National Consultation
The Forest Service Office of Tribal Relations invites Tribal Nations and Alaska Native Corporations to consult directly with the Washington Office on national-level policies. For more information, or to request consultation, on any of the topics listed on this page, please navigate to the consultation of interest or contact sm.fs.otrtribalcon@usda.gov, with reference to the relevant consultation.
Current Consultation
Proposed Action Plan Tribal Comment Period: Reimagine Recreation
The notification of the opportunity to comment was distributed on August 16, 2024. A Tribal Forum was hosted on March 28, 2023.
Proposed Drafts - Please contact the Office of Tribal Relations at sm.fs.otrtribalcon@usda.gov to request copies of the proposed documents.
Proposed National Policy: Renewable Energy Directive
The notification of the opportunity to consult was distributed on May 22, 2024. A Tribal Forum was hosted on November 2, 2023.
Proposed National Policy: Carbon Stewardship Rulemaking
The notification of the opportunity to consult was distributed on April 23, 2024. A Tribal Forum was hosted on May 22, 2024.
Proposed Plan Amendment: National Old Growth Amendment
The notification of the opportunity to consult was distributed on February 23, 2024. Tribal Forums were hosted on March 27 and May 22, 2024.
Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Climate Resilient National Forests and Grasslands
The notification of the opportunity to consult was distributed to Tribal and Corporation leaders on September 25, 2023.
Tribal forums on the Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking took place on July 12, 2023 and December 14, 2023. For more information, please see the July 12th Forum Presentation and December 14th Forum Presentation.
Proposed National Policies: Tribal Relations Directives
The agency requests input on the proposed amendments until the directives revision process concludes in November 2024. A Tribal forum on the Tribal Relations directives amendments took place on August 29, 2023. For more information, please see the forum presentation.
Existing Policy
Executive Order 14072: Strengthening the Nation's Forests, Communities, and Local Economies
The notification of the opportunity to consult was distributed to Tribal and Corporation Leaders on December 23, 2022. The Agency requests input on section 2(b) of the order until April 22, 2023.
A Tribal forum on the draft policy was hosted on July 20, 2022. For more information, please see the forum presentation.
Upcoming Consultation
Proposed National Policies: Climate Adaptation and Mitigation Policies
A Tribal forum on the proposed draft policies was hosted on August 20, 2024. The USDA Forest Service plans to distribute notifications of the opportunity to consult on each directive within the Climate Adaptation and Mitigation Policies initiative. Additional information is available on the national policy proposal background and Tribal forum presentation.
Proposed National Policy: Restoration Agreements Directives
A Tribal forum on the draft policy was hosted on January 13, 2022. The USDA Forest Service plans to distribute a 120-day notification of the opportunity to consult. For more information, please see the forum advertisement.
Upcoming Tribal Forums
National Old Growth Amendment Draft Proposed Action and Alternatives
Date: November, 20, 2024
Time: 1:00 p.m. Eastern
Register in Advance: https://www.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/vJIsfu-hrzgqEvMYB9CUuBkpTon07iSw3gg
Details: Please join the USDA Forest Service Ecosystem Management Coordination for a Tribal Forum to discuss the National Old-Growth Amendment Draft Proposed Action and Alternatives.Past Consultations
Proposed Action Plan Tribal Comment Period: Reimagine Recreation
The notification of the opportunity to comment was distributed on August 16, 2024. A Tribal Forum was hosted on March 28, 2023.
Proposed Drafts - Please contact the Office of Tribal Relations at sm.fs.otrtribalcon@usda.gov to request copies of the proposed documents.
Proposed National Policy: Renewable Energy Directive
The notification of the opportunity to consult was distributed on May 22, 2024. A Tribal Forum was hosted on November 2, 2023.
Proposed Policy - Please contact the Office of Tribal Relations at FS-OTR-Tribal-Consultation to request copies of the proposed policy.
Proposed National Policies: Mitigation Directives
The notification of the opportunity to consult was distributed on October 25, 2023. The agency requested input on the proposed directives by February 22, 2024.
Proposed Policies - Please contact the Office of Tribal Relations at FS-OTR-Tribal-Consultation to request copies of the proposed policies.
A Tribal forum on the mitigation directives took place on April 19, 2023.
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 requested input on the proposed rules by November 16, 2023.
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.
Inflation Reduction Act and Western Fireshed Emergency Action Determination
The notification of the opportunity to consult was distributed on January 30, 2023. The Agency requested input on the Western Fireshed Emergency Action Determination by March 31, 2023 and input on Subtitle D - Forestry of the Inflation Reduction Act by June 14, 2023.
