IFMAT-IV Report

and fractionated allotted lands that are owned by individual Indian families and held in trust by the federal government. The continued fractionation of the allotments has a long- lasting negative impact on the nature, use, and structure of Indian forests. When a majority of interest of the owners cannot be confirmed in a specific time frame, perhaps a lesser percentage should be authorized so that management can be implemented. Increasing management costs of the allotment ownership structure frustrate landscape level management and result in an uneven distribution of management constraints between allotment owners and tribal lands. Overall, due to their small size and scattered distribution, as a rule allotments are under- planned when addressing landscape management impacts.

Additional background information and details regarding Allotments can be found in Appendix xiii.

Quinault Allottee Association members participate in an IFMAT IV site visit assessment in Washington state. PHOTO CREDIT: VINCENT CORRAO

52 Assessment of Indian Forests and Forest Management in the United States

Made with FlippingBook interactive PDF creator