Arizona's Future Forest, LLC Selected to be a Steward of the Eastern Forests within the State.

SHOW LOW, Ariz. -- Future Forest, LLC was recently selected to act as a steward of the forests of Eastern Arizona to help prevent future catastrophic wildfires in the coming years.

The US Forest Service awarded the company with a stewardship contract on the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest in Arizona. The contract, which is valued at approximately 60 million dollars over the next 10 years, is charged with thinning between 5,000 and 25,000 acres of the forest each year.

"For us this is more than just thinning for a healthier forest," noted Rob Davis of Future Forests. "It's about combining community interests with forest protection to achieve healthier ecosystems and economies. But, it is also about creating sustainable products for the prudent use of the materials, such as wood pellets for heating and energy."

According to Davis, the stewardship contract is not a quick fix, nor is it the final answer for our existing forest problems. He highlights that it is an evolving process to find the best methods with which to manage the forest and the highest value, most efficient products with the least impact in what has to be removed.

"We believe that if our forests are healthy, the surrounding economies will also be healthy. We hope to achieve the treatment of 150,000 or 250,000 acres over the next ten years and will need the support of all parties interested in healthy forests to do so," added Davis.

Future Forest, LLC was formed by WB Contracting and Forest Energy Corporation to pursue the stewardship opportunity.

Owners Rick, Dale and Dwayne Walker of WB Contracting have completed thousands of acres of small tree removal in the Southwest for 19 years and are fourth-generation forest practitioners.

Forest Energy Corporation, operating in Show Low for over thirteen years, utilizes wood residues to create a clean, efficient pellet fuel that provides heat to over 20,000 residences and commercial facilities in the Southwest.

"If everything that currently heats with propane in Northern Arizona were to convert to bulk pellets they would have cheaper fuel and the forest would have a major component of a non-subsidized management plan, but that may not happen quickly," adds Davis.

Due to the size, complexity, costs, and urgency of the task at hand Future Forest will engage many other forestry and forest product entities in the White Mountains and elsewhere as they move forward to create a better future for our forests and all living things in and around them.

More information about the Stewardship Contract is available at www.fs.fed.us/r3/. Details about pellet fuel is available at www.pelletheat.org.