The Southwest’s largest sawmill has officially opened near Flagstaff, supporting forest restoration efforts to prevent wildfires in Coconino County. Restorative Forest Products will invest $120 million in the sawmill, create 170 local jobs, process 120 million board feet of wood annually, and support the restoration of approximately 30,000 acres of forest. did.

Sean Golightly, community relations manager for the Coconino County Flood Control District, and Jay Smith, the county’s reforestation director, emphasized the importance of sawmills in reducing costs associated with processing thinned timber. . Sawmills are critical to advancing forest regeneration by providing uses for the removed biomass and wood.

Additionally, post-wildfire flood prevention is also a major focus, with $100 million in federal funding already allocated. Dr. Homer Wilkes, USDA Under Secretary of Natural Resources and Environment, who attended the plant opening ceremony, praised the work being done in Coconino County and announced that more federal efforts will follow.

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