About Us
In Arizona and New Mexico, 22.3 million acres comprise the Southwestern
Region with 11 national forests and 3 national grasslands (1
grassland each in New Mexico, Texas, and Oklahoma). 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. more
about us »
Regional Spotlight
ECONOMIC RECOVERY
 Many of the communities most affected by the economic downturn are located near national forests. Using funding from The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), the Forest Service will create and maintain private sector jobs for communities by funding projects to remove hazardous biomass, restore watersheds, repair trails, bridges and roads, and make fish passage improvements. We will also update facilities to increase their efficiency in the use of energy and water. For more information on Economic Recovery, see http://www.recovery.gov.
FOREST PLAN REVISION
The U.S. Forest Service, Southwestern Region has begun the process
of revising the Land Management Plans for national forests
in Arizona and New Mexico and national grasslands in portions
of Oklahoma and Texas. more
about plan revision »
![[Photo] Buffalo Humps Village from the movie Commanche Moon](passes/film-permits/images/buf-hump-village-113x79.jpg) FILM PERMITS
National forests are a popular location for the commercial filming and still
photography industries. Many motion pictures, television series and
commercials have been filmed on the national forests of Arizona and New Mexico. more
details about film permits »
TRAVEL
MANAGEMENT RULE
 A
new regulation governing off-highway vehicles and other motor
vehicle use on national forests and grasslands has been announced
that requires each national forest or ranger district to designate
those roads, trails, and areas open to motor vehicle use. more
on the rule »
BARK BEETLE INFORMATION
 Have you noticed the recent mortality of pine trees throughout the Southwest? Most of the mortality is a result of the current drought and the resulting bark beetle outbreak. Get the latest information on the effects of large bark beetle outbreaks across Arizona and New Mexico.
National Initiatives
Emphasis Areas
The Forest Service has always risen to the great conservation
challenges of our time and with this in mind Abigail Kimbell,
Chief of the Forest Service, has identified three themes in particular
that have stood out: climate change; water issues; and the loss
of a connection to nature, especially for kids. The emphasis
areas are discussed in more detail on the Emphasis
Area page.
For a better understanding of what the Forest Service is doing
to address these three emphasis areas, climate change, water
and kids in the woods, please click on the links below.
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![[Photo] Buffalo Humps Village from the movie Commanche Moon](passes/film-permits/images/buf-hump-village-lg.jpg)
There's
a nifty little booklet called "The
Book of Stuff to Do Outside". Print it from the "What
To Do" link
at: 
