On the Klamath River in California (AP) – In his youth, Barry McCoby Jr. would sneak through metal gates and evade security guards to fish for steelhead trout in Blue Creek, nestled among the redwoods of northwestern California.
For generations, his ancestors from the Yurok tribe have fished, hunted, and gathered in this region where coastal forests converge. Unfortunately, for over a century, timber companies owned and controlled these lands, blocking access to the tribe’s ancestral homeland.
Eventually, when McCoby took on a role as a fisheries engineer, he gained permission to work in those treasured lands.
“Snorkeling in Blue Creek… I felt the significance of this place for myself and our people, and I knew I had to do everything possible to protect it,” McCoby remarked.
After 23 years of relentless effort and an investment of $56 million, meaningful progress was made.
Approximately 73 square miles (189 square kilometers) of his ancestral territory has been returned to Euloc, as revealed in a transaction announced Thursday. This land conservation agreement along the Lower Wramas River, a collaborative effort with West Rivers Conservancy and other environmental groups, stands as the largest of its kind in California’s history.
Logan McKinnon, a member of the Yurok tribe involved in carrying out the restoration, will walk along Blue Creek in Humboldt County, California on Thursday, September 19, 2024 (AP Photo/Godofredo A.Vásquez)
The Yurok Tribe witnessed 90% of their lands vanish during the California Gold Rush of the mid-1800s, suffering significant loss due to settler violence and disease.
“To transition from being afraid to visit here as a child to seeing it returned to the tribe… it’s unbelievable,” stated McCoby, who now serves as the director of the Yurok Tribal Fisheries Department.
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Editor’s note: This is part of a series exploring how tribal and indigenous communities are addressing and combating climate change.
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Randback is a global initiative aimed at returning lands to their native populations through ownership or shared stewardship. Over the last ten years, around 4,700 square miles (12,173 square kilometers) of land have been restored to tribes across 15 states, facilitated by Federal Programs.
There’s a growing acknowledgment of the vital role traditional indigenous knowledge plays in tackling climate change. According to a study, the richest biodiversity and most resilient forests are found within protected native lands where indigenous peoples remain the stewards.
The Center’s Blue Creek will flow into the Klamath River in Humboldt County, California on Thursday, September 19, 2024 (AP Photo/Godofredo A.Vásquez)
Beth Rose Middleton Manning, a professor of Native American Studies at the University of California, Davis, emphasized how Indigenous perspectives concerning land, water, and wildlife contrast sharply with Western views.
“Managing forests for the growth of coniferous trees for sale is a far cry from considering ecosystems and the various roles different flora, fauna, and communities play within them,” she noted.
The Yurok people now manage these lands and waterways. Plans proposed by the tribe involve reintroducing fire as a forest management tool, clearing lands for grassland restoration, removing invasive species, offering employment to some of its over 5,000 members, and assisting in the recovery of salmon and wildlife.
Salmon Sanctuary Protection
One autumn morning, amidst thick mist, motorboats navigated the muddy Klamath River towards Blue Creek—the shining jewel of these lands—surrounded by towering redwoods, cottonwoods, willows, and alders. Suddenly, the gray skies yielded to blue, revealing soaring ospreys and bald eagles as I scrambled along the rocky banks.
This region is home to various species including the endangered spotted owl, marten, elk, deer, and mountain lions.
The Klamath River Basin shelters fish species (steelhead, koho, and chinook salmon) that thrive in both fresh and saline waters. Historically, the Klamath was the third-largest salmon-producing river on the West Coast and vital to the Indigenous people. Unfortunately, due to various factors like dams and detours, the state’s salmon population has dwindled dramatically, leading to a fishing ban for the third consecutive year.
The tribal lands have been commercially logged for over a century.
According to Galenschler, vice president of Green Diamond Resource Company, the former landowner, the patches, which measure between 15 and 20 acres (6.07-8.09 hectares) of Redwood and Douglas Fir, were clear-cut to generate timber sales.
Schuler has stated that the forests are currently being cut at a rate of less than 2% per year, sparing the old growth. He indicated that they are likely experiencing their “third round” of clear-cutting since the 1850s.
Nevertheless, clear-cutting produces sediment that accumulates in rivers, making them shallower and more vulnerable to warming while degrading water quality. Erosion from roads can bury salmon eggs and threaten juvenile fish.
Williams-Claussen pointed out that commercial logging practices result in dense forests filled with smaller trees, which heightens the risk of wildfires and water scarcity.
“Many people view these forested hills as beautiful and lush. However, take a closer look at the old growth up on the hill. There might only be one or two of them,” commented Yurok fisheries biologist Sarabeesley while sitting on the rocks of Blue Creek.
Fire restrictions, invasive plants, and uncontrolled native species invasions have historically impacted the abundant herds of elk and deer, leading to a decline in grasslands where the Yurok gathered plants for cultural and medicinal purposes.
The West Rivers Conservancy acquired the land to gradually return it to the tribe, with a $56 million conservation agreement supported by private investments, low-interest loans, tax credits, public subsidies, and carbon credit sales.
Repair plan
The tribes plan to restore historical prairies by eliminating invasive species and reintroducing native vegetation. These prairies are crucial food sources for elk and Maldon skipper butterflies, according to Kling, a reserve leader.
Removed trees from the prairie will be repurposed as log jams in streams to create habitats for frogs, fish, and turtles.
The tribes are also reintroducing controlled burns to restore grasslands, reestablish forest diversity, and enhance mature forests to aid endangered species recovery.
Members understand that they are committed to decades of work for these lands and waterways.
“This may not all come to fruition in my lifetime,” stated Fisheries Director McCoby. “But that’s perfectly okay, because I’m not doing this for myself.”
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Source: apnews.com