Utilizing funding awarded by the America the Beautiful Challenge competitive grant program for ecological restoration and cultural preservation, the Penobscot Nation is working to protect and strengthen traditional tribal lifeways through largescale habitat conservation and restoration.

Maine – In 2022, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) announced the America the Beautiful Challenge (ATBC), establishing five years of grant funding to support state, territory, and Tribally-led ecosystem restoration. One of twenty-one Tribes awarded FY23 funding, the Penobscot Nation is utilizing ATBC funding to strengthen Tribal lifeways through multi-faceted habitat restoration.

In July of 2024, the Native American Fish and Wildlife Society (NAFWS) ATBC Field Liaisons, Andy Edwards and Katie Schultz, joined Chuck Loring, Penobscot Nation Department of Natural Resources Director, and Ben Simpson, Wildlife Resource Manager, to get a firsthand look at how the ATBC program is supporting Tribal conservation efforts.

Penobscot Nation Department of Natural Resources

Established in the 1980s, the Penobscot Nation Department of Natural Resources has swiftly evolved into a powerhouse with a history of undertaking large-scale restoration projects, including this multi-faceted ATBC award. Projects are not only focused on restoration, but also protecting and restoring the Tribe’s lifeways. “I think in losing pieces of our culture, we have also lost pieces of ourselves,” says Chuck. “The Tribe takes a seven-generation approach. That’s our motivation to work hard now. Even if we may not see the results, our descendants will.”

The funding from ATBC will contribute to the Penobscot Nation acquiring the largest single property in their history, adding to their existing 128,000 acre Tribal land base. With this new acquisition, the Nation plans to enhance their moose and lynx assessment by replicating camera trapping efforts and conducting tick assessments, which will help create detailed data sets for their lands. Moose, a crucial food source for the Penobscot Nation, will benefit from the improved habitat assessment and enhancement efforts supported by the ATBC project.

Ben Simpson explained the focus on moose, “Moose are it for Penobscot Nation. They mean a lot to the Tribe’s Membership as a traditional food source.”

In addition, it will support an inventory of vernal pools, and a new study focused on assessing wood turtle presence, which are uncommon and listed as a species of greatest conservation need in Maine. Mirroring state protocols to develop comparable data, they will evaluate the status of these turtles on Penobscot lands. The Nation’s responsible forestry practices, which include maintaining larger buffers around water features than required in Maine, have already resulted in suitable wood turtle habitats and increased bat diversity. This new assessment will help determine whether these practices positively impact multiple species.

Vernal pool on Penobscot Nation lands; ATBC funds will support vernal pool inventory.

Stream health has also improved thanks to the Nation’s careful forestry management, in large part due to their 150’ riparian buffers that maintain stream shading and provide for natural recruitment of wood to streams. Likewise, instream work to repair damage from historical log drives and the replacement of poorly sized and placed culverts, funded both previously and in the future by the ATBC, has contributed to healthier streams and the successful movements of salmon planted in recovery efforts. However, large dams in the watershed still impede the unassisted return of Atlantic salmon to their native rivers. That is a challenge the Penobscot Nation will continue to address over the long term – but for now they are grateful for the opportunity the ATBC funding provides to move forward with their largescale ecosystem restoration initiatives.

Supporting Tribal Conservation 

In 2022 and 2023, Tribal Nations requested about $500 million through the America the Beautiful Challenge. NFWF and the agencies have committed to providing at least 10% of annual funds to Tribes. Thus far the quality of Tribal proposals has been rewarded with over a third of funds going to Tribal Nations! In the first two years NFWF has awarded 35 projects to Tribal Nations, totaling about $76 million. While this amount is significant, the disparity between requested and awarded funding demonstrates the need for long-term, sustainable funding for Tribal conservation and restoration.

“One of the unique aspects of ATBC is its ability to support multi-faceted projects that benefit both people and ecosystems. Native peoples have a deep connection to their environment, and the Penobscot Nation’s ATBC project exemplifies how blending Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) with western science can protect both natural resources and Native lifeways. It’s truly inspiring to see a project that integrates food sovereignty, the assessment of Tribally significant species, stream health, and overall ecosystem function into one cohesive effort.” – Katie Schultz, NAFWS ATBC Field Liaison

Both well designed bridges and correctly sized culverts can allow for appropriate water flow and fish passage. Chuck explains the work that has occurred in this beautifully restored section of stream and that will be replicated in other areas with ATBC funds.

About Us

NAFWS is the only national Tribal organization with a specific focus on Tribal fish and wildlife resources. As a unique membership organization with 227 Support Member Tribes in 7 regions, NAFWS strives to meet the needs of its Individual Members and Member Tribes through conferences, trainings, youth education, and by participating with innovative projects and initiatives in Indian Country.

Disclaimer: This project is made possible through a grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.