Thomas O'Rourke: Yurok Tribe is a leader in forest restoration

As much of our lands were clear-cut by non-Indians, the Yurok tribe knows all too well that the cost of restoring forests is much higher than the quick profits from cutting them down. The decimation of our lands affects every aspect of our existence, including our livelihoods and our cultural traditions, and it has dangerous implications that reach beyond our borders.

The Yurok tribe is greatly concerned that if we don’t change course, the future of our environment will be in peril. The impact of deforestation on accelerating climate change is enormous, accounting for 12 percent of annual global greenhouse gas emissions.

The role that healthy forests play in sequestering carbon is equally immense. When managed for maximum biodiversity, as many indigenous peoples have done since time immemorial, forests remove more carbon from the atmosphere and stabilize the climate of Earth.

The Yurok tribe, a leader in forest restoration, has dedicated more than 30,000 acres under California’s cap-and-trade system. We initiated these projects to protect our fish and wildlife, to generate funds for regaining our sacred lands and also to do our part in reducing the impacts of global warming. Through this program, we are able to remove carbon from the atmosphere, safeguard cultural resources, sustain modest timber production and support for watershed restoration to help struggling salmon populations.