Task C Findings and Recommendations
Findings and Recommendations C1 Finding The portion of the BIA forestry budget allocated to TPA has remained relatively static, compared to budget increases
Recommendation Increased funding for the BIA and tribes is essential but must also occur in a form that allows for direct investment in staffing at both levels. ■ Rather than funnel budget increases into project funds, there needs to be sufficient TPA funds to fulfill the NIFRMA mandate that each tribe receive an adequate amount to support an appropriate number of forestry staff. ■ Funding agreements for compact and contract services should explicitly include budget for staffing and should compensate tribal staff at a GS level equivalent to what a federal worker would be paid. This will create equal pay for equal work, allowing tribes to become more competitive in a workforce beset with scarcity. Recommendation In recent years, the BIA has begun to give multi-year project money in order to allow tribes some security needed to be able to invest in staff positions. To the degree possible, this trend should continue and be expanded so that permanent staff can be hired to address management needs.
that are used to fund annual, mostly competitive projects. The result of this is that neither the BIA nor tribes have adequate funds to pay for staffing. ■ This problem is especially acute for tribes that compacted or contracted programs several decades ago. ■ In multiple visits the team was told that the annual funding from the Bureau has not increased in 20 or more years and is no longer a sufficient amount to pay salaries it was originally designed to. Although many (but not all) tribes receive adequate project funding to accomplish tasks such as reforestation and fuels management, the annual nature and related uncertainty of these funds makes it impossible to bring on permanent staff. ■ In many cases, both at the BIA Regional and tribal level, the team heard that future increases in project funding would have diminishing returns because of a shortage of staff to perform the work. ■ This is especially true for work that is funded through competitive federal grants where there are insufficient staff to apply for, implement, and administratively manage the awards.
C2 Finding
“I only got a $2 raise from 1996 to 2022 but I am here to serve my tribe.” —IFMAT IV focus group participant
106 Assessment of Indian Forests and Forest Management in the United States
Made with FlippingBook interactive PDF creator