Task G Findings and Recommendations
4 - Program (continued)
G13 Finding
Recommendation Do a review of all BIA natural resources programs for funding and minimum performance standards. ■ Direct the Office of Trust Resources to conduct an Office-wide assessment of programs for funding and staffing needs that includes tribal needs. ■ Review current authorities to determine whether the trust responsibility of the federal government is being met. ■ Provide training to tribes in developing budget and staffing plans to meet their natural resource need.
Not only are the minimum standards for the forestry program not being met, BUT many other BIA programs are also not meeting their set standards. ■ Tribal roads are failing or are only in fair condition, 83% of tribal roads have been rated as being in unacceptable condition. ■ Wild horse and burro issues are not being addressed to sufficient levels. The impacts of these animals on the natural resources have become an epidemic. ■ Water, air, and other resources are in jeopardy due to climate change, drought and risk to wildfire.
5 - Assistance
G14 Finding
Recommendation Improve accessibility for BIA technical assistance and trainings for all employees. ■ As suggested by earlier IFMATs, BIA forestry should be reorganized to separate technical assistance from trust oversight. ■ Clear policy should be issued defining the continued technical assistance role of the BIA for tribes operating under self- determination program contracts, self- governance compacts and ITAMPs. ■ Where BIA continues to have technical assistance responsibilities, the focus should be on improved accessibility for tribes to receive SOTA services. ■ Trust oversight should be delegated to an independent commission.
Limited access to technical assistance and training is leading BIA and tribes to not have fully trained employees. ■ Depending on the Region, BIA forestry is not consistently providing accessible technical assistance to tribes. ■ The continued technical assistance role of the BIA for tribes under self-determination contracts and self-governance compacts is unclear and applied inconsistently across regions. ■ In some instances, the BIA focus centers only on Trust oversight which, as mentioned previously, entails inherent conflicts of interest.
150 Assessment of Indian Forests and Forest Management in the United States
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