Webinar 1: Community Forest Program Opportunities for Tribes and Native-led Conservation Organizations
Wednesday, November 18, 2020
Tribes and Native-led 501(c)3 conservation organizations are eligible to apply for funding through the USDA to establish a community forest. The funding can cover up to 50% of costs to purchase forested lands in fee simple acquisitions for community benefit. In this one-hour webinar and Q&A session, participants will learn how the USDA Community Forest Program works and how to write and submit an application.
Webinar 2: Returning Forests to Tribal Leadership
Wednesday, March 24, 2021, 12 pm Mountain
Join representatives of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and the Kalispel Tribe of Indians to learn about their efforts to reacquire ancestral lands to protect tribal values and cultural resources, promote forest resilience, and provide opportunities for public education and recreation. Speakers will share how they leveraged resources and partnerships to advance goals surrounding restoring healthy forests , increasing access to culturally important plants, and more.
Webinar 3: Leveraging Partnerships to Support Tribal Land Acquisition and Restoration
Thursday, November 4, 2021, 12 pm Mountain
Moving beyond land acknowledgements to support tribal acquisitions of traditional homelands is needed. Transferring lands to tribes not only supports community well-being, but also helps protect ecological and cultural resources from development. Partnerships between tribes (including tribes that benefited from funding through the US Forest Service’s Community Forest Program), nonprofits and foundations have been integral to the success of many tribal land acquisition projects in the past. Partnerships can provide a range of opportunities for funding, land donations, or technical assistance such as planning, resources, and valuable connections.
Join us for a panel discussion with representatives from Indian Land Capital Company, The Trust for Public Land and American Forests who will share examples of partnerships that support tribal land acquisition, and learn how leveraging these partnerships can also help tribes be competitive applicants for the USDA Forest Service’s Community Forest and Open Space Conservation Program.
