Indian nations conservation alliance (inca), in collaborative partnership with aphis' - office of national tribal liaison (ontl) will host tribal emergency preparedness and response trainings

Inca and aphis ontl will work with tribal nations in new mexico, montana, and wyoming to promote development of animal and plant emergency response plans and emergency response memorandums of understanding with USDA-aphis. The purpose of this project is to bring awareness to tribes on the importance of having emergency response plans and mous in place for animal and plant health emergencies of high consequence to the tribes and to determine tribal nations interested in developing or updating their nation's emergency response plans and emergency mous. For tribal nations in new mexico, montana, and wyoming, this project will:1) assess emergency response plan and MOU needs of tribal nations. 2) deliver two inca/ aphis tribal emergency preparedness and response trainings /workshops for tribal nations (2-3 days per training); and 3) assess interest of tribal nations for technical assistance to develop or updating their emergency response plans and mous. This plan will increase awareness and knowledge of emergency preparedness among tribal members and improve the ability of tribal nations to plan and respond to animal and plant health emergencies. This plan will benefit all tribal nations by creating an open dialogue between aphis and tribal personnel to provide innovative ways of rapid responses to agricultural diseases or pest outbreaks by using new technological advances to reduce economic losses. Tribal nations resiliency will be a key component to protect the agriculture and develop the tactics to acquire new skills to better prepare for future tasks by increasing support and policy making to have consistent access to safe sustenance, and an affordable food supply. Diseases, pests and biological events have the potential to impact AG ricultural production, trade and the economy within tribal nations. Other impacts are global health threats that are increasing the pressure on related tribal government activities due to the many threats that american agriculture faces. Inca plans to submit a separate proposal for the FY 2024 nadprp tribal funding opportunity for additional funds which will be used to expand the tribes' emergency preparedness and response plans and test the vulnerabilities of the erps and mous created in this project through tabletop, functional and full-scale exercises.