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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(33, 33, 33);">Samia Savell and Tracy Robillard, NRCS, Alaska</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">, April 30, 2021</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><o:p> </o:p></span><br>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;color:#323130;background:white">This Friday visit the remote village of Hoonah, located near the capital of Juneau in Southeast Alaska. Generations of Alaska Native people have thrived
upon the land and all that it supports. In</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;color:#212121"> the village, the Huna Tlingit people and local residents have cultural roots that are deeply entwined in the land and
waters surrounding their community.</span><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;color:#212121;background:white">**Hoonah Native Forest Partnership</span><o:p> **</o:p></b></p>
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;color:#212121">The Hoonah Native Forest Partnership was formed in 2015 to help protect, conserve, and maintain the stream and forest habitats
that are integral to the Hoonah way of life.<o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;color:#212121">The partnership is an alliance of landowners, organizations and stakeholders advocating for the Hoonah area. It works to assess
resource conditions and identify projects intended to improve fish and wildlife habitat, ensure long-term timber production, and support sustainable watershed management.<o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;color:#212121">"One of Huna Totem’s guiding principles is to maintain our land in perpetuity,” said Amber Henderson, Director of Project Administration, Huna Totem Corporation. “As such,
we put a high priority on the management of its lands and resources, which includes ensuring the sustainability of subsistence resources such as fish, game, edible products such as berries, as well as potential future timber crops."</span><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;color:#212121;background:white"><b></b><b><b>**Regional Conservation Partnership Program</b></b>**</span><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;color:#212121">The initial source of startup funds for the HNFP came from USDA’s </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin"><span style="color:#006546">Natural
Resources Conservation Service</span><span style="color:#212121"><span> through the </span></span><span style="color:#006546">Regional Conservation Partnership Program</span><span style="color:#212121"><span>. The program relies heavily on partner organizations
to spearhead projects and provide matching contributions.</span></span><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Link to Full Story: https://www.farmers.gov/connect/blog/conservation/fridays-farm-maintaining-healthy-streams-and-forests-alaska?utm_campaign=fotf&utm_content=streamsinalaska&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery<o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;color:black;background:white">Link to USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Fridays on the Farm: </span>https://www.farmers.gov/connect/blog/tag/fridaysonthefarm<span style="mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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