WGA calls on Congress to improve pre-fire mitigation practices and reduce deterrents to tribal participation

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In correspondence with the House Natural Resources’ Subcommittee on Federal Lands, The Western Governors’ Association (WGA) relayed the Governors’ support for efforts to improve a broad range of pre-fire mitigation practices by including traditional Native American practices such as cultural burning. The letter of December 19, signed by WGA Executive Director Jack Waldorf, also called for the creation of mechanisms to identify and enhance cross-boundary collaborative work with tribes, namely by allowing tribes to retain revenues generated from timber sales executed under Good Neighbor Authority (GNA). “This has been a major deterrent for tribal participation in collaborative forest management under the authority,” the letter read. “Western Governors encourage Congress to consider authorizing tribes and county governments to retain GNA timber sale revenue.” Read the full correspondence for additional details.


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