Fortifying Our Forests

Fortifying Our Forests is sponsored by First Nations Development Institute. Supports tribes and Native-led organizations in acquiring or expanding community forests for stewardship and economic pursuits.

Fortifying Our Forests | First Nations Development Institute Healthy forests protect the environment and preserve cultural lifeways. Through the Stewarding Native Lands program, First Nations supports tribes and Native-led organizations that are seeking to acquire or expand community forests to create or improve opportunities for stewardship, economic pursuits, and education.

To support tribes and Native-led organizations in advancing forest management, First Nations presents a unique grant opportunity that bridges a critical funding gap: while federal and state agencies often restrict equipment purchases, this grant provides funding to acquire the necessary tools to address this barrier.

By supporting forest equipment purchase, these grants strengthen tribal capacity to fortify forests that communities rely on. This opportunity is made possible by funding support from the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities. In 2026 , seven g rants were awarded to build the capacity of tribal forestry programs through the purchase of essential forestry equipment.

As part of First Nations’ committment to Fortifying Our Forests, between 2023 and 2025, First Nations provided technical assistance and Capacity Support Grants of up to $10,000 to tribes, Alaska Native Corporations/Villages, tribal organizations, and Native-led nonprofit organizations that were interested in applying for the United States Forest Services’ Community Forest and Open Space Conservation or the Landscape Scale Restoration program.

These grants were used to cover the cost of staff time or consultants (such as grant writers) to develop proposals for these opportunities. In addition, First Nations partnered with the Forest Service to offer application tips and address questions on the Community Forest Webinar Series. Community Forest & Open Space Conservation With funding from the USDA Forest Service and matching support from Margaret A.

Cargill Philanthropies, First Nations’ Community Forest Program… Landscape Scale Restoration First Nations’ Capacity Support Grants Through funding from the USDA Forest Service, First Nations is providing technical assistance and capacity… Community Forest Webinar Series Stewarding Native Lands Webinars 2023 Application Q&A Sessions Mooretown Rancheria of Maidu Indians of California This project will improve Mooretown’s forest stewardship through purchasing high-pressure water pumps and Compressed Air Foam Systems (CAFS) for our existing equipment, which will allow for safer operations during forestry activities throughout the year.

This project will build capacity for Dot Lake Village’s forestry program by acquiring essential equipment and safety tools to support sustainable forest management, stewardship activities, and safe access to tribal lands for ongoing maintenance, thinning, and resource protection.

This project strengthens Dena’ina and Alutiiq stewardship by acquiring forestry equipment to care for Tribal forest homelands, reduce wildfire risk, and protect lands that sustain cultural lifeways, subsistence traditions, and community well-being for future generations.

This project will support efforts to restore our forests through the purchase of essential equipment including a truck, fire pump and forestry saw needed for prescribed fires and restoration purposes. This project increases capacity for two Pit River tribal forestry crews located 200 miles apart to manage our 3.

4 million acres of ancestral homelands through the purchase of a side-by-side to access high-risk fuel areas, essential supplies and equipment to manage forest health. This project strengthens the Tribe’s capacity to sustainably manage and harvest forest resources by improving operational efficiency and access.

It supports forest health, enhances timber value, and enabling the Tribe to manage its lands and steward resources for future generations. California Heritage: Indigenous Research Project The purpose of all CHIRP activities is to preserve, protect, and perpetuate Nisenan culture.

This project supports the purchase of essential forestry equipment for CHIRP's recently formed Tribally-led Land Stewardship Crew, which is designed to return beneficial fire to our Tribal landscapes. From July 1 to August 31, 2026, all donations will go toward programs and projects that invest in Native youth and their families, or to our Native Youth and Culture Fund.