A recommendation of any reforms and increased funding levels necessary to bring Indian forest land management programs to a state-of-the-art condition
TASK H
The Trend Toward Stewardship Tribal visions for forest lands are emphasizing forest health and protecting and enhancing other forest values rather than harvesting the allowable annual cut (AAC). This increasing trend toward a stewardship model potentially impacts multiple aspects of Indian forestry programs. Are the funding and staffing requirements more, less or the same with a shift from timber production
“No matter what we do, we should be the managers.” —IFMAT IV focus group participant
toward stewardship? While there has been some change in the approach to justifying BIA forestry budget appropriations to include other considerations, harvesting the AAC continues to be a prominent factor. BIA policy guidance (manuals and handbooks) continue to have a strong focus on timber
harvesting. Where potential for commercial timber production exists, a major portion of required FMP content concerns forest inventory, inventory analysis, AAC determination and harvest scheduling. Does the emerging trend toward stewardship strengthened by
A discussion of a white oak stand management project during a site visit to the Eastern Band of Cherokee. PHOTO CREDIT: TIM VREDENBURG
Task Findings and Recommendations 153
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