For the goal of timber production, the state forests and private industrial forests with similar management systems are the appropriate comparators for Indian forests. IFMAT IV found the level of forest investment on Indian lands to be lower than states and somewhat similar to private lands. To determine the funding level for Indian forestry, a model that recognizes the cost of stewardship and incremental cost of timber production is proposed. As background to developing the stewardship / production cost model, levels of investment are compared for forestry and wildfire management
by BIA region, to federal, state, and private organizations. Also compared are the results of the stewardship/production cost model with the 2019 BIA Funding and Position Analysis (F&PA) needs assessment. Both the stewardship/production cost model and F&PA needs assessment indicate a funding gap compared to federal forests. The 2019 base year was chosen as representing pre-pandemic conditions as well as considering the time required for BIA data collection and quality control. The primary funding conclusion is that the base year (2019) federal funding for Indian forests would
need to be increased about $96 million to reach parity with federal funding for the USFS and BLM on comparable lands. Funding for wildfire preparedness would need to be increased about $42 million to reach parity with federal funding for the USFS and BLM on comparable lands.
Indian Forestry Funding
Indian forestry is primarily funded in three components: BIA Forestry, BIA Fire, and Tribal Contributions. Support to forestry projects is provided by other BIA programs, primarily Wildlife, Water Resources,
The White Mountain Apache Timber Company sawmill at Whiteriver, Arizona. PHOTO CREDIT: CURTIS ROGERS
54 Assessment of Indian Forests and Forest Management in the United States
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