Native Americans join loggers to battle pine beetles

Some Native Americans in South Dakota are helping loggers cut and remove pine trees infected by mountain pine beetles, which has killed thousands of trees in the Black Hills. Native Americans in the region have long seen loggers as enemies who destroyed forests for profit. But now the need to save uninfected trees from the beetles has brought the two groups together, The Associated Press reports. Native Americans hope to build homes with wood from the trees so they don't go to waste. (AP photo: Lakota logger)

The Lakota Logging Project has trained about 15 Native Americans and plans to train more. It is the largest project ever created to help fight the beetle epidemic. The mountain pine beetle attacks infects the wood with fungus, staining the wood blue, which can reduce its value by two-thirds. The beetle has affected thousands of trees in the western U.S. and threatens the already struggling timber industry. The best way to slow infestation is to remove infected trees because beetles are poor fliers and can't travel far.

Lakota Logging co-founder Dave Ventimiglia said Native Americans will benefit from the project. He hopes to raise $150,000 for the Pine Ridge Reservation so residents could build homes for those living in dilapidated housing. Ventimiglia has donated $30,000 of his family's money for training and equipment costs. A South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Department contract allows the Lakota Loggers to remove 20,000 trees and pays the crew $10 per tree. (Read more)