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> FORESTRY
TCC Forestry Program Services
The TCC forestry program provides a wide range of forestry
and fire management services to Native allotments and their
owners via the trust services program. The program also provides
similar services via the technical assistance program to tribal
councils, village and regional Native corporations and to other
public and private landowners.
Specific TCC forestry activities and services include:
Native Allotment Trust Program
The trust services program assists allotment owners with a
wide variety of activities. These services include, but are
not limited to some of the following areas: timber trespass
investigation, timber appraisal, timber sale preparation and
administration, reforestation projects, pre-commercial tree
thinning, vegetation mapping, forest inventory and forest management
plan preparation. The program also acts as the wildfire liaison
between Native allottees and federal and state fire fighting
agencies. To support this task, a computerized allotment database
has been developed by the program. The database is linked to
a GIS system and contains individual parcel maps, vegetation
overlays and information about each parcel in the TCC region.
Both the forestry and realty programs in their daily management
of trust lands utilize the database. Funding for trust services
comes from the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) via the TCC compact
and by competitive funding requests to the BIA for add-on funding.
Add-on funds are utilized for specific allotment projects and
compete against other similar projects on a nationwide basis.
The two main categories are forest development (pre-commercial
tree thinning) and forest management and inventory planning.
The program is also developing a hazard fuel reduction program
via BIA funding that can provide defensible space services to
individual allotments.
The tribal governments of Tanana and Fort Yukon are co-signers
to the TCC compact and provide the same types of services directly
or "buy back" some services via the TCC program.
Services for Tribal Governments
TCC forestry assists tribal councils with business, land and
forest planning issues, including review of forestry legislation
affecting villages. Many of the same types of services provided
for the trust program are available via the technical assistance
program, but there are some limitations on funding since these
lands are not considered "trust" lands. Many tribal
programs have requested assistance in developing GIS capabilities
and the program can provide advice and some on-site support
for hardware and software installation and training.
The program is also working toward the development of a hazard
fuel reduction program for lands in and around village sites.
This program could use a combination of mechanical fuel treatments
and/or prescribed fire to reduce fuel loads or to improve wildlife
habitat on village lands. Funding for this program would be
via the Bureau of Land Management.
Services for ANCSA Corporations
Technical assistance for village and regional ANCSA corporations
also range from on the ground projects such as forest inventory,
timber sale layout and vegetation mapping, to assistance with
business plans, land use and forest management plans. The program
can identify funding sources and write project proposals to
help underwrite some of these activities. These services are
limited to available funding and staff time and may require
a cost share commitment from the corporations that use the service.
Other Forestry Consulting Services
Forestry consulting services are available to private corporations,
individuals, and Federal and State agencies. The services range
from on the ground assistance, research, and database/GIS management
to technical review of a variety of business documents. These
services are available for their full cost and are limited to
available staff time. Funds generated from this service are
used to support the technical assistance program to tribal councils
and corporations. Typical projects may include, timber sale
layout and administration, regeneration surveys, riparian buffer
research, and wood supply and inventory analysis.
Requests for forestry services may be made through the program
director.
