The White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) is holding two tribal consultations to garner input on the America the Beautiful initiative, particularly the focus area of supporting tribally led conservation and restoration priorities.
The Secretaries of the Interior, Agriculture, and Commerce, and the Chair of the CEQ issued the Conserving and Restoring America the Beautiful Report on May 6, 2021. The report provides a framework for how the U.S. can achieve national conservation goals, including conserving at least 30 percent of U.S. lands and waters by 2030. The report notes difficulty for Native communities to access federal funding and assistance to support conservation efforts and calls for improved engagement with American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians on the care and management of public lands and waters, particularly regarding sacred and ceremonial sites, and trust and treaty rights.
Click HERE to read the ‘Dear Tribal Leader Letter’ for more information and specific questions CEQ is putting forward to garner input from Native communities. Below are the times and instructions for the two consultation sessions.
Tribal Consultation Option 1:
October 26, 2021
10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m (EAT)
Click HERE to register in advance
Tribal Consultation Option 2:
October 28, 2021
3:00 – 5:30 p.m. (EST)
Click HERE to register in advance
In addition to, or instead of joining these sessions, you may provide your written input to [email protected] by November 23rd, 2021. If you have any questions regarding this effort, please feel free to contact Stephenne Harding, Senior Director of Lands, at [email protected], or at (202) 881-9419.