Legacy Forest Management, LLC
Creating a Legacy: Restoring Colorado's Forests

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Stewardship Rooted in Service

Mission Statement

"It is our mission to efficiently supply professional forest management services that promote the stewardship of the public and private forests of the Southwest and the communities that depend on them for current and future generations".

About US

Stewardship Rooted in Service. Forests Built for Generations.

At Legacy Forest Management, LLC, we don’t just manage forests—we serve them. Founded by Tyrell “Ty” Mares, a veteran, avid outdoorsman, and experienced forester, Legacy is built on the belief that land stewardship is a form of public service. That belief is woven into everything we do—from restoring overgrown landscapes to helping private landowners make informed, lasting decisions for the health of their forests.

Raised among the ponderosa pines and fire-shaped landscapes of the Gila region, Ty developed a deep understanding of the natural rhythms and ecological forces that sustain forests. After his military service, he joined the U.S. Forest Service, where he gained firsthand insight into the complexity of large-scale forest management. Those experiences solidified his calling: to help private landowners and communities across the Southwest build more resilient, fire-adapted forests—acre by acre, tree by tree.

We believe forests are living legacies. That’s why we work closely with landowners who care deeply about the land they own and the impact it will have for generations to come. Our focus lies with Non-Industrial Private Forest (NIPF) owners—those whose forests may not be massive in size but are rich in ecological and personal value.

Whether it’s preparing custom forest management plans, implementing thinning and fuels reduction projects, or guiding reforestation and habitat restoration, Legacy offers science-based, boots-on-the-ground solutions. We work across Colorado and New Mexico, and extend services into Arizona, Utah, and Wyoming, bringing trusted expertise to the diverse forests of the American Southwest.

What We Believe

  • 🌲 Land and people are connected—healthy forests make for stronger communities.

  • 🔥 Fire is not the enemy—it’s a natural process we must learn to live with and manage.

  • 🛠️ Solutions should be actionable—plans are only valuable when they lead to real work on the ground.

  • 🧭 Service is our foundation—as a veteran-owned business, we lead with integrity, discipline, and purpose.

What We Deliver

  • Custom forest management plans

  • Fuels mitigation and thinning operations

  • Reforestation and planting

  • Applied silviculture and ecological restoration

  • Guidance navigating grants, programs, and partnerships

At Legacy Forest Management, we aren’t in this for quick fixes—we’re in it for the long haul. Because to us, there’s no greater calling than restoring our forests and helping others do the same.

 

Get in Touch

At Legacy Forest Management, LLC, we're committed to delivering high-quality, professional forest management services tailored to help you reach your land stewardship goals. With extensive expertise in forestry, rangeland management, and a broad range of natural resource disciplines, we take a customized approach to support each client’s unique needs. Reach out today to schedule your appointment—we’d be honored to work with you.

Book an appointment

 

Our People

 
 

Tyrell “Ty” Mares | Founder & Principal Forester

Tyrell “Ty” Mares is the founder and driving force behind Legacy Forest Management, LLC, a veteran-owned forestry company rooted in ecological stewardship, service, and restoration. Born and raised in the mountainous Gila region of southwestern New Mexico, Ty developed a deep connection to forests and natural landscapes at a young age. His passion for land stewardship took root early through his involvement in the FFA’s Forestry Career Development Event (CDE) in middle and high school—an experience that set the stage for a lifetime commitment to forestry.

After graduating from Silver High School in 2007, Ty answered the call to serve his country by enlisting in the U.S. Army in 2008. He served four years as an infantryman (11B), where he honed the discipline, leadership, and mission-first mindset that would later define his work in forestry.

Following his military service, Ty pursued his academic and professional forestry goals—earning a Bachelor of Science in Forestry from Colorado State University in 2017. He then spent six years with the U.S. Forest Service, working across Regions 2 and 3 in a variety of roles:

  • Presale Forester on the Rio Grande National Forest

  • Timber Sale Specialist on the Region 2 Timber Strike Team

  • Forester Trainee in the Region 3 Regional Office, working under top forest management leadership

These roles deepened his technical knowledge and gave him a broad view of forest policy, restoration, and timber operations throughout the Southwest.

In 2019, Tyrell “Ty” Mares founded Legacy Forest Management, LLC to meet the growing need for hands-on, science-based forestry solutions—particularly for Non-Industrial Private Forest (NIPF) landowners throughout Colorado, New Mexico, and the broader Southwestern United States. Recognizing that both public and private forests face mounting challenges—from wildfire risk and overcrowded stands to restoration planning and resource limitations—Ty built Legacy to deliver comprehensive services that move forest management from vision to action.

Since its founding, Legacy has led a diverse portfolio of projects that reflect its commitment to ecological restoration, technical precision, and landowner empowerment. Core services include:

  • 🌲 Forest Thinning and Fuels Reduction — Reducing wildfire risk and improving ecological health through strategic treatments across landscapes such as the San Luis Valley and Southern Colorado

  • 🪓 Wildfire Mitigation Planning and Implementation — Creating defensible space and fire-adapted forest systems

  • 🗺️ Forest Inventory, Analysis & Mapping — Utilizing on-the-ground data and geospatial tools to assess forest conditions, species composition, and management potential

  • 📐 Timber Sale & Logging Plan Development — Designing harvest strategies that meet ecological and operational goals, including involvement in high-impact projects like LiDAR scan validation under Arizona’s Four Forest Restoration Initiative (4FRI)

  • 🌿 Silviculture & Restoration Consulting — Applying forest ecology principles to develop site-specific prescriptions for long-term forest resilience

Under Ty’s leadership, Legacy combines federal land management experience, veteran discipline, and deep regional knowledge to help landowners achieve meaningful, lasting improvements to their forestlands.

Today, Ty continues to lead Legacy with a sense of purpose shaped by his military and civilian experience. He believes that forests are not just natural resources—but living legacies. And through every project, he works to ensure those legacies are protected, restored, and passed on stronger than they were found.

 

Education

Colorado State University
B.S., Forestry, 2017

Major: Forestry (Forest Management Emphasis)

Minor: Rangeland Ecology

Activities & Affiliations

🌲 Association of Consulting Foresters — Candidate Member

🪓 Colorado Timber Industry Association (CTIA) — Member

🌿 Society of American Foresters — Member