Environmental Justice Tracker

EJ Tracker Update

Commerce, DOI, and USDA Announced Steps for Tribal Co-stewardship

Last updated:

November 30, 2022

Statute

Executive Order

Agencies

DOI, NOAA, USDA

Actions

Interagency Action

The Departments of the Interior, Commerce, and Agriculture announced new steps to increase and strengthen tribal participation in the management and stewardship of federal lands and waters. As part of these efforts, the Forest Service signed co-stewardship agreements with thirteen Tribes in an effort to protect tribal interests in  their traditional territories that are currently managed by the Forest Service. The Forest Service reviewed 60 more agreements involving 45 Tribes. These announcements came at the 2022 White House Tribal Nations Summit, where USDA also published its first annual report on tribal co-stewardship.