Planet Women made a grant to Ecotrust in October 2023 to fund their efforts to increase representation and support for Native women in forestry, including within the Intertribal Timber Council, the United States' leading organization representing Tribal forestry and fire issues.

Led by an Indigenous woman and with a multicultural staff and board, Ecotrust’s mission is to inspire fresh thinking that creates economic opportunity, social equity, and environmental well-being. Their projects touchdown across the West Coast of the U.S. from Alaska to California, focusing on farming, forestry, coastal communities & fisheries, climate resilience and more.

Ecotrust works with regional partners and national organizations to amplify the benefits of Tribal forest management practices and share information about the challenges facing Tribes in stewarding their ancestral lands.

Planet Women’s grant to Ecotrust in FY24 enabled three Native women to receive travel funds to attend the 47th Annual National Indian Timber Symposium in May 2024 in Cherokee, North Carolina. In collaboration with the Women’s Forest Congress, Ecotrust hosted the first women-in-forestry event ever held during the Symposium. We are delighted that this gathering fostered connection and community for 60 women and allies within the forestry sector.

In fact, so many people wanted to join that they had to turn people away due to lack of room capacity! Stephanie Gutierrez, Forest & Community Program Director at Ecotrust, shares that feedback in the post-event survey indicated there’s a strong desire more opportunities like this for Native women and allies to connect and support each other in their professional journey.

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