'We Need More People Who Step up': Volunteers, Nonprofits Fill in Gaps at National Forests Amid Staffing Challenges

Local retiree becomes unsung hero after taking on crucial task in national forest: 'I can't logically expand the area that I'm covering'

A volunteer group has joined forces with forest specialists to fight back against invasive species increasing the risk of wildfires — and retiree Don Pike is among the unsung heroes keeping communities safer and ensuring future generations can enjoy Tonto National Forest. As The New York Times detailed, Pike became one of the first members of Friends of the Tonto National Forest years after attending a 2011 presentation by its founder, Patti Fen…

'We need more people who step up': Volunteers, nonprofits fill in gaps at national forests amid staffing challenges

Toilet access, litter clean-up and fire risk monitoring all have been taken on by local groups as federal resources founder.

Amid federal shortfalls, two nonprofits step up to maintain trails

Wood River Trails Coalition Executive Director Sara Gress said she “saw the writing on the wall” several years ago when it came to federal hiring trends.