Quemado, NM, July 1, 2020--For Immediate Release. The Gila National Forest, Quemado Ranger District has discovered an uptick of illegal wood cutting on the north end of the Gila National Forest, near the Arizona state line.
This illegal wood cutting includes the removal of large green alligator junipers and large oak trees. Illegal wood cutting results in user-created roads, trash, campfires during a campfire ban, and resource damage. As a member of the public here's how you can help when purchasing wood from a seller:
- Look and see if there are permit tags attached to the load
- The permit tags that the Gila NF uses are purple, green and orange and have the Forest Service (FS) logo on them.
- If there aren’t any tags – ask the seller where the wood came from
- Cutting on private land requires a letter from the landowner
- Knowing this information will help you as a member of the public by not purchasing illegally cut wood, and the FS reduce wood theft.
The Gila National Forest wants you to enjoy using the National Forest and to be able to use the natural resources provided by the forest. If you are cutting wood, only drive on open roads. Free Motor Vehicle Use maps are available on-line and at any of our six ranger stations. Obtain a fuelwood permit and know where you are authorized to cut. To see a copy of the Gila National Forest Fuelwood Cutting Guide click here.
For information on the Gila National Forest, check out our website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/gila.