2. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
6. Is only trust land included? Are allottees included?
1. Who is IFMAT and who do they work for? Who is paying for this study? How were the IFMAT members chosen? IFMAT is an independent team of forestry experts tasked with assessing the status of tribal forests and forest management in response to NIFRMA. IFMAT members work as contractors selected by the ITC. The BIA is the primary agency that funds the assessment with some support from the USDA Forest Service. 2. What is IFMAT’s COVID-19 strategy? We will be flexible with all travel associated with IFMAT data collection and we will engage in virtual meetings when possible. In the event we can do in-person visits, we will respect all tribal policies regarding COVID-19 restrictions, and the assessment team will always wear masks and socially distance. See sections 4 and 6 for additional safety measurements and precautions. 3. What does IFMAT want to know from us? Mainly, IFMAT wants to know how your tribe is managing their forest resources, if there are any staffing/funding issues, and if there is anything that could improve the government- to-government trust relationship between tribes and the BIA. There are 8 Congressionally mandated questions for the IFMAT to address plus 3 additional questions from ITC. 4. How was our reservation chosen? Does IFMAT visit more than one reservation? IFMAT requested the involvement of your tribe because the core team felt there were multiple issues and elements that will offer regional insights into answering the 11 national assessment questions. IFMAT will visit up to 40 tribes, pueblos, and Alaska Native Corporations. 5. Is IFMAT here to help us (what is the benefit to the reservation)? IFMAT findings and recommendations that are compiled at a national scope may have positive impacts to your community (see Appendix for a full list of direct and indirect benefits of IFMAT for tribes). During site visits the assessment team is supposed to be independent and unbiased and it does not represent an audit of specific tribal forest management practices. However, a follow-up conversation with the team and any tribal staff is an option for specific needs and requests.
Trust land, including allotments in trust, make up most of the assessment; however non-trust lands including those areas managed by Alaska Native Corporations where relevant to answer the 11 questions. 7. How will our data be used? Data from individual tribal site visits will be aggregated regionally and compiled to develop national findings and recommendations. The final report will be delivered to Congress in 2023. 8. Do we get a grade?
No. But a site visit report reflecting what we heard and observed will come out from the
assessment team within 30 days of our visit. The report will not include sensitive information or be part of IFMAT’s final report. See Section 8 for site visit report template. 9. What is the purpose of the focus group? Who should or should not be at the focus group? Data from the focus group and the tribal member satisfaction survey (see below) will be combined to better understand tribal members vision of forest management and how it is being implemented on the ground. Members of the tribal community including elders, youth and any individual interested in forest management would be appropriate to invite to the focus group (see Section 6). Focus group facilitators will ensure that all participants get a chance to express their views. Input from forest managers, BIA officials and direct supervisors will be collected separately. When possible and appropriate, IFMAT will provide food and refreshments to participants. 10. Will we be surveyed? Who should or should not participate in the surveys? IFMAT IV has developed two surveys. One is a workforce survey that we would appreciate you sharing with all tribal and (if applicable) BIA forestry related employees. The second is a tribal member satisfaction survey that can be shared with all interested tribal members. 11. Will individual tribes be identified in the report to Congress? Specific tribes will not be identified in the report, except for in the case of positive examples to represent specific topics where the tribe’s permission will be requested. 12. When will we see the final report? We intend to have the report finalized by early 2023 but we will revisit our site visit plan
A-72 Assessment of Indian Forests and Forest Management in the United States
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