

Using funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the Inflation Reduction Act, the Forest Service can enter into keystone agreements with partners for projects that reduce the risk of wildfires to communities and critical infrastructure, restore ecosystems and rapidly implement state, private and tribal forestry projects.

Visit the Tonto’s Flickr site at Mule Deer Foundation restoration project- Phase 1 to view and/or download photos and video/b-roll of the Mule Deer Foundation restoration project.