Ahtna Region Resource Assessment, EQIP Habitat Tool Development and Inter-Tribal Conservation District Technology Transfer: A Groundbreaking Project for Alaska

The Natural Resources Conservation Service has recognized Alaska Native Corporation as agricultural lands and subsistence food production and harvest as an agricultural product. Native private corporate ownership in Alaska is over 44 million acres. This has created a significant number of historically underserved and beginning farmers. In addition, tribal conservation districts are being developed to help serve these landowners in Alaska. Many of the traditional NRCS EQIP and other practices need to be adapted to Alaska and applied in new, innovative ways. In addition, tools such as ecological site descriptions are needed in Alaska to help effectively link NRCS programs and practices with beginning farmers and their unique subsistence resource production issues. This project will develop technical expertise on wildlife, Habitat and forestry and provide advisory services to land managers for two native corporations and eight regional tribes. These activities will help NRCS better serve its primary clientele in Alaska and will help other tribal conservation districts recognize their opportunities to positively support sustainable subsistence food production in their districts.