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Welcome to the Southwestern Region
With thousands of recreation opportunities spread across 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 Southwestern Region is covers more than 20.6 million acres. The elevation ranges 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.
Features
Lincoln National Forest technician creates innovative resource for lost visitors
Sam, a Forestry Technician with the US Forest Service, is on a mission to save lost hikers and hunters on the Guadalupe Ranger District (or at least help them save themselves) through turning existing structures known as "trickle tanks" into orienteering tools.
Photo Contest Winners!
What if the top prize for the 2020 National Park Foundation Photo Contest was taken on a National Forest? Do you need more proof that National Forests are the best public lands? Third prize not only went to a photo taken on a National Forest - it was taken on Region 3's very own Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest.
Spotlights
Proposed Recreation Fees and Comment Information
We are accepting comments on proposed changes to the management of the developed recreation program in New Mexico. Comment period ends September 30, 2021.
Resolution on Mexican Spotted Owl Litigation Moves Forest Restoration Forward
The United States District Court of Arizona approved the joint stipulation for dismissal of the lawsuit and associated injunction concerning the Mexican Spotted owl.
New Mexico Meadow Jumping Mouse
Information on the listing of the New Mexico Meadow Jumping Mouse. Summary and background information, links to projects and reference material.
Partners work together to restore and protect Bill Williams Mountain
The Kaibab National Forest and partners are collaborating on technical steep slope forest restoration and fuels reduction work on the Bill Williams Mountain.