USDA Forest Service staff will share information and be available to discuss the implementation of both Subtitle D – Forestry of the Inflation Reduction Act and the Western Fireshed Emergency Action Determination. Consultation may be requested at any time, and two virtual sessions will be held at different times to accommodate varying time zones.
Two virtual consultation opportunities were hosted on February 28 and March 1, 2023. For more information, please see the consultation presentation.
Proposed National Policy: Monitoring Directives
The notification of the opportunity to consult was distributed to Tribal and Corporation Leaders on September 19, 2022. The consultation period closed on January 17, 2023.
A Tribal forum on the draft policy was hosted on October 7, 2021.
Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act
The notification of the opportunity to consult was distributed on April 6, 2022. The consultation period closed on May 6, 2022.
Two virtual consultation opportunities were hosted on April 20 and 21, 2023. For more information, see the day 1 consultation presentation and day 2 consultation presentation.
Timber Management Directives, Batch 3
The 120-day Tribal consultation period began on January 10, 2022 and concluded on May 10, 2022. View the consultation package.
Climbing Directives
The 120-day Tribal consultation period began on November 8, 2021 and concluded on March 8, 2022. View the consultation package.
For a complete list of previous national-level consultations, please see Completed Consultation.
Past Tribal Forums
Proposed Plan Amendment: National Old Growth Amendment
Date: November, 20, 2024
Time: 1:00 p.m. Eastern
Details: USDA Forest Service Ecosystem Management Coordination discussed the National Old-Growth Amendment.Proposed National Policies: Climate Adaptation and Mitigation Policies
Date: August 20, 2024
Time: 1:00 p.m. Eastern
Details: USDA Forest Service representatives shared information on the proposed Climate Adaptation and Mitigation Policies that address water best management practices, water data, recreation fee waivers, and fire management in wilderness, wild and scenic rivers. For more information, please see the national policy proposal background and forum presentation.Proposed Plan Amendment: National Old Growth Amendment Draft Environmental Impact Statement Tribal Q & A
Date: July 23, 2024
Time: 2:00 p.m. Eastern
Details: Representatives from the Ecosystem Management Coordination office shared information and discussed Tribal Question-and-Answer session on the National Old Growth Amendment Draft Environmental Impact Statement on July 23, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time. For more information please see the Tribal Q & A presentation and consultation update letter.Proposed Plan Amendment: National Old Growth Amendment Draft Environmental Impact Statement Tribal Information Session
Date: June 18, 2024
Time: 2:00 p.m. Eastern
Details: Representatives from the Ecosystem Management Coordination office shared information and discussed the National Old Growth Amendment draft environmental impact statement.Proposed National Policy: Carbon Stewardship Rulemaking & Proposed Plan Amendment: National Old Growth Amendment
Date: May 22, 2024
Time: 2:00 p.m. Eastern
Details: Representatives from the Office of Sustainability and Climate & Ecosystem Management Coordination shared information on the Carbon Stewardship proposed rule making and the proposed National Old Growth Amendment, and Tribal implications. For more information, please see the invitation to consult, Carbon Stewardship Summary Analysis, National Old Growth Amendment Summary of Consultation and Collaboration To-Date, and forum presentation.Proposed National Policy: Tribal Relations Directives & Proposed Document Update: Research and Development Tribal Engagement Roadmap
Date: May 9, 2024
Time: 2:00 PM ET
Details: Representatives from the Office of Tribal Relations shared information on the Tribal Relations Directives and representatives from Research and Development shared information on the Tribal Engagement Roadmap. For more information, please see the national policy and document background.Proposed National Old Growth Amendment
Date: March 27, 2024
Time: 2:30 PM ET
Details: Ecosystem Management Coordination program representatives shared information and discussed the proposed National Old Growth Amendment and Tribal implications. For more information please see the consultation package.National Initiative Updates: Climate Resilience of the Nation's Forests and Grasslands & Strengthening the Nation's Forests, Communities, and Local Economies
Date: December 14, 2023
Time: 2:00 PM ET
Details: Office of Sustainability and Climate, and Ecosystem Management Coordination program representatives shared information and discussed the national initiatives and Tribal implications. For more information please see the consultation update letter and the summaries of consultation and collaboration for the Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Climate Resilient Forests and Grasslands and Executive Order 14072 on Strengthening the Nation's Forests, Grasslands, and Local Economies.Proposed National Policy - Renewable Energy Directives
Date: November 2, 2023
Time: 2:00 PM ET
