College of Agriculture, University of Arizona,
Arizona Land and People, Vol. 47, Number 2
Solving Problems TogetherCombine a complex series of environmental problems on The Navajo Nation reservation with a bewildering array of agencies, regulations, and policies. The result? Spinning in circles. Getting nowhere. EQIP is designed to help sort through the complexities. The Environmental Quality Incentive Program started locally, which is vital, says Jesse Thompson, Navajo County Commissioner. "It's important to combine resources and agencies," he says. Any such project must be selected, coordinated and handled locally, rather than through federal or state governments-or even through The Navajo Nation headquarters. "This is my home; I was born in that building over there; I went to school here (in Tolani Lake). I've come back. This is important to me," Jesse says. And other Navajos feel the same way. "People came to Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) and said this is what we need to know about," says Steve Campbell, Navajo County Cooperative Extension director. To answer their needs, extension, the Little Colorado Natural Resources Conservation District, the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), and The Navajo Nation Department of Agriculture all cooperate in EQIP. Currently, the EQIP model project applies only to Grazing District 5. The sponsoring agencies hope to expand the program to other areas eventually. Through a grant, NRCS subsidizes 16 workshops and materials for livestock producers and small-plot farmers from Tolani Lake, Bird Springs, and Leupp. The workshops focus on such topics as:
At one meeting, Navajos talked about the cultural aspects of livestock production and living without harming the land. EQIP is contracting with a private fencing company to fence off pastures for several cooperative ranchers who also will observe a strict conservation plan. Later, other ranchers will tour the ranches to see what happened, says Stu Tuttle, NRCS district conservationist. "I hope EQIP will impact the general attitude toward land management. We need more awareness of the environmental impact of open grazing and overstocking. We're not trying to change Navajo tradition, just to make people aware," Stu says. EQIP addresses a series of environmental problems; that is an advantage. "It's not a band-aid approach," says Felix Nez, Jr., Navajo district conservationist at Window Rock. He agrees vehemently that a hands-on approach, with local input, is absolutely necessary. "The Navajo Nation has a unique land situation that demands flexibility." Felix says 80 percent of feedback from seven Arizona tribes favor EQIP, Felix says. "We see EQIP as a big opportunity to take part in USDA programs now available." He adds, "Extension is a real important partner." Document part of 1999 Native American Programs in the College of Agriculture |