Sustainable Forest Communities: Integrated Land Stewardship Strategy for Native American Land Claims

Duration

October 2015 - September 2018

Narrative

In partnership with the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe, we propose to develop an Integrated Land Stewardship Strategy for Existing and Newly Settled Native American Lands in the Northern Forest. Specifically this project will: (1) Undertake a comprehensive land use study of existing lands and newly settled land claims of the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe in the Northern Forest based on social-ecological mapping of hotspots where geographical areas of human and ecological values overlap; (2) Develop an innovative, comprehensive, and culturally relevant stewardship strategy for existing and newly settled land claims of the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe; (3) Create audio visual curriculum material on sustainable forest management and land stewardship for use in high school and undergraduate environmental science education. This project will combine Native American ecological knowledge and scientific understanding to achieve sustainable forest management, addressing ecological, economic, and sociocultural needs.