Welcome to the Southwestern Region

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 »

Recent News

• USDA Forest Service Invites Public Feedback on Proposed List of Deferred Maintenance Projects for Fiscal Year 2022

  Release Date: Nov 20, 2020  Albuquerque, NM

Features

Proposed Recreation Fees and Comment Information

We are accepting comments on proposed changes to the management of the developed recreation program. These changes will impact campgrounds and day-use sites on the Carson, Gila, Lincoln, and Santa Fe National Forests, and the Cibola National Forest and National Grasslands. Comment period ends September 30, 2021.

Resolution on Mexican Spotted Owl Litigation Moves Forest Restoration Forward

October 28, 2020 - Today, a judge for the United States District Court of Arizona approved the joint stipulation for dismissal of the lawsuit and associated injunction concerning the Mexican Spotted owl. The injunction, that has limited certain timber management activities across the five national forests in New Mexico and on the Tonto National Forest in Arizona over the past year, is now dissolved.

The United States Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service Southwestern Region is fully committed to continuing efforts for the recovery of the Mexican Spotted owl, but also understands the hardship that the cessation of timber management actions imposed on local communities that rely on National Forest products for their livelihood. We are immensely grateful to our state and federal partners who stepped up to help bridge the gap. Forest Service staff will work individually with affected local businesses for plans to resume activities on National Forest System lands.

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Spotlights

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.

Bark Beetle Outbreak

Information on bark beetle effects.

Travel Management

Information about off-highway vehicle use on national forests and grasslands.