A formal forest inventory analysis has not occurred as of the date of the approval of this plan. Once re-measurement of the existing continuous forest inventory (CFI) occurs, an inventory analysis shall be published. The re-measurement began in the fall, 1997. Additional permanent ploys will also be established due to the acquisition of additional forested trust lands since the original CFI plot measurement.

There are two sources of inventory on Passamaquoddy Tribal lands:

1. Continuous Forest Inventory (CFI)

In 1986, the James Sewall company was contracted to measure 601 prism plots. In 1987, the James Sewall company was contracted to establish and measure 108 permanent inventory plots. Each plot is 1/7 acre in size, and they were placed throughout tribal trust lands, randomly selected on a a half mile by half mile grid (each ploy ½ mile from the next). All trees 4.6 inches diameter breast height (dbh) within the 1/7 acre plot were measured for diameter, grade, condition, vigor, and volume. The trees on these plots are managed the same as the surrounding timber.

The data obtained from these plots will be used, in the long term, to accurately determine what the annual allowable harvest should be on Passamaquoddy lands. Since the current data is recent, several re-measurements shall be necessary before accurate localized harvest volume guidelines can be established.

Additional permanent CFI plots are needed to accurately assess the forest conditions of Tribal trust lands. The Branch of Forest Resources Planning (BOFRP) will work with the Tribal forestry Department to determine the correct number of plots and their location. This task is targeted to be completed by December, 1999.

It is Tribal policy to have all established CFI plots measured every 5 years for the next 10 year period.

2. Stand Examination

This system involves measuring the trees, or other resources, in specific stands and compartments in order to prescribe resource treatments. For example, measuring several plots of trees to determine is a spruce stand has enough stems per acre to be thinned for a timber sale. Stand examination is used for determining project opportunities for timber, wildlife, and recreation. Special conditions may also be inventoried, such as springs, wildlife habitat, or unique plants or geological features. Stand exam data should not be used for determining annual allowable cut. It should be used for determining where timber can be cut.

The forestry department shall perform a minimum of 10,000 acres of stand examination annually. The compartments targeted for exam, by year, are displayed in the appendix.

 1. Tribal Standards

The Passamaquoddy Tribal Forestry Department shall continually manage all tribal lands so as to mitigate resource loss due to fire, insect, disease, or other catastrophic occurrence.

2. Fire

Fire control on Passamaquoddy Trust Lands occurs as outlined in the fire Control cooperative Agreement No. S00106021, between the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the State of Maine Forest Service. Included in the definition of Trust Lands are the original Indian Township and Pleasant Point Reservations. The Maine Forest Service has incident command authority for all wild-land fires occurring on Passamaquoddy Trust land. The Passamaquoddy Forestry Department will coordinate with the Bureau of Indian Affairs and The Maine Forest Service to train individual tribal members for wild-land fire fighting. An annual Operational plan for wild-land fire control shall be followed by the Tribe. This plan is available at each Tribal Office and the Forestry Department office. Reference the fire suppression agreements in Appendix f.

Fire prevention activities, which includes education in the local schools, is a shared responsibility between the Indian Township Fire Departments, the Forestry Department, and the Tribal Rangers. Field inspections in unorganized townships is the responsibility of the Forestry Department, Tribal Game Wardens and the Maine Forest Service.

Fire permits are required for any Tribal member for any fire other than a cooking fire, camp fire, or ceremonial fire. Should the Forestry Department determine a high or extreme fire hazard, a ban on burning shall be implemented on all trust lands. This ban shall be coordinated, as necessary, with the Maine Forest Service.

It is the objective of the Forestry department to have a fully trained and equipped crew of 20 firefighters available for local and out-of state fire details.

3. Insect and Disease

The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) is responsible for certain forest insect and disease control functions as provided for in an agreement between the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of the Interior. Proposals from the Tribe for prevention and suppression projects, and associated funding, are handled through the Office of Trust Responsibility and the USDA-FS. Proposals submitted must include a biological evaluation, environmental assessment (EA), and benefit cost analysis. These tasks are performed by the Forest Service or the Bureau, as defined in the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978. The Bureau is responsible for monitoring and evaluation of field surveys connected with these projects although this usually performed by the USDA-FS.

4. Trespass

Timber trespass is handled through contractual regulations, BIA regulation, and Tribal regulations. Tribal regulations are identified in the Wood Cutting Regulations supplement to this Plan.

5. Emergency Rehabilitation

Any source rehabilitation due to a catastrophic occurance or emergency shall occur through coordination with the Eastern Area Office, BIA, USDA-FS, or State of Maine, whichever is applicable. In any case of resource rehabilitation, the management objective of the site will be stated in this Plan for a given geographic area. The Tribe’s cultural and social values will be a priority. In the case of rehabilitation after a wildfire, the USDI-Bureau of Indian affairs publication, "the burn Area Emergency Rehabilitation Handbook", version 6.0, July, 1996, shall be used.

Examples of past catastrophic occurances are the fires of the 1920's the spruce budworm infestation of the 1970's, and the hemlock looper attack of the early 1990's. In each case, assessments were made which evaluated the scale of the problem and the types of solutions available, subsequently the Joint Tribal council approved a specific course of emergency rehabilitation.

Once an assessment and alternatives are documented, they shall be presented to the Joint council for approval of any rehabilitation activity.

6. Documentation, Monitoring, and Records

All activities related to Forest Protection efforts shall comply with VIA and USDA-FS documentation requirements. Copies of all documentation shall be kept on file at the Forestry Department office, the BIA Eastern Area Office, and if appropriate, the USDA-FS office Durham, New Hampshire.

7. Organization and Funding

Within the Forestry Department, training and coordination for Forest Protection would be shared between one forester and one technician. It is estimated the average annual funding would be as follows:

1 Forester........................................ $5,000.00

1 Technician..................................... $5,000.00

Fire Equipment (Slip-on Pumper)..... $9,000.00*

Fire Equipment (Personal gear)........ $6,000.00*

Equipment Maintenance................... $3,500.00

Fire Prevention Supplies................... $3,500.00

Insect/Disease Detection Flight......... $1,000.00

Annual Wildfire training................... $1,000.00

Annual Wildfire Preparedness.......... $1,000.00

*Initial investment

1. Tribal Standards

The Passamaquoddy Tribe’s overall timber standard is to provide quality forest products on a sustained yield basis while providing for cultural, economic, recreation, and wildlife objectives.

2. Silvicultural Guidelines

a. Uneven aged Management:

Uneven aged management, also called all-aged management, is a system or which is designed to continually maintain at least three (3) distinct age classes (saplings, pole timber, and saw-timber). This condition is achieved through either single tree selection cutting, or group selection cutting.

The following timber types shall be managed on a uneven aged system:

Northern hardwood: Beech, Yellow Birch, Sugar Maple, Hemlock.
Mixed hardwood: White and yellow Birch, white Ash, Red Maple
Mixed Conifer: Spruce, Fir, Hemlock, White Pine
Mixed Wood: Pines, Spruce, Hemlock, Birches, Maples, Ashes, Oak

b. Even aged Management

Even aged management is a system designed to grow all trees in a stand to the same approximate age, and then harvest them at about the same time. The silvicultural systems normally used in even aged management are clear-cutting, seed tree, and shelter-wood cutting.

The following timber types may be managed on a even aged basis:

Aspen
Balsam Fir
Larch
Spruce-Fir and hardwoods on shallow soils
Red Oak
White Pine, Red Pine
Jack Pine