San Carlos Forest Tour
ERI staff Jon Martin and Dave Huffman made a two-day trip to the San Carlos Apache Reservation to tour specific project sites and assess research potential. The tour was led by Victoria Wesley, the newly appointed forest manager for the San Carlos Apache, and included her entire staff. Ms. Wesley is an NAU School of Forestry graduate and a San Carlos tribal member.
The San Carlos tribe recently contracted all Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) functions, including forestry and fire management, using self-determination contracting procedures. The Forest Resources Program of the San Carlos Apache Tribe is now solely responsible for the management of its forest resources. San Carlos Forest Resources Program has clearly defined objectives for using fire as a resource management tool and requested that ERI aid in validating the results of their management approach.
The tour included four stops that demonstrated San Carlos’ use of wildland fire and prescribed fire to manage a variety of resources including: Emory oak, the pinion/juniper savannah, culturally significant edible plants, and sacred ceremonial sites. Each stop of the tour included a presentation from individual staff members that clearly demonstrated their knowledge and experience. The fact that the San Carlos forestry program has a forest management plan that includes specific objectives is a sign of their skill and dedication.
The ERI is now evaluating information gained from the tour and will approach San Carlos forestry with options and alternatives for future research and collaborative restoration efforts.
