Under this project the ctfw will lead the confederated tribes of the colville reservation indigenous wildlife health management program- zoonotic disease initiative and will directly coordinate its…

Under this project the ctfw will lead the confederated tribes of the colville reservation indigenous wildlife health management program- zoonotic disease initiative and will directly coordinate its proposed activities with project partners including the upper columbia united tribes (ucut) and the state of washington department of fish and wildlife (wdfw). The colville tribe is a frontline hunting and fishing community reliant on traditional foods native to their territories to meet their subsistence and cultural needs since time immemorial. Habitat loss, climate change and wildlife exploitation have all created adverse conditions that impact the health of wildlife populations and contribute to the development of zoonotic diseases like covid-19. These factors contribute to socio-environmental conditions that bring humans closer to wildlife and create optimal conditions for disease to spread. There is a need for increased monitoring, coordination, data management and exchange, and emergency response between wildlife managers on zoonotic disease across geographies. The ctfw recognizes the importance of monitoring vulnerable terrestrial, avian, and aquatic wildlife species to minimize the negative impacts to community health and safety. This project will strengthen communications and inter-jurisdictional planning and engagement on monitoring, detection, data management and response, develop a tribal disease response network by facilitation certified training for local tribal nations. The ultimate goal of the ctfw and tribe is to prevent, minimize, and mitigate the occurrences and impacts of the various wildlife diseases with the potential to migrate onto the reservation.