Coconino County has a wealth of natural resources — in agricultural and range lands, grasslands and forests — that could support sustainable economic development while helping to restore natural systems.

Goals

• Create economically viable, resource-based opportunities to support a thriving local / regional economy while maintaining stewardship of natural resources.

Strategies

• Encourage and promote the development and expansion of sustainable wood based industries in the area, including the production of electricity and steam that use all wood products (saw timber, round wood, biomass). This includes pinyon pine and juniper as well as ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir.
• Support the establishment of long-term, large land management agency contracts to appropriately treat Northern Arizona forests and woodlands. Long-term contracts are a critical element in the creation and retention of a durable wood products based industry.
• Support the establishment of viable, sustainable niche markets for specialty woods and products.
• Promote the concept of healthy forests.
• Support the creation of jobs with wages and benefits that provide adequately for families and contribute to community.
• Explore opportunities for acquiring conservation easements.
• Support legislation that will enable exchanges between federal and state lands for the protection of open space.
• Develop and adopt a Coconino County Transfer of Development Rights Ordinance.
• Explore opportunities in Natural Heritage Area initiatives.
• Support and seek to remove barriers to sustainable agriculture efforts.
• Support a process by which the economic value of healthy watersheds is determined.
• Implement a market-based approach for large-scale watershed restoration.
• Encourage best-use practices and technologies for the use of reclaimed water and for water conservation.

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