These estimated increases in funding do not include
in the past. These backlogs involve delayed density reduction, delayed planting, delayed road restoration, and delayed hazardous fuel reduction. Each of these backlogs are discussed in more detail in other sections of the IFMAT report. This section summarizes the major backlogs and estimates the cost of addressing the backlogs over a 15-year period. ■ Density reduction through precommercial thinning treatments to promote growth and forest resilience (see Task B). This reduces stocking in primarily non-commercial stands. An estimated 500,000 acres of tribal forest lands have
been identified as needing precommercial thinning.
investments to bring BIA roads up to standard for active forest management and protection (BIA estimate of $1.33 billion), address law enforcement, or wild horse management. Fire Preparedness The increase in funding to bring BIA fire preparedness to parity with federal funding on comparable lands in the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management is estimated as $122.7 million (Table A.19) minus $80.8 million (2019 BIA Preparedness including indirect costs) = $41.9 million. This does not include needed improvements in the forest road system ($1.33 billion) for forest protection identified under Secretarial Order 3372. The need for increased preparedness resources until hazardous fuel reduction objectives are met is supported by: ■ The higher fire starts (per 100,000 acres) in Indian Country compared to Forest Service land starts (Figure A.6), and ■ A higher percentage of forests in the valuable timber of the Northwest Region in the High/ Very-High Wildfire Hazard Potential classes compared to the Forest Service (see Task B, Table B.4). Addressing Treatment Backlogs In addition to the $313 million to maintain tribal forests that are in a sustainable condition, there are significant backlogs of treatments that were not initiated
■ There is an estimated backlog of 500,000 acres of tribal lands that need planting (see Task B) as of 2019. This planting is due to forest lands that have been destroyed by fire, wind, insects or other causes, or lands that did not regenerate successfully from past treatments. The large fires of 2020 probably ■ Restoration of forest roads: According to an analysis by the BIA, an estimated $1.33 billion dollars is needed to restore forest roads and bridges significantly increased the planting backlog.
Table A.18. Identified Annual Funding Needs by Function 1
Total Funding Needed (million $)
Program
Fire
16.8
Administrative Support Forest Development
1.7 8.3 1.1
Forest Education Forest Planning
11.3
Forest Product Sales
9.8 0.4 0.3 7.7 1.1 4.5 6.0 0.2
Forest Protection Forest Research
Multi-Use Management
Other
Program Administration
Roads
Technical Assistance
Total
69.1
1 Source: BIA 2019 Funding and Position Analysis
Table A.19. Estimated Preparedness Funding for Indian Forests for parity with federal investments in Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management 1 .
Preparedness ($/acre)
BIA
Acres million $ 10,206,625 $86.65 48,008,134 $36.01 $122.66
Commercial Forest Land Non-Commercial/Range
$8.49 $0.75
1 Preparedness for commercial forest land uses 2019 preparedness costs for Forest Service. Preparedness costs for non-commercial and other lands within the reservation boundary use BLM average preparedness costs.
72 Assessment of Indian Forests and Forest Management in the United States
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