Vision Statement

A Vision for the Future

In the near future, the Fort Valley wildlands/urban interface will be a mosaic of open, parklike forests containing scattered timber stands with higher densities, interspersed with natural parks which approximate - although do not duplicate - conditions present before Euro-American settlement. Forests and woodlands will be dominated by open growing clumps of large and/or old trees in a matrix of native bunchgrasses, wildflowers, and shrubs. Parks (meadows) will be dominated by native grasses and wildflowers. Periodic low-intensity fires will maintain open habitats, cycle nutrients, and keep wildland fuel levels low, reducing the hazard of catastrophic crown fires.

The presence of introduced species will be greatly diminished and native wildlife species will occupy their original niches within the ecosystem, moving freely through established wildlife corridors. A broad spectrum of uses-based upon science and adaptive ecosystem management principles-will be enjoyed by Northern Arizona residents and visitors. Although the majority of the landscape will be restored to more natural conditions, some will be retained in basically its current condition to address specific, well-defined management goals.

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