Project Narrative

Tribal Fuelwood Program: Forest restoration + collaboration = helping neighbors in need The benefits of forest restoration projects go beyond improving forest health and resilience, they provide crucial products for neighbors in need. Forest thinning is used to help restore the forest structure pattern and resilience. Some of the removed trees are used to create products that sustain life and economic development for neighboring communities. In Northern Arizona, tribes rely on wood to heat homes and cook food. Unfortunately, not all tribal members have the resources or ability to collect and transport the wood from the forest to the reservation. However, a little collaboration can go a long way and provide a long term sustantiable supply of fuelwood from restoration projects to tribal communities. This year, a collaborative effort between the USDA Forest Service, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the National Forest Foundation (NFF), Joe Dirt Excavating, Tribal Extension agents from the University of Arizona, Volunteer from GORE, and Tribal partners have provided life sustaining wood supplies to the Hopi Tribe and Navajo Nation. This collaborative effort creates a win-win situation where national forests become healthier through thinning and tribes get the wood they need. These efforts have been coordinated by the Forest Service and the National Forest Foundation with funds from the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the University of Arizona Tribal Extension Programs and donations to the National Forest Foundation. This collaborative group welcomes new partners that wish to join this initiative to provide crucial wood to tribal members in need.