Introduction to IFMAT IV
The National Indian Forest Resource Management Act (NIFRMA) stipulates that an assessment of Indian forests and forestry be made every 10 years by an independent team of experts, the Indian Forest Resource Management Team (IFMAT). This report details the composition, methods, activities, findings, conclusion, and recommendations of the fourth such assessment, IFMAT IV. For the 4th decade, IFMAT was formed and overseen by the Intertribal Timber Council (ITC), the nation’s leading non- profit organization comprised of representatives of tribes
with significant forest interests. Funding for the project was principally from the Department of the Interior (DOI) through the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) to ITC as well as support from the USDA Forest Service. ITC then contracted with the individuals tasked with carrying out the independent assessment. IFMAT IV was formed by the appointment by ITC of four co- chairs and a program manager responsible for the further formation and forwarding of the overall task. This group, referred to hereafter as the Core Team (CT), first prepared a study plan and timeline to address the
mandated tasks (see Appendix x). Each task was assigned to a CT coordinator responsible for its timely completion. To gather further expertise to focus on the specific tasks, the CT chose and recommended to ITC a group of nationally and internationally recognized subject matter experts with deep experience in Indian forestry, the Technical Specialists (TS). To further augment the expertise focused on IFMAT IV and to engage students who are the next generation of American Indian forestry professionals, five Native graduate student participants (SP) were selected by the CT from a national call for applications. Both the TS and SP were approved and contracted by ITC. The entire list of CT, TS and SP is found in the Acknowledgements. Throughout the duration of the assessment IFMAT IV participants have agreed to serve as individuals rendering independent evaluations and objective findings and recommendations, and not as representatives of their employer or any other organization. To gather data relative to the mandated tasks, the CT first developed metrics for each and assigned TS and SP to carry out the task. The CT then developed a schedule of visits (virtual and /or on site) for 41 tribal organizations, BIA regional and national offices and other relevant information sources including the 2019 Funding and Position Analysis prepared by the BIA and tribes.
A mature stand of timber managed by the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians in Oregon. PHOTO CREDIT: VINCENT CORRAO
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