Montana Senator Steve Daines’ Tribal Forestry Participation and Protection Act passed through the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. Senator Daines explained how the bill aims to improve the health of Montana Forests on both federal and tribal lands.
“It’s incredible how tribes will spread their resources thin and they are still better managers of their forests That’s why I recently introduced the Tribal Forestry Participation and Protection Act,” Daines said. “Our forests are failing and we must visit new and innovative ways to improve forest health.”
Several tribes have expressed their support for the bill.
“The Confederate of Salish and Kootenai Tribes,the Crow Tribe, the Blackfeet Tribe, and the Intertribal Timber Council have all have all sent me statements in support of the legislation ,” Daines said. “I think it shows how important tribal sovereignty is and that tribes know best how to manage their own lands. We must follow their flexibility and allow the flexibility for these tribes to continue to do so.”
The act plans to expedite restoration projects in order to keep forests healthy and to get more logs to mills.