IFMAT-IV Report

TASK G: An evaluation of the feasibility and desirability of establishing minimum standards against which the adequacy of the forestry programs of the BIA in fulfilling its trust responsibility to Indian tribes can be measured.

IFMAT I – 1993 II – 2003 III - 2013

Recommendation Implementation Status

Recommendations in Response to Task G Findings

Establishing and Implementing Trust Standards

With the cultural and traditional uses of NTFP being a priority for most tribal members, there is a need for continued communication on the importance of traditional uses and forest management. IRMPs/FMPs, approved by tribes and the Secretary, are the principal documents at the field level where tribes establish a vision for forest management, set goals and describe standards for goals and specific forest practices to achieve desired outcomes. There has been improvement in IRMPs/ FMPs in defining tribal vision for forests and establishing trust standards consistent with the vision and forest management goals. More emphasis is also being given to establishing standards for monitoring and adaptive management to measure achievement of desired conditions and outcomes. Standards setting forth the funding and staffing requirements necessary to carry out each management plan are lacking in many FMPs.

Innovative and continued efforts need to be made to foster, strengthen, and continue communication between the tribal membership, tribal forestry, other natural resource programs and tribal leadership. (IFMAT III – Indian People’s Vision – V1, page 22) A tribal vision for forests and their management should be articulated where one does not now exist. (IFMAT I- Recommendation G1(a), page V-51, and IFMAT II- Recommendation G1, page 84) Trust standards should be linked and relative to the tribal vision. (IFMAT I – Recommendation G1(b), page V-52, and IFMAT II- Recommendation G1, page 84) Such standards should have measurable yardsticks for achieving trust responsibility. (IFMAT I – Recommendation G1(d), page V-52, and IFMAT II- Recommendation G1, page 84) To the degree possible, standards should measure achievement of desired conditions and outcomes (performance) rather than inputs, techniques, or technologies. (IFMAT I- Recommendation G1(e), page V-51), and IFMAT II- Recommendation G1, page 84) Standards should encourage and reward compliance and promote efficient use of resources. (IFMAT I- Recommendation G1(f), page V-51, and IFMAT II- Recommendation G1, page 84) Adopt IFMAT I’s recommendation to define the trust standard as compliance with a forest management plan or IRMP that is based on the tribal vision for its forest, subject to approval and signature of the Secretary. (Recommendation G1, page 193, IFMAT II- Recommendation G1, page 84, and IFMAT I – Recommendation G1(c), page V-52)

III

I & II

I & II

I & II

I & II

I & II

III

Appendix v – IFMAT I-III Crosswalk Table of Recommendations A-51

Made with FlippingBook interactive PDF creator