Findings and Recommendations Task A Findings and Recommendations
A3 Finding
Recommendation Establish a separate Greenbook line item for tribal forest roads with a target of eliminating the forest road maintenance backlog. ■ A budget of at least $89 million per year over the next 15 years would be necessary to upgrade major forest roads. This does not include annual road maintenance costs (Table A.20).
BIA and tribal road systems are in very poor condition jeopardizing forest protection, water quality, and active forest management. ■ Funding for forest road maintenance is almost non-existent, with the majority of road funding going towards more used roads. ■ Projected increases, in some areas, in seasonal precipitation and intensity as well as wildfire jeopardize water quality, road infrastructure, and access for active management. ■ In 2014, 83% of BIA system miles of road did not meet acceptable Service Level conditions. ■ In 2019 over 46,900 miles of roads located on Indian trust lands were inventoried and the condition and maintenance needs were assessed. About 43,000 miles of road were identified by the BIA to need upgrading at a cost of $1.33 billion. ■ Funding for qualified personnel is lacking for adequate road design and management (see Task C). The Tribal Forestry Program funding requirements set forth in NIFRMA Section 3310 are not being met. ■ More than 50% of the sampled tribes that IFMAT visited were receiving less in recurring funding than the minimum NIFRMA established to finance forestry functions assumed by tribes under self-governance. ■ Some newly established tribes with forestry programs are not receiving any recurring funding. ■ Overall, 58% of Category 1 and 2 reservations with tribal forestry staffs were below the minimum level of funding prescribed in 25CFR163.36. Based on analysis of the 2019 Funding and Position Analysis study, a higher percentage of compacted programs appeared underfunded compared to contracted programs. ■ Agency regulatory guidelines for staffing forestry programs are unclear.
A4 Finding
Recommendation Congress needs to increase BIA funding to at least fund the minimum staffing needs established by NIFRMA for Tribal Forestry Programs. ■ Agency funding guidelines should be clarified and funded.
76 Assessment of Indian Forests and Forest Management in the United States
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