>>2777386The four corners states already have 134,000 sq miles or 347,000 sq km of actual forest. Each of them is above the US national average forest to land area cover ratio. Each of the four corners states also has more than 40,000 sq miles or 104,000 sq km of permanently protected land in USFS, USBLM, USNP, USFW, and state park lands. If the right steps are taken now, it is possible to afforest an additional 20,000 sq miles of forest in those 4 states alone, which would be returning it to about 1800. In many communities surrounded by forest in these states the forest gains ground so fast that it has to be actively cut down to keep it from overtaking some communities. Payson, Arizona is one of those communities and it is not even high elevation. Ponderosa pine, Arizona's oak species (but most especially AZ white oak Emory Oak and Gambel oak) are the most drought adapted oak species on Earth, and Alligator Juniper regenerate to sexual maturity within 20 years. Arizona is home to a few hundred species of plants that are the most drought adapted known in those families in the world. Including the most drought adapted squash and grape vine (which is starting to be used in California now), the most drought adapted Sycamore (plane tree) and the most drought adapted edible berry bushes. All of which can be found growing in locations that average less than 10" of annual precipitation, but they are more typically found in climates in that state with between 12-35" of annual precipitation. If humans were to leave the forests completely alone, canopy gaps would be filed in with dense stands of tall but thin pines with smaller oaks and other deciduous species filling the understory within 20 years across 90% of the forested and recently unforested areas of the SW US. It only takes a few thousands dedicated people with at least 14 free days a year to afforest 1,000 sq miles within 20 years. Most humans live in cities completely disconnected from nature and don't give a shit.
