Tribal Relations
Highlights
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Action Plan
Strengthening Tribal Consultation and Nation-to-Nation Relationships.
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Tribal Relations App
Updates
Apply for the Landscape Scale Restoration Program
The Fiscal Year 2024 Landscape Sale Restoration Request for Proposals for Federally Recognized Tribes and Alaska Native Corporations/Villages is now available in grants.gov: View Opportunity | GRANTS.GOV. Under this solicitation, the USDA Forest Service is seeking proposals from Federally Recognized Tribes and Alaska Native Corporations/Villages to restore priority forest landscapes. A Tribal organization as defined in 25 USC 5304 (l)2 may also apply at the request of a Federally Recognized Tribe (these require a letter of support).
The application period is now open through December 15th, 2023. Final applications must be submitted to the Landscape Scale Restoration Program email address at SM.FS.LSR@usda.gov by 6:00 PM ET, December 15, 2023.
Please join the USDA Forest Service, Landscape Scale Restoration program for a Tribal Information Session. Program representatives will provide an overview of the program, provide guidance on how to apply, and be available to answer questions.
Tribal Information Session Details
Date: September 28, 2023
Time: 1:00 PM ET
Register in Advance
For more information, please see the Landscape Scale Restoration | US Forest Service (usda.gov) webpage.
Apply for Landowner Assistance for Participation in Climate Markets
The Forest Service is making funding from the Inflation Reduction Act available to help underserved and small acreage forest landowners connect to emerging climate markets. Eligible entities include Tribal governments and organizations, states, local governments, public and private non-profits, and for-profit entities.
Emerging climate markets are creating economic incentives to keep forests healthy and productive through reforestation, thinning overgrown forests, and more. However, high acreage requirements and prohibitive start-up costs have caused many small-acreage and underserved private forest owners to be left behind. The investments being announced today will expand access to markets that were previously out-of-reach, allowing underserved and small-acreage forest landowners to be a larger part of the climate solution while also supporting rural economies and healthy forests.
More information and applications are available at the Forest Landowner Assistance webpage.
Apply for Round 2 the Community Wildfire Defense Grants
On July 31, 2023, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service is again accepting applications for the Community Wildfire Defense Grant program. Now in its second year, this competitive program funded by President Biden’s historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is designed to assist at-risk communities, including Tribal communities, non-profit organizations, state forestry agencies and Alaska Native corporations with planning for and mitigating wildfire risks. Applications will be accepted for 90 days. More information and applications are available at the Community Wildfire Defense Grants webpage.
Proposed National Policies: Tribal Relations Directives
The notification of the opportunity to consult was distributed to Tribal and Corporation leaders on July 31, 2023. The agency requests input on the Tribal Relations directives throughout the duration of the revision process. The target publication date is November 2024.
The Forest Service Office of Tribal Relations will host multiple opportunities for collaboration and consultation throughout the revision process to incorporate Tribal government and Alaska Native
corporation perspectives.
For more information, please visit the National Consultation Schedule.
Proposed National Policies: Special Uses Cost Recovery, Carbon Storage, and Locatable Minerals
The notification of the opportunity to consult was distributed to Tribal and Corporation leaders on July 19, 2023. The agency requests input on the proposed rules until November 16, 2023.
- Invitation Letter to Consult
- Special Uses Cost Recovery
- Carbon Capture and Storage Exemption
- Locatable Minerals
- Please contact the Office of Tribal Relations at FS-OTR-Tribal-Consultation for more information
A Tribal forum on the draft policies was held on May 17, 2023. For more information, please see the forum presentation.
Trust Land Eligibility for the Landscape Scale Restoration Program
The Forest Service Office of General Counsel issued an updated opinion regarding the eligibility of Indian trust land for the Landscape Scale Restoration program. Read the letter to Tribal and Corporation Leaders.
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The Forest Service consults with Tribal Nations on policies that may affect Tribes. Office of Tribal Relations maintains a schedule for national-level consultation.
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Forest Service strives to increase benefit for Tribes from Agency programs. The Agency also benefits from Tribal input, especially Indigenous knowledge.
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Federal land managing agencies hold in public trust a great diversity of landscapes and sites, including many culturally important sites held sacred by Tribal Nations.
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Forest Service guide for reburials of human remains and cultural items, temporary closure and forest products for traditional and cultural use, and prohibition on information disclosure.
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The Forest Service Research and Development Tribal Engagement Roadmap aims Tribal Nations to guide development of ethical and significant research partnerships with Tribal Nations.
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The Dibaginjigaadeg Anishinaabe Ezhitwaad: A Tribal Climate Adaptation Menu is an extensive collection of climate change adaptation actions for natural resource management.