Support Reforestation Across the Indigenous West

In Indigenous epistemologies, winter is a time for reflection and regeneration of our spirits and connections. As we reflect on the advancement and successes of our project in 2023, Trees, Water & People (TWP) welcomes the new year with optimistic excitement, heightened relationships and stronger dedication to our work. 

This past fall, our project, in collaboration with Pueblo de Cochiti and Pueblo of Jemez, successfully planted 9,000 mixed-conifer seedlings back on Tribal lands that were disturbed by wildfires. Selection of tree seedling species and location sites were identified in consultation with Tribal partners, local foresters and nursery operations. The mission to improve and stabilize planted seedling survival allows for our project in developing a unique project framework that combines Western Science and Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) equally. 

Over the last few months, social-environmental justice has been a key principle guiding our project forward. Our project focuses on the importance of respecting Tribal TEK and finding ways to integrate that knowledge system into our work. Through this avenue, our project has created authentic and trustworthy relationships between our project stakeholders and Tribal partners. Having equal representation and voices in our project is pivotal to move environmental stewardship efforts forward in a more ethical and respectful way. 

As we enter this new year filled with optimism, we’re gearing up for another round of tree planting/restoration activities on Tribal lands in both New Mexico and South Dakota. Long-term commitment and support drive all of our efforts forward in restoring disturbed landscapes, elevating TEK and developing much-needed equitable approaches to the future of conservation work. 

But we understand that it takes all of us to work together in achieving these goals. We’re excited that with each season, we’re getting closer to achieving our fundraising goal of raising $40,000 for these on-the-ground projects. It is clear that your belief and support in our project is paramount to protecting and restoring Tribal lands and livelihoods. Thank you so much for your continued dedication and support for this important work!

Links:

• Trees, Water & People - Indigenous Lands Program
• Trees, Water & People in New Mexico

Despite this summer marred with constant triple-digit temperatures in the Indigenous West, Trees, Water & People (TWP) has made great strides in training field crews, strengthening relationships with Tribal leaders, and building out networks and partnerships to ensure that our upcoming reforestation work is deeply rooted to the local communities we serve in order to maximize their benefits and renourish the long-term resiliency of the lands. 

Seed harvesting has been a severe problem here in the West. Because of the extreme heat in some areas, severe rain and snowstorms in others, and extensive wildfires, there simply isn’t enough seed in the forests for our nursery partners to harvest. It’s critical to have locally generated seed that is adapted specifically to a regional climate in order to increase the odds that seedling will survive and thrive.  At the end of the spring season, we delivered 20,000 ponderosa pines and 10,000 fruit bearing seedlings to the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. These plants were grown in Colorado from seed that was harvested locally on Pine Ridge. Using local Traditional Ecological Knowledge, TWP and partner, Red Cloud Renewable, planted the seedlings during the monsoon season and cooler weather patterns, increasing the seedlings chances of survival in the first year. 

Northern New Mexico averages about two or three days a year in triple-digit heat. But in 2023, to date the area has recorded a whopping 17 days above 100 degrees. So TWP’s reforestation efforts with Pueblo communities this year have been postponed until next spring. But it gave TWP extra time to work on surveying Santo Domingo, Cochiti, and Jemez Tribal lands to plan for re-fencing work in forest areas damaged in recent wildfires. The fencing is essential for keeping feral horses and cattle from overgrazing in ecologically sensitive areas. We also continue to monitor our tree plantings in the last year, with some areas faring well due to our adaptation methods (using plastic cone shelters, and planting more mature seedlings), and other areas that were not able to survive the extreme heat.

Additionally, TWP made plans with the U.S Forest Service (USFS) to begin work on watershed restoration in the Capulin Canyon region. This area has suffered severe water depletion due to drought, and TWP’s project here has been delayed because of last year’s wildfires that decimated areas where we’d hoped to work. But our collaboration with the USFS means that Pueblo communities in the area can hope to work together to reforest ancestral lands in public-property locations with culturally relevant, drought tolerant plants, and remove non-native plants that deplete the Rio Grande River. So planning for this reforestation and post-fire/water restoration project – spearheaded by our partner, High Water Mark LLC, a Pueblo-woman-owned hydro-engineering consultancy –  is now underway. We look forward to sharing with you more news on the field crews’ work in the Capulin Canyon.

Our work in New Mexico is gaining ground and interest, and so we are also in conversation with other area Tribes–including the Okay Owingeh and Santa Clara Pueblos–to begin their own reforestation and climate resiliency work. It is evidence that your support for TWP has an exponential reach, as more underserved Indigenous communities in the Southwest come together to work on their community-led conservation projects. Thank you for your continued support!

Links:

• Find out more on TWP's Indigenous Lands Program page!