Tribal CO stewardship landscape restoration and resource management implement

This $675,000 Cooperative Agreement was awarded by the USDA Forest Service under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) Restoration/Revegetation program (CFDA 10.717). The funding supports comprehensive natural resource management and ecosystem restoration initiatives across federal, state, tribal, and local lands. The awardee, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI), will use the grant to implement tribal co-stewardship, landscape restoration, and resource management activities over a 5-year period from September 2024 to September 2029. The project aims to enhance ecological sustainability, protect natural resources, and improve land management capabilities through collaborative efforts between EBCI and federal, state, and local entities. Key activities will likely include revegetation, habitat restoration, invasive species control, watershed protection, and environmental assessments within the Qualla Boundary and surrounding areas.