Task H Findings and Recommendations
H10 Finding
Recommendation ■ The BIA regulations for the self-governance programs should be revised to provide grant funding to help tribes to participate in the ITARA Demonstration Project and prepare an ITAMP. ■ If providing grant funding under the self- governance program is not possible, other sources of grant funding should be identified and information provided to tribes about how to secure needed funding to participate in the ITARA Demonstration Project. Recommendation ■ Recurring and nonrecurring funding needs to be increased to levels commensurate with federal neighbors. Reform the system of funding so that “project” funding comes to tribes for the broader “Forest Management Activities” as defined in 25 CFR 163 and ITAMP tribal forestry regulations, rather than narrow and more specific criteria.
At most locations, tribal staff are fully engaged in carrying out ongoing forestry operations and lack capacity to take on new initiatives even if those initiatives will streamline processes and result in more cost-effective program execution.
H11 Finding
Funding has trended to favor nonrecurring project funding rather than recurring funding that supports stable tribal capacity to carry out long term forest management. Costs of management increase over time, but recurring funding has not kept up with inflation.
“The Federal government loves reactive funding.” —IFMAT IV focus group participant
H12 Finding
Recommendation ■ Review the process to evaluate fulfillment of the trust responsibility in the context of direct tribal operations under P.L. 93-638 and ITARA authorities. ■ Trust standards need to be clearly defined, focused on the tribes’ vision for their forests, and include a process for trust oversight.
Tribes performing forest management activities under P.L. 93-638 and ITARA authorities are not required to comply with BIA manuals and handbooks. ■ With the majority of tribes transitioning from BIA control and administration to direct tribal operations in management of trust forest lands, the BIA manuals and handbooks that provide process and standards for fulfillment of the trust responsibility are no longer relevant. ■ Trust standards and evaluation process needs to be reformed.
Task Findings and Recommendations 159
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