Oversight Hearing on:

• “Tribal Forest Management: A Model for Promoting Healthy Forests and Rural Jobs”

Archived Video Webcast:

Member Statements:

The Honorable Doc Hastings
Chairman

Witnesses and Testimony:

PANEL I

The Honorable Michael S. Black
Director
Bureau of Indian Affairs
U.S. Department of the Interior

Mr. Phil Rigdon
Yakama Indian nation
President, Intertribal Timber Council
(Truth in Testimony Form)

Ms. Brenda Meade
Chair
Coquille Indian Tribe

Ms. Carole Lankford
Vice Chairman
Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes

Mr. Cody Desautel
Natural Resources Director
Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation

Mr. Larry Mason
Forest Scientist
Indian Forest Management Assessment Team (IFMAT)
(Truth in Testimony Form)

Background:

The hearing will examine the successful model of forest management used by tribes throughout the country. Over the last two decades, federal regulations and environmental lawsuits have caused the rapid decline in timber sales across the country in federally managed forests. This lack of active federal forest management has destroyed tens of thousands of jobs, deprived rural counties of revenue, and made our National Forests increasingly susceptible to devastating wildfires and invasive species. Meanwhile, Tribal forest managers continue to be more effective at using their limited resources to better protect forest health, prevent catastrophic wildfires and create jobs. This oversight hearing will focus on the issues and challenges facing the management of tribal forests, and will examine innovative ways tribal governments are using limited resources to effectively manage their lands and reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire.

Related Documents:

• Subcommittee Hearing Notice - March 21, 2014
• Subcommittee Hearing Witness List - April 8, 2014