We here at the Arboretum are very happy to share two new partnerships to grow plants for our National Forests.
The first project will provide the Coconino National Forest with the rare Bebb’s Willow (Salix bebbiana) for their restoration needs. The Forest has a need to increase available plant species for restoration projects within the Four Forest Restoration Initiative (4FRI) and having individuals to repopulate areas is a priority.
Bebb’s Willow is a rare species that is easily affected by grazing and wildfire, and having more individuals of this rare species on hand will increase watershed health in areas that have lost a native willow component due to habitat alteration, elk browse, or disturbance.
Salix bebbiana
Juncus balticus
Carex scoparia
Yellow Columbine
New Mexico raspberry
The second project will provide the Tonto National Forest with 6 different wetland plant species, including reeds and sedges (Juncus spp., Carex spp.) and some small perennials and shrubs (yellow columbine and New Mexico raspberry) for their restoration project to enhance Dude Creek. This area of the Tonto has been overrun by the invasive Himalayan Blackberry, and the Forest Service will painstakingly remove the invasive species and then restore the area with native species that The Arboretum will provide.
The funds for this Tonto project are from Trout Unlimited, who will also be working on Dude Creek by redirecting the flow of the creek to better support fish and other wildlife. The native plants that we will provide will be used to revegetate these disturbed areas.
We are grateful to the Coconino National Forest, the Tonto National Forest, and Trout Unlimited for their funding of these important projects.
Sheila C. Murray is Conservation Botanist at The Arboretum at Flagstaff.
