The federal government has embarked upon an era of co-stewardship of public lands as directed by Joint Secretarial Order 3403 and other authorities. States have also launched new policies consistent with this approach. These efforts to restore tribal stewardship can help to advance ecosystem restoration, biodiversity conservation, and adaptation to climate change.
This grant will provide Tribes with resources to build necessary capacity to negotiate, implement, and monitor co-management and co-stewardship agreements with a federal agency. This includes legal expertise to support development of relevant agreements. The ultimate goal is to restore tribal stewardship, allowing Tribes to serve as anchors promoting greater ecological connectivity across the landscapes.
First Nations is now accepting applications under our Stewarding Native Lands program to support Tribal co-management and co-stewardship planning and related capacity building. First Nations expects to award 5 grants up to $75,000 each to eligible Tribes.