Task I Findings and Recommendations
(continued from previous page) ■ Members of some tribal forest operations are concerned about potential conflicts between forest management strategies and carbon commitments in the face of expanding and more intense disturbances, growing levels of mortality and associated regeneration needs. They feel that more aggressive density management is needed to assure forest health and could eventually conflict with commitments in carbon programs to maintain high levels of carbon stocks and net sequestration. Some tribes, especially those with larger holdings in trust and fee lands have been successful so far in building diversity and flexibility into carbon stewardship to be compatible with their market commitments and their overall forest management goals. ■ The tribal uses of revenue from carbon markets vary across participating tribes. Tribes have put carbon revenue to many good uses and longstanding strategic needs. It is unclear how much of the total revenue is being reinvested in forest management and capacity building in support of forest management. IFMAT hopes that tribal and forest operations leadership gives this question regular attention and allocates enough of the climate proceeds to assure a valuable and resilient forest resource. Finding Creating new markets for woodland carbon and other resources. ■ New voluntary and compliance market arrangements and pricing structures for carbon and other ecosystem services are developing that may be suitable for a wider range of tribal forest operations. This includes the management of grassland and woodland ecosystems that are mixed with forests on the landscape. While there are carbon market protocols for forests as well as grasslands and shrubs, woodlands per se are currently not eligible as a source of projects.
I7
Recommendation ■ Develop woodland carbon and other ecosystem services projects to support managing this underfunded and often neglected resource. ■ Given the high proportion of tribal forest land ownership in woodland acres, there is a need for a combination of government and private funding to support climate- informed management for restoration and resilience of these lands. These systems occupy important positions and roles in a dynamic landscape being reshaped by climate change and provide unique blends of ecological, societal, cultural, and spiritual values.
Task Findings and Recommendations 183
Made with FlippingBook interactive PDF creator