In December 2021, the Departments of Agriculture, the Interior and Homeland Security -- through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) -- announced the formation of the Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission.

The commission is tasked with forming federal policy recommendations and strategies to Congress on ways to better prevent, manage, suppress and recover from wildfires, and provide recommendations for aerial firefighting equipment needs.

The call for nominations for the non-federal members was issues in March, 2022. More than 500 applications were received, and 36 non-federal members were selected to serve on the commission. Along with 11 federal members, the commission is co-chaired by Departments of Agriculture, the Interior and FEMA leadership.

The final report is planned to be released on Sept 27th, 2023. 

This presentation will cover the Commission background, process, themes, recommendations, and next steps.

Priority Based Budget Key Community Priorities and Objectives

• High Performing Governance: Implement innovative local government programs
• Safe and Healthy Community: Ensure built environment is safe through the use of consistent
  standards, rules and regulations, & land use practices
• Environmental Stewardship: Promote, protect & enhance a healthy, sustainable environment &
  its natural resources
• Environmental Stewardship: Strengthen Flagstaff's resilience to climate change impacts on
  built, natural, economic, health, & social systems

Carbon Neutrality Plan

• CR-1: Ensure all mitigation actions improve Flagstaff's ability to adapt to the future.
• CR-2: Strengthen existing community systems to create resilience to both short-term shocks
  and long-term change.

Consolidating carbon stocks in fewer, larger trees reduces the risk of carbon loss from fire. The pre-suppression forest structure provides the best target for maintaining sustainable carbon stocks and ecological function. Implementing prescribed fire after mechanical thinning treatments supports the maintenance of the restored natural tree structure and pattern.

Regional Plan

• Environmental Planning & Conservation – Vision for the Future: In 2013, the long-term health and viability of our natural resource environment is maintained through strategic planning for resource conservation and protection.
• Policy E&C.3.3 – Invest in forest health and watershed protection measures.
• Policy E&C.6.1 – Encourage public awareness that the region’s ponderosa pine forest is a
  fire-dependent ecosystem and strive to restore more natural and sustainable forest composition, structure, and processes.
• Policy E&C.6.3 – Promote protection, conservation, and ecological restoration of the region’s
  diverse ecosystem type and associated animals.
• Policy E&C.6.6 – Support collaborative efforts for forest health initiatives or practices, such as the Four Forest Restoration Initiative (4FRI), to support healthy forests and protect our water system.
• Policy E&C.10.2 – Protect, conserve, and when possible, enhance and restore wildlife habitat on public land.