An evaluation of procedures employed in timber sale administration, including preparation, field supervision, and accountability for proceeds
TASK D
relationships between the Natural Resource Departments and with Tribal Councils and Enterprises. Key regulations that slow down timber sale preparation include conducting environmental reviews to satisfy NEPA and Section 7 Consultation to satisfy the ESA. These documents were considered by most tribes as being extremely time-consuming and caused many delays. These activities are considered unfunded mandates for the tribes. The BIA interpretations of
the rules can be a constraint in getting documents approved. The BIA needs to make the approval process more streamlined and in accordance with the principles of self-governance tribes. IFMAT discussed with each interviewed tribe their interest in ITARA and how this Act could help streamline these processes and improve self-determination and management of their forest.
IFMAT I, II and III reviewed findings from the six elements that had been identified for tribes to obtain the full benefits from timber harvested from their forests. The six elements pertain to timber sale preparation, marking, bidding, size of sale, utilization, and scaling. IFMAT IV found that many of the six elements have improved but that more focus is needed on business management and the relationship between the BIA and Tribal Forestry programs. Improvements were also identified in the
New Significant Impacts
In addition to the six elements identified in previous IFMAT reports, the team identified two additional significant impacts to the timber sale programs on reservations. These are the lack of staffing and emergency response capacity to address the impacts of wildfire and other disturbances in the forest. IFMAT found throughout this assessment that staffing and the availability of trained resource professionals is limited on most reservations. On staffing IFMAT also found that the tribes’ compensation and benefit packages are not competitive and limit hiring and retention (see Task C). The second area identified is that many tribes do not have the capacity to handle the impacts of wildfire and are under emergency management, particularly in the western U.S. IFMAT also found in many regions a lack of processing infrastructure with no access to pulp or residuals markets resulting in poor prices and, in some areas, no market for any products.
Log decks on a timber sale administered by the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe in Minnesota. PHOTO CREDIT: ADRIAN LEIGHTON
Task Findings and Recommendations 109
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