Task I Findings and Recommendations
I3
Finding Coordinated science and knowledge support. ■ Accessing the primary scientific literature is costly, time-consuming, and inefficient. Access to scientific resources: research, models and other tools is inconsistent across tribes and regions. Existing personal relationships with federal researchers or academic partners tends to be the primary avenue of information dissemination, acquisition, and validation. Without these relationships and networking with scientists and technical specialists, it is difficult for understaffed forestry offices to respond to dynamic shifts in climate risk profiles or to synthesize, translate, and apply the rapidly unfolding science and technological advances. Examples include access to downscaled forest/climate modeling expertise and forest genetics findings important for decisions about post- disturbance restoration and regeneration. Finding Building capacity for climate response integration. ■ The level of consideration of climate change adaptation and mitigation in forest management plan revision and the access to the tools to guide this incorporation vary with the capacity of the forestry program and tribal foresters’ networks of individual contacts and relationships. There are clear gaps in forestry operations’ capacity to fully integrate climate information, traditional knowledge, and science-based models into the forestry program. This is especially relevant for smaller tribes.
Recommendation ■ Provide more systematic technical and scientific support for tribal climate change planning and its integration into forest management planning. This includes access to customized info for tribal lands and assets, models, access to experts in federal agencies and universities, as well as scientific syntheses and management guides. The needs extend to tribal experts and information on the implications for traditional knowledge for designing and implementing climate responses.
I4
Recommendation ■ Provide steady funding to hire and develop staff with skills in climate planning and response, train existing staff, and to work with partners to provide more effective access to climate management experience and technical expertise.
180 Assessment of Indian Forests and Forest Management in the United States
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