This project aims to develop two pilot interagency adaptive management frameworks in the 1836 treaty ceded territory in michigan to enhance the resilience of ecological systems within the 1836 ceded…

This Cooperative Agreement award from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under the National Wildlife Refuge System Enhancements program (CFDA 15.654) aims to develop two pilot interagency adaptive management frameworks in the 1836 Treaty Ceded Territory in Michigan. The $1,424,412 award, effective from November 2024 to November 2027, will enhance the resilience of ecological systems within the 1836 Ceded Territory by engaging Anishinaabe and Western science frameworks to advance ecological and cultural outcomes. The project will focus on collaborative adaptive management and co-stewardship, increasing the capacity of tribal and federal staff, developing an adaptive management framework, and training future conservationists through graduate assistantships targeting tribal members. Expected outcomes include an adaptive management framework, ecological monitoring protocols, and increased capacity across organizations for decision-making and co-stewardship of the region's boreal ecosystems.

This project aims to develop two pilot interagency adaptive management frameworks in the 1836 treaty ceded territory in michigan to enhance the resilience of ecological systems within the 1836 ceded territory encompassing tribal federal USFWS and USFS and other lands with an emphasis on tribal priorities. With project two project locations, the eastern upper peninsula and northern lower peninsula, the initiative focuses on collaborative adaptive management and CO-stewardship, engaging anishinaabe and western science frameworks to advance ecological and cultural outcomes. This aligns with federal directives prioritizing indigenous traditional ecological knowledge and strengthening tribal CO-stewardship of public lands. The region in focus includes remnant boreal ecosystems that are integral to the upper great lakes. These ecosystems form the southernmost refuge for many species vital to anishinaabe communities for food, medicine, and cultural practices. They face challenges such as fragmented stewardship, competing socio-cultural values, and vulnerabilities to climate change and human activities. The project addresses these challenges by developing adaptive management strategies that maintain boreal ecosystems and promote resilience. The consortium for cooperative ecological resilience will lead this initiative in partnership with USFWS USFS and other rightsholders. Objectives include increasing the capacity of tribal and federal staff for CO-stewardship, developing an adaptive management framework, and training future conservationists through graduate assistantships targeting tribal members. Additionally, the initiative aims to foster strong relationships among agencies to align stewardship goals and implement adaptive management collaboratively. The work involves structured decision-making training, developing decision-support tools, creating adaptive management and monitoring plans, and ensuring community engagement. Expected outcomes include an adaptive management framework, ecological monitoring protocols, and increased capacity across organizations for decision-making and CO-stewardship. Ultimately, this project aims to engage anishinaabe and western approaches to ecosystem management, strengthen indigenous knowledge in federal land management, and support ecological and cultural resilience in the lake states region.