Range Management in Indian Country Joe Hiller College of Agriculture and Life Sciences The University of Arizona for Rangelands West 3 rd Annual Meeting of the Western Rangelands Partnership Tucson, AZ March 2003

Opportunities and Obstacles Opportunities: Much of Indian Country in western US is rangeland –Large tracts of land suitable for landscape-scale management? NOT Obstacles: Land ownership issues may make management inordinately difficult –At the “ground level”, cultural issues typically override/trump western scientific management –Many tribes have grazing ordinances, some do not

Indian Land Base Pre-European: ??? –1881: 155,632,312 acres –1887: million acres –1900: 77,865,373 acres –1934: 48 + million acres –2004: 55.7 million acres Held in trust by the US for American Indians, Indian tribes, and Alaska Natives

Land Ownership in Indian Country Tribal –Tribal original: in trust since establishment of reservation –Tribal purchase: transferred to tribe from allottee or heir Allotted –Undivided interest heirship (fractionated): passed to heirs in shares –Single ownership: passed via will or sole survivor

Land Management in Indian Country Tribal original: managed by BIA or under contract to tribe per P.L Tribal purchase: managed by tribe Undivided interest/fractionated: managed by heirs per tribal law and ordinance (grazing, leasing, etc.) Single ownership: managed by individuals

Land Ownership in Arizona Million acres% of total Federal: Indian/Trust: Private: State/Trust: Total:

Range and Land Management The need for professional range and land management is no less in Indian Country than elsewhere –Resource issues are the same—drought grazing strategies, invasive species, riparian zones, etc. May be more urgent because of difficulties associated with ownership issues –Tribes in the west need your help…

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