Cooperative Agreement 20237041739322

TRIBES AND INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES HAVE HISTORICALLY BEEN AND CONTINUE TO BE ECONOMICALLY DISTRESSED AND UNDERSERVED AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS. DESPITE STEWARDING A NOTABLE PORTION OF U.S. AND PACIFIC NORTHWEST AGRICULTURAL LAND, THEY ACCOUNT FOR LESS THAN 1% OF ALL NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL SALES. CURRENTLY, THERE IS LIMITED AWARENESS OF THE UNIQUE NEEDS, CHALLENGES, AND GOALS OF TRIBES AND INDIGENOUS AGROFORESTRY PRODUCERS AS THEY RELATE TO UNDERSTANDING AND PARTICIPATING IN USDA PROGRAMS AND SERVICES, BUT THERE IS GROWING INTEREST IN INDIGENOUS STEWARDSHIP AMONG BROADER SOCIETY. THIS PROJECT INCREASES AWARENESS OF AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR INDIGENOUS AGROFORESTRY STEWARDSHIP AND WILL SUPPORT AN IMPROVED UNDERSTANDING OF AND EQUITABLE PARTICIPATION AND INCLUSION OF TRIBES AND INDIGENOUS AGROFORESTRY PRODUCERS OF THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST, INCLUDING NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, OREGON, AND WASHINGTON, IN USDA PROGRAMS AND SERVICES RELATED TO AGROFORESTRY. ECOTRUST'S PROJECT PARTNERS INCLUDE THE USDA NATIONAL AGROFORESTRY CENTER, INTERTRIBAL NURSERY COUNCIL, USFS PACIFIC SOUTHWEST RESEARCH STATION FIRE AND FUELS PROGRAM, USFS RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT, USFS FOREST MANAGEMENT SERVICE CENTER, HERITAGE UNIVERSITY, HOOPA VALLEY TRIBE, CAL POLY HUMBOLDT, AND WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION.THIS PROJECT WILL PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND OUTREACH TO TRIBES AND INDIGENOUS AGROFORESTRY PRODUCERS THROUGH THREE KEY PROJECT GOALS: (1) ESTABLISH A COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE FOR TRIBAL AGROFORESTRY PRODUCERS TO BUILD TRUST, CREATE SHARED VISION, IMPLEMENT EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, AND OFFER MENTORSHIP FOR INDIGENOUS YOUTH. (2) BUILD UPON THE KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCES OF TRIBAL PRODUCERS, IN COLLABORATION WITH USDA PARTNERS, TO INCREASE THE RELEVANCE, PARTICIPATION, AND IMPACT OF USDA PROGRAMS AND SERVICES FOR TRIBAL AGROFORESTRY PRODUCERS. WE WILL CONDUCT NEEDS ASSESSMENTS TO IDENTIFY BARRIERS TO ACCESSING AND PARTICIPATING IN RELEVANT USDA PROGRAMS AND SERVICES, AS WELL AS DEVELOP STRATEGIES TO CLOSE GAPS AND REDUCE BARRIERS, SUPPORT USDA PROGRAM RESPONSIVENESS, PROVIDE TARGETED OUTREACH, ENGAGEMENT, AND CAPACITY-BUILDING SUPPORT, AS WELL AS HOST EVENTS AND WORKSHOPS TO PROVIDE DIRECT ASSISTANCE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF APPLICATIONS TO RELEVANT USDA PROGRAMS AND SERVICES. (3) CO-DEVELOP ACTIONABLE RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGICAL TOOLS AND PILOT AGROFORESTRY PROJECTS THAT WILL BUILD CAPACITY FOR TRIBAL AGROFORESTRY PRACTITIONERS' LONG-TERM PARTICIPATION IN USDA PROGRAMS AND SERVICES.