Grant program funds Indigenous forest research in the Northeast – New Hampshire Public Radio

Report on Indigenous Forest Knowledge Fund Initiatives and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction: Fostering Sustainable Development Through Indigenous Knowledge

The Indigenous Forest Knowledge Fund, administered by the Northeastern States Research Cooperative (NSRC), is providing targeted funding to advance tribal forest research and traditional ecological knowledge. The program’s recent grant awards demonstrate a strong alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in the areas of cultural preservation, biodiversity, economic opportunity, and community empowerment.

Project Focus: Combating Biodiversity Loss and Preserving Cultural Heritage (SDG 15 & SDG 11)

The Threat of Invasive Species to Ecosystems and Cultural Practices

A primary challenge addressed by the fund is the threat posed by the emerald ash borer, an invasive species. This beetle’s impact directly threatens the survival of ash trees, which are integral to the ecosystems of the Northern Forest region and foundational to the cultural heritage of Indigenous communities.

• SDG 15 (Life on Land): The proliferation of the emerald ash borer represents a significant threat to terrestrial biodiversity. Efforts to mitigate its impact and preserve ash trees are in direct support of Target 15.8, which calls for measures to prevent and reduce the impact of invasive alien species.
• SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities): Ash trees are a critical resource for the traditional craft of basket weaving, a practice of deep cultural, spiritual, and practical significance for tribal citizens, including the Penobscot Nation. The threat to these trees is a threat to living cultural heritage, making preservation efforts a key action under Target 11.4, which aims to safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage.

Research and Innovation for Sustainable Resource Management (SDG 9)

A grant has been awarded to a research team led by John Daigle of the University of Maine to address the ash tree crisis. The project aims to preserve and advance the craft of basket weaving through scientific research and technological development.

1. The project will investigate methods to identify resilient ash trees suitable for basketry.
2. The team will develop innovative technologies to support the processing and long-term storage of ash splints, creating a supply buffer against widespread tree mortality.
3. This focus on research and technological solutions contributes to SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), specifically Target 9.5, which encourages enhancing scientific research and upgrading technological capabilities.

Broader Impacts: Empowering Communities and Enhancing Ecosystem Resilience

An Indigenous-Led Model for Inclusive Development (SDG 10)

The Indigenous Forest Knowledge Fund operates on a model that empowers Indigenous communities, aligning with SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities). A committee of tribal leaders and scholars selects grant recipients, ensuring that funded projects address the immediate research needs and priorities of the communities themselves. As noted by Casey Thornburgh, an advisor for the NSRC, this Indigenous-led approach ensures projects deliver direct benefits to tribal nations.

Funded Initiatives and Contributions to the SDGs

For 2025, a total of $1.2 million was awarded to projects that advance multiple SDGs:

• Ash Tree and Basketry Preservation (Maine): This project supports SDG 11 (Cultural Heritage), SDG 15 (Life on Land), and SDG 9 (Innovation).
• Understory Plant Restoration (New York): A project to restore plants of ecological and cultural importance directly supports SDG 15 (Life on Land) by working to halt biodiversity loss and restore ecosystems.
• Tribal Forestry and Fire Management (Maine): This initiative strengthens the tribal workforce through training, education, and employment, contributing to SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) while also promoting the sustainable management of forests under SDG 15 (Life on Land).

Conclusion: Partnerships for the Goals (SDG 17)

The Indigenous Forest Knowledge Fund exemplifies the principles of SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). Through a cooperative partnership model, the fund effectively channels resources to support Indigenous-led projects that integrate traditional ecological knowledge with scientific research. This approach simultaneously addresses critical environmental challenges, preserves invaluable cultural heritage, and promotes sustainable and equitable development within Indigenous communities across the Northern Forest region.

Analysis of SDGs in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 15: Life on Land

  This goal is central to the article, which discusses the threat posed by an invasive species (the emerald ash borer beetle) to a specific tree species (ash trees). The efforts to preserve the ash trees, restore understory plants, and manage forests through tribal knowledge directly relate to protecting terrestrial ecosystems and halting biodiversity loss.

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  The article highlights the importance of ash trees for the cultural heritage of Indigenous communities, specifically the tradition of basket weaving. The grant-funded projects aim to preserve this craft, which is a significant part of the cultural, spiritual, and practical life of tribal citizens. This aligns with the goal of safeguarding cultural heritage.

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

  The preservation of basket weaving is not only a cultural issue but also an economic one, as it sustains a traditional craft and provides supplies for artisans. Furthermore, one of the funded projects explicitly aims to strengthen the “tribal forestry and the fire management workforce by providing training, education and employment opportunities,” which directly contributes to creating decent jobs and promoting productive employment.

• SDG 4: Quality Education

  The article mentions a project focused on “providing training, education and employment opportunities” in forestry and fire management. This initiative aims to increase the number of adults with relevant vocational skills. The overall program, the Indigenous Forest Knowledge Fund, also promotes the use and advancement of “traditional ecological knowledge,” which is a form of specialized education for sustainable development.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. SDG 15: Life on Land

   • Target 15.5: Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity and, by 2020, protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species. The article addresses this by focusing on research to mitigate the “widespread ash mortality” caused by the beetle, thereby protecting a threatened species and its habitat.
   • Target 15.8: By 2020, introduce measures to prevent the introduction and significantly reduce the impact of invasive alien species on land and water ecosystems and control or eradicate the priority species. The entire premise of the research on the emerald ash borer beetle is to reduce the impact of this invasive species on native ash trees in the Northeast.

2. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

   • Target 11.4: Strengthen efforts to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage. The project led by John Daigle aims to “preserve and advance the craft” of basket weaving, which “has long played a significant cultural, spiritual and practical role in the lives of tribal citizens.” This is a direct effort to safeguard an important element of Indigenous cultural heritage.

3. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

   • Target 8.3: Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation… The project to strengthen the “tribal forestry and the fire management workforce by providing training, education and employment opportunities” directly supports this target.

4. SDG 4: Quality Education

   • Target 4.4: By 2030, substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurship. The Maine-based project providing “training, education and employment opportunities” in forestry is a clear example of action towards this target.
   • Target 4.7: By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development… The Indigenous Forest Knowledge Fund’s goal to “advance tribal forest research and traditional ecological knowledge” contributes to this target by promoting a specific form of knowledge crucial for sustainable development in the context of Indigenous communities.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article implies several indicators that can be used to measure progress:

• Indicator for SDG 15 (Targets 15.5 & 15.8): The development of “technologies to support the processing and storage of ash splints before widespread ash mortality” can be measured. A specific indicator would be the quantity of ash splints successfully preserved and stored, which would measure the success of mitigating the impact of the invasive species.
• Indicator for SDG 11 (Target 11.4): The continuation and vitality of the basket weaving tradition. An implied indicator is the number of Indigenous basket makers who have a sustained supply of materials to continue their craft.
• Indicator for SDG 8 & SDG 4 (Targets 8.3 & 4.4): The success of the workforce development project. A direct indicator would be the number of people who receive training and gain employment in the tribal forestry and fire management workforce as a result of the project.
• General Programmatic Indicators: The article provides concrete numbers that serve as indicators of the overall effort. These include the total funding awarded (“About $1.2 million was awarded in total for 2025”) and the number of projects funded by the initiative (“The Indigenous Forest Knowledge Fund has been able to fund 11 projects since its relaunch in 2021”).

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: nhpr.org