Tribal Climate Change Project Profiles
External Tool Authors: Kathy Lynn; Carson Viles; Kirsten Vinyeta; Austin Macy
Description
American Indian and Alaska Native tribes have contributed little to the causes of climate change, and yet face disproportionate risks. Tribes have unique rights, cultures, and economies that are, or could be, vulnerable to climate change impacts. For indigenous peoples, the environmental impacts of climate change and some of the proposed solutions threaten ways of life, subsistence, lands rights, future growth, cultural survivability, and financial resources.
The Tribal Climate Change Project is a collaborative project between the University of Oregon Environmental Studies Program and the USDA Forest Service Pacific Northwest Research Station. The project focuses on understanding needs and opportunities for tribes in addressing climate change, examining the government-to-government relationship in a climate context and exploring the role of traditional knowledge in climate change studies, assessments and plans.
This project is part of the USDA Forest Service 2010 Coordinated Approach to Tribal Climate Change Research. Other Forest Service Research Stations engaged in this type of research include the Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station and the Forest Service Northern Research Station.
Purpose and Scope
With their close cultural and economic relationship to the land, American Indian and Alaska Native tribes face disproportionate risks associated with climate change. Station scientists have developed information tools to help build awareness of the unique problems faced by tribal stakeholders in addressing natural resource issues, as well as their innovative approaches to adaptation. These profiles summarize climate change mitigation and adaptation projects implemented around the United States to share success stories and provide examples for others to learn from. In addition, profiles include information on available resources, key contacts, and government programs that can provide services or grants.
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