U.S. Enters New Era of Collaboration with Native American Tribes in Managing Public Lands

Nearly 200 New Co-Management Agreements Announced, Marking a Tenfold Increase from Previous Year

The U.S. government is entering a new era of collaboration with Native American and Alaska Native leaders in managing public lands and other resources, with top federal officials saying that incorporating more Indigenous knowledge into decision-making can help spur conservation and combat climate change.
Nearly 200 new co-management and co-stewardship agreements have been announced, marking a tenfold increase over what had been inked just a year earlier. These agreements cover a wide range of areas, from fishery restoration projects to management of new national monuments.
Federal emergency managers have announced updates to recovery policies to aid tribal communities in the repair or rebuilding of traditional homes or ceremonial buildings after a series of wildfires, floods and other disasters around the country.
President Joe Biden has signed an executive order to make it easier for tribes to find and access grants, in an attempt to address complaints about chronic underfunding across Indian Country.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency has begun work this year to upgrade its disaster guidance in response to tribal needs, including a pathway for Native American, Alaska Native and Hawaiian communities to request presidential disaster declarations.