Cover photo courtesy of Nick James
For generations, Tribal Nations have cared for forests, grasslands, and rivers in ways that sustained both people and ecosystems. Today, as wildfires intensify and ecosystems strain under the weight of a changing climate, that wisdom is proving indispensable. Across the country, Tribes are stepping up as full partners in the stewardship of public lands, often filling gaps left by federal agencies stretched too thin.
One tool for this collaboration is the Tribal Forest Protection Act (TFPA), which allows Tribes to initiate projects on neighboring federal lands. The Kalispel Tribe’s TFPA projects are examples of blending traditional knowledge with modern science to restore forest health, reduce dangerous fuel loads and ensure the land remains resilient for generations to come. In short, it’s about conservation that’s proactive, not reactive.
But these efforts come at a time when the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), the agency responsible for managing much of the nation’s public forest land, is facing major headwinds. With reductions in force and budget cuts in natural resource management, the agency has fewer staff and fewer dollars to address the rising threats of wildfire, invasive species, and drought-driven stress on forests.
Photo courtesy of Nick James
That’s where co-stewardship comes in. By partnering with Tribes, the USFS and other agencies don’t just gain extra capacity; they gain centuries of place-based knowledge about fire, water and ecosystems. For Tribes, these partnerships represent more than just contracts or projects. They are a continuation of cultural responsibilities: to keep forests thriving, to maintain balance and to pass on healthy lands to the next generation.
Yes, the budget challenges are real. But this is not a story of scarcity; it’s one of opportunity. Tribal Nations are ready and able to lead in sustainable forestry, from fuels-reduction projects that protect communities from catastrophic fire to habitat restoration that safeguards fish and wildlife. Our Sxwuytn Kaniksu Connections Trail Project (a TFPA project) proves what’s possible when federal and Tribal partners work side by side.
If we are serious about confronting the challenges facing America’s forests, we need to lean into these partnerships. That means honoring Tribal leadership, expanding co-stewardship agreements and ensuring that cutting budgets at the federal level does not create a landscape that is unable to support its people.
Because in the end, what’s at stake isn’t just budgets or agencies; it’s the health of forests, the safety of communities and the legacy we leave for future generations. On that front, Tribes are showing us the way forward.
The post Tribes Step Forward in Stewardship of America’s Forests appeared first on Out There Outdoors.
For generations, Tribal Nations have cared for forests, grasslands, and rivers in ways that sustained both people and ecosystems. Today, as wildfires intensify and ecosystems strain under the weight of a changing climate, that wisdom is proving indispensable. Across the country, Tribes are stepping up as full partners in the stewardship of public lands, often filling gaps left by federal agencies stretched too thin.
One tool for this collaboration is the Tribal Forest Protection Act (TFPA), which allows Tribes to initiate projects on neighboring federal lands. The Kalispel Tribe’s TFPA projects are examples of blending traditional knowledge with modern science to restore forest health, reduce dangerous fuel loads and ensure the land remains resilient for generations to come. In short, it’s about conservation that’s proactive, not reactive.
But these efforts come at a time when the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), the agency responsible for managing much of the nation’s public forest land, is facing major headwinds. With reductions in force and budget cuts in natural resource management, the agency has fewer staff and fewer dollars to address the rising threats of wildfire, invasive species, and drought-driven stress on forests.
Photo courtesy of Nick James
That’s where co-stewardship comes in. By partnering with Tribes, the USFS and other agencies don’t just gain extra capacity; they gain centuries of place-based knowledge about fire, water and ecosystems. For Tribes, these partnerships represent more than just contracts or projects. They are a continuation of cultural responsibilities: to keep forests thriving, to maintain balance and to pass on healthy lands to the next generation.
Yes, the budget challenges are real. But this is not a story of scarcity; it’s one of opportunity. Tribal Nations are ready and able to lead in sustainable forestry, from fuels-reduction projects that protect communities from catastrophic fire to habitat restoration that safeguards fish and wildlife. Our Sxwuytn Kaniksu Connections Trail Project (a TFPA project) proves what’s possible when federal and Tribal partners work side by side.
If we are serious about confronting the challenges facing America’s forests, we need to lean into these partnerships. That means honoring Tribal leadership, expanding co-stewardship agreements and ensuring that cutting budgets at the federal level does not create a landscape that is unable to support its people.
Because in the end, what’s at stake isn’t just budgets or agencies; it’s the health of forests, the safety of communities and the legacy we leave for future generations. On that front, Tribes are showing us the way forward.
The post Tribes Step Forward in Stewardship of America’s Forests appeared first on Out There Outdoors.