The Quinault Indian Nation (QIN) contains more than 200,000 acres of land, including coastal areas, interior forests, and growing residential communities. In 2006, QIN faced severe resource management problems related to conservation and sustainable timber production.
The reservation was using a property allotment system that dated back to the 1900s and no longer met the community’s needs. The Trust for Public Land (TPL) partnered with QIN to develop a comprehensive conservation strategy to address these challenges.
Year Published: 2011
State: Washington
Landscape Context: Coastal
Housing Density: Suburban, Rural
Funding Type: Not Stated
Habitat Focus: Forest, Shrubland
Organizations Involved:
Trust for Public Land (TPL), The Quinault Indian Nation Department of Natural Resources (DNR)
Values:
Water Quality, Open Space/Habitat, Working Land, Historic/Cultural Sites
Stakeholder Involvement:
The Quinalt Nation were the only stakeholders involved the greenprint and were highly involved in its development.
Planning Process:
The partners first undertook a research effort to catalogue and study QIN properties using TPL’s Greenprinting services. Working closely with the QIN Department of Natural Resources (DNR), TPL gathered data on local topography, geology, plant and animal biology, and fish and timber resources, along with other baseline information. This data informed a computer model that helped QIN assess which lands, if acquired, would best meet the community’s conservation goals.
Desired Outcomes:
The Quinault, desired to build a conservation program that:
- Preserves Quinault Nation culture and traditions
- Protects key natural lands and waters
- Supports economically and ecologically sustainable management of the reservation’s natural resources
What It Accomplished:
QIN used results from the greenprint and funding analysis to assess the viability of various conservation opportunities, landowner negotiations, and financing options. Using the greenprint, QIN also produced an application that quickly estimates the value of timber lands for potential acquisition, streamlining the appraisal process.