Saturday, 01 May 2004
White Mountain Apache Tribe Receives FSC Certification for 1.68 Million Acres
Second Largest Forest Management Certification in the U.S.
White Mountain Apache Tribe (WMAT) recently received FSC Forest Management certification for its 1.68 million acres of tribal forestry lands on the Fort Apache Reservation located near Whiteriver, Arizona. WMAT applied for and received a grant from the First Nations’ Sustainable Forestry Fund to retain Scientific Certification Systems, an FSC-accredited certifier, to conduct an evaluation of its forestlands. This certification represents the second-largest amount of FSC-certified forestlands in the U.S. covered by one certificate; the first is the 2.2 million FSC-certified acres of the Pennsylvania State forests.
“The members of the White Mountain Apache Tribe have a deep respect for these forestlands and are pleased that an independent evaluation team has confirmed that we’re managing them in a long-term, sustainable manner,” said Jim Pitts, Forester, White Mountain Apache Tribe. “We have a responsibility to ensure that forest products contribute to the economic well-being of the tribe, and certification will be one more step in a positive direction,” said Mr. Pitts.
“FSC-US is extremely pleased that the White Mountain Apache Tribe chose to seek FSC certification for their forestlands,” said Roger Dower, President FSC-US. “This certification will allow them to give proof of the sound management of their forestlands to their community and their customers. Also, their location in Arizona will enable them to service the growing green market in the Southwest. We are happy to welcome them to the FSC family,” said Mr. Dower.
“The White Mountain Apache Tribe has successfully demonstrated that resource use and resource protection can coexist on tribal lands in the Southwest,” said Dr. Robert Hrubes, SCS’s Senior Vice President and a registered professional forester. “They have blended tribal values with economic necessities and emerging public use desires to develop a management program that is in harmony with strict environmental, social, and economic certification criteria. They should be commended for their accomplishments,” said Dr. Hrubes.
The SCS evaluation team found that prior to any timber sale, a trained archaeologist and cultural resource advisors are consulted to identify significant cultural areas and all foresters and forest technicians receive archaeological training. In addition, tribal members are given free and open access to all tribal lands. The tribe has also developed management plans for all threatened and endangered species within the boundaries of the reservation.
For more information about White Mountain Apache Tribe, visit www.wmat.nsn.us.