Details: Lands, Minerals, and Geology Management program representatives shared information and discussed the proposed national policy and Tribal implications. For more information please see the forum presentation.Proposed National Policies - Tribal Relations Directives
Date: August 29, 2023
Time: 1:00 PM ET
Details: Office of Tribal Relations program representatives shared information and discussed the proposed national policy and Tribal implications. For more information please see the forum advertisement.Climate Resilience and Carbon Stewardship of the Nation's Forests and Grasslands
Date: July 12, 2023
Time: 1:00 PM ET
Details: The USDA Forest Service, National Forest System shared information on the agency’s implementation of: Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Climate Resilient Forests and Grasslands; Secretarial Memo 1077-004 on Climate Resilience and Carbon Stewardship of America's National Forests and Grasslands; and, Executive Order 14072 on Strengthening the Nation's Forests, Grasslands, and Local Economies. For more information please see the forum advertisement and summary of the Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.Proposed National Policies: Special Uses Cost Recovery, Carbon Storage, and Locatable Minerals
Date: May 17, 2023
Time: 1:00 PM ET
Details: USDA Forest Service, Lands and Minerals Management representatives shared information and discussed proposed updates to three rules: Special Uses Cost Recovery (36 CFR 251, Subpart B), Carbon Capture and Storage (36 CFR 251), and Locatable Minerals (36 CFR 228, Subpart A). For more information, see the forum presentation.Proposed National Policy: Mitigation of Adverse Impacts
Date: April 19, 2023
Time: 1:00 PM ET
Details: USDA Forest Service Ecosystem Management Coordination representatives shared information and discussed the proposed national policy and Tribal implications during the April 19, 2023 forum. The proposed policy would amend the Forest Service Manual and Handbook to: clarify the Agency’s mitigation authority and policy; foster the development of comprehensive, standard national direction for mitigation; encourage consistency, improve transparency, and increase effectiveness; and, provide for more effective implementation of the federal statutes for the protection of the national forests and grasslands by encouraging managers to offset adverse environmental impacts of human-made activities on National Forest System lands. For more information, see the forum presentation.Proposed Communication & Outreach Campaign: Connecting People with Nature; and, Proposed National Strategic Planning Effort: Reimagine Recreation
Date: March 28, 2023
Time: 1:00 PM ET
Details: The USDA Forest Service held a combined Tribal forum on a proposed communications and outreach campaign on connecting people with nature, and a proposed Reimagine Recreation strategic planning effort. The communications and outreach campaign strives to awaken and strengthen all people’s connection to Forest Service managed lands through a relatable and inspirational campaign that encourages respectful and mindful visitor opportunities. The Forest Service Reimagine Recreation National Strategic Planning Effort will update the Framework for Sustainable Recreation (the agency’s national recreation strategy) and develop a National Recreation Action Plan for how to achieve the vision and goals of the updated strategy.For more information, please see the forum presentation.
Future of Rangeland Management
Date: December 14, 2022
Time: 1:00 PM ET
Details: The USDA Forest Service held a Tribal listening session on the future of rangeland management. This session provided an opportunity to provide feedback in developing a long-term strategy to look at ways to either advance the program or solve the issues that have been or will be challenging for the agency.For more information, please see the forum presentation.
Carbon Partnership Program
Date: November 3, 2022
Time: 2:00 PM ET
Details: Please join USDA Forest Service for a Tribal forum on the Carbon Partnership Program. Carbon Partnership Program representatives will share information on the development of a new national program and be available to discuss potential Tribal implications. The Carbon Partnership Program is a developmental effort exploring how the Forest Service can leverage external funds, through partnerships, for carbon projects on National Forests and Grasslands.For more information please see the flyer, program overview, Frequently Asked Questions, and forum presentation.
Forest Service Tribal Relations Action Plan
Date: June 28, 2022
Time: 2:00 PM ET
Details: The Office of Tribal Relations shared a draft "detailed plan of actions the agency will take to implement the policies and directives of Executive Order 13175" and seek feedback from tribal representatives on plan alignment with the interests and priorities of Indian Tribes and Alaska Native corporations.For more information, please see the forum advertisement and view the forum presentation.
Forest Service Climate Adaptation Plan
Date: December 17, 2021
Time: 2:00 PM ET
Details: The USDA Forest Service Climate Advisor and Office of Sustainability and Climate program representatives shared information about the development of the Forest Service Climate Adaptation Plan and hosted a discussion.For more details please see the forum advertisement and briefing paper.