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Thursday, January 30, 2025

Stanford study addresses environmental threats faced by Tule River Tribe

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John Taylor, Professor of Economics at Stanford University and developer of the "Taylor Rule" for setting interest rates | Stanford University

John Taylor, Professor of Economics at Stanford University and developer of the "Taylor Rule" for setting interest rates | Stanford University

The Tule River Tribe, located in the Sierra Nevada foothills of California, is facing increasing environmental challenges such as wildfires, droughts, and floods. A recent study by Stanford researchers, conducted in partnership with the Tribe, explores strategies to address these issues while enhancing the community's overall health.

Published in Environmental Research Health, the study highlights insights from local emergency managers and healthcare practitioners on the reservation. Lead author Natalie Herbert from Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability emphasized the need for comprehensive solutions beyond immediate measures like portable air purifiers. "We need to think bigger," she stated.

The research is part of a broader initiative supported by a Human and Planetary Health Early Career Award from Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment and a grant from Stanford’s Sustainability Accelerator. It aims to develop culturally grounded solutions with tribal partners.

The Tule River Indian Tribe comprises about 2,000 members, with approximately 1,600 residing on the reservation. The area suffers from trapped wildfire smoke and air pollution due to its geographical location. Limited access to transportation and fresh groceries exacerbates these vulnerabilities.

Researchers conducted interviews with healthcare and emergency response professionals to assess threats and adaptation strategies that could enhance public health. They developed a framework illustrating how environmental hazards intersect with social vulnerabilities, proposing long-term solutions like upgrading housing ventilation systems and establishing green energy grids.

Kerri Vera, director of the Tule River Tribe’s Department of Environmental Protection and co-author of the paper, praised the collaboration with Stanford researchers: “Our partnership has led to a valuable effort in understanding and addressing our Tribal community’s challenges.”

Senior author Gabrielle Wong-Parodi highlighted that lessons learned could inform resilience strategies globally: “The lessons we learn here can inform resilience strategies for communities worldwide facing similar compounding hazards.”

Co-authors include representatives from University of Michigan, Tule River Indian Health Center Inc., California Rural Indian Health Board Inc., and RTI International.

Rob Jordan at Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment can be contacted for media inquiries at rjordan@stanford.edu or (415) 760-8058.

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