MENDOCINO CO., 1/17/24 — Wildfire poses a persistent and growing threat to California, worsened by climate change, urban sprawl, and inadequate forest management. For Tribal communities, the impact of wildfires can be especially devastating, affecting cultural resources, natural ecosystems, and the safety of their people. Recognizing these challenges, California has introduced Tribal Wildfire Resilience Grants to support and empower Tribal communities in building wildfire resilience.
The grants are a key step toward addressing the vulnerabilities of Tribal communities while honoring traditional land management practices. California, by investing in these grants, not only is protecting its natural and cultural heritage but also is empowering Tribal nations to lead the way in wildfire resilience.
Cal Fire and the California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA) are collaborating to ensure that the grants align with wildfire resilience goals, emphasize traditional knowledge, and support projects that protect both ecosystems and cultural resources.
The Potter Valley Tribe (PVT) has embarked on a transformative journey to restore and protect 879 acres of ancestral forested land granted back to them in 2019 after 12 years of negotiations with PG&E. This land, located in the environmentally sensitive main stem of the Eel River, contains a mix of old-growth ecosystems and overgrown forest in dire need of fuels reduction to prevent catastrophic wildfire. Supported by a $166,365 Tribal Nature-Based Solutions (TNBS) Planning Grant, the tribe is preparing to undertake critical forest management work, starting with the development of a timber management plan.
The 879-acre property holds immense environmental and cultural value for the tribe. While some old growth trees remain, the forest has suffered from decades of neglect, resulting in dense, overgrown stands of fir trees that are highly vulnerable to wildfire.
The PVT envisions restoring the forest to a mixed and transitional old-growth condition, which will enhance habitat for fish, wildlife, and native plants, and protect the ecosystem for future generations. The restoration project also holds cultural significance, as it will enable the Tribe to manage the land for traditional uses such as native plant-gathering, mushroom foraging, and cultural burns.
Controlled burns were traditionally used by many tribes to maintain healthy ecosystems and reduce wildfire risks. However, the suppression of these practices during European colonization disrupted the balance, contributing to our now acute wildfire crisis.
According to Gregg Young, M.A., environmental director of the Potter Valley Tribe, “The land donated from PG&E has some old growth trees, but is mostly overgrown from many years of no management. As a small tribe [29 pop.], the Tribal community meets monthly at Tribal Council or special meetings. The main challenge was the original grant was a California Tribal Nature-Based Solutions grant from the Natural Resources Agency, then was switched over to Cal Fire last summer, during their busy fire season. This added complexity to the interactions with Cal Fire. We are now on a regular schedule to implement things. Generally state agencies are reaching out a lot to tribes; this was not the case ten years ago. On our side, tribes often lack the capacity or have high staff turnover, limiting ability to apply and/or implement, report, and follow up on these opportunities.”
Young said that they began monitoring spotted owls last fall. “We started spotted owl calling/monitoring last fall at our own expense, since two years are required. Our contracted forester is beginning this month, we will do another owl monitoring this spring, and hope to complete the plan this summer. We will need to apply for funds to begin thinning ASAP after that. As long as the next fire does not occur, we hope to get most of the forest thinned through mechanical, hand crew, and cultural burns, in the next five years. We will also be managing the forest for native plants and mushroom-gathering.”
Despite the program’s potential, tribes still encounter bureaucratic hurdles, limited funding, and support needed for long-term management. Building trust and fostering collaboration among diverse stakeholders requires time and effort.
Young, when asked what could be improved in the process said, “In general, working with state agencies: official maps of some of the small tribes in California are inaccurate; do not show more recent acquisitions and show some lands lost through termination. Financial reporting and reimbursements with Cal Fire and others can take up to 90 days, which can be a deal-breaker with small tribes. Cal Fire and other agencies are working on this.”
Young added that they encourage other tribes to apply for programs and grants. “We have the MLSTEP group [Mendocino, Lake, Sonoma Tribal Environmental Programs] that meets regularly to share experiences, grants, and have tech presentations. This helps us all with our resource programs.”
Expanding funding sources, streamlining grant applications, and incorporating advanced technologies can enhance the resilience grant program’s reach and effectiveness. Strengthening partnerships with academic institutions and environmental organizations also offers new avenues for research and capacity-building.
The 2025 application cycle for the Tribal grants is actively underway. Cal Fire is accepting public comments on the updated guidelines via email at TribalWildfireResilienceGrants@fire.ca.gov. Comments are due before 5 p.m. on Jan. 21. The guidelines can be found at Draft Grant Guidelines. On January 7, Cal Fire hosted an online roundtable workshop regarding the grant guidelines and solicitation process and invited tribes, cultural practitioners, and nonprofits working with Tribes to share feedback and suggestions. The video recording of the roundtable is on Cal Fire’s YouTube channel.
Grant applications are due by March 12, with awards expected to be distributed in the summer and projects anticipated to commence in the fall. In the previous grant cycle, Cal FIre awarded $6.7 million to five Tribal projects in partnership with the California Natural Resources Agency’s Tribal Nature-Based Solutions program. For more information on grant applications, email TribalWildfireResilienceGrants@fire.ca.gov.