Tribal Climate
and Conservation 

Tribal Nations Initiative Web Page

About

About

Investing in Tribal Nations is Crucial to Protecting Our Lands & Waterways

There is a crucial, global effort underway to protect 30 percent of the earth’s lands, oceans, and waterways by 2030. Aptly named 30x30, this movement intends to stop some of the worst effects of climate change and our loss of biodiversity. President Biden’s administration is leading the U.S. contribution to this work through the America the Beautiful initiative.

Tribal Nations, through their nation-to-nation relationships with the federal government and their deep knowledge of the ecosystems they steward, bring unique tools and resources to the 30x30 movement. In the United States, Tribes oversee approximately 5% of the country’s landmass. The 95 million acres of land managed by the 574 federally recognized Tribal nations encompass some of the continent’s most critically important wildlife habitat, resilient landscapes, and irreplaceable cultural assets. Indigenous Peoples have been deeply connected to these ecosystems since time immemorial and have developed generations of environmental knowledge that has helped them nurture and steward lands and waters.

U.S.-based philanthropic support of conservation efforts led by Tribal Nations has been largely non-existent and has often been approached through a Western lens that disregards the knowledge of Indigenous Peoples. As Indigenous-led conservation and stewardship continues to prove effective and gain recognition as a critical strategy to achieve the goals laid out by 30x30, it is time for that to change. The federal government recognizes this as well and has ramped up funding for Tribally led conservation efforts. The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation announced that it will prioritize 10% of conservation funding to Tribal Nations. Now is the time to capitalize on this unprecedented opportunity and bring public and private funding together to support conservation work led by Tribal Nations.

BREAKING NEWS – NOVEMBER 14, 2023

NFWF ANNOUNCES $141.3 MILLION IN GRANTS FROM THE AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL CHALLENGE

Washington, D.C. (November 14, 2023) – The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) joined its public partners today in announcing $141.3 million in grants through the America the Beautiful Challenge (ATBC). The 74 new grants announced today will support landscape-scale conservation projects across 46 States, three U.S. Territories, and 21 Tribal and Native Nations. The grants will generate at least $12 million in matching contributions for a total conservation impact of more than $153 million.

ATBC grants support projects that conserve, restore and connect habitats for wildlife while improving community resilience and access to nature. The America the Beautiful Challenge (ATBC) is a partnership between the Department of the Interior (though the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service), the U.S. Department of Agriculture through the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the U.S. Forest Service, the U.S. Department of Defense, Native Americans in Philanthropy and NFWF. The competitive grant awards were made possible with funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Inflation Reduction Act, other federal conservation programs and private sources.

“Nature is essential to the health, well-being and prosperity of every community in America. Through the President’s Investing in America agenda, we have the historic opportunity to invest in locally led, collaborative efforts that can help combat the impacts of climate change, advance environmental justice, and safeguard the lands and waters we all love,” said Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland. “I’m thrilled that in this year’s grant selections, 40 percent of the projects awarded will be implemented by Tribal communities, putting Indigenous Knowledge at the center of our conservation work.”

Getting involved

Philanthropic institutions can join this effort in one of two ways.
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Take the Pledge

Funders can commit to the Tribal Nations Conservation Pledge by designating a self-determined amount of funding, or a percentage of programmatic spending, for Tribally led conservation efforts through grants of their own.

Please email info@nativephilanthropy.org for more information.

 

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Donate to the Fund

Funders can make a meaningful, monetary contribution to the Tribal Nations Conservation Fund.  For more information or to make a larger donation, please contact info@nativephilanthropy.org

Make a Donation

 

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"Conservation is not just about safeguarding land. It’s about prioritizing people, especially those who hold the traditional knowledge on how to combat our climate and biodiversity crisis, and recognizing that they can chart a path forward.”

Erik R Stegman, Chief Executive Officer

Take the Pledge

The Pledge provides a way for funders to support the conservation work of Tribal Nations.

The Pledge provides a way for funders to participate in the Collaborative through their charitable giving while doing so within the guidelines of their respective institutions. The Pledge calls on funders to commit to a self-determined amount of funding, or a self-determined percentage of annual programmatic funding, to support the biodiversity and conservation efforts of Tribes, inter-Tribal organizations, and Tribal consortia.

Looking for more information? Read our FAQ








Significance

Native Americans in Philanthropy recognizes the importance of this relationship and supports Native-led climate and conservation work.
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The Land, Water, and People

As the first caretakers of the land in these United States, Indigenous peoples have a special connection to the land, water, and many species that share their world. The Earth is a part of their culture, creation stories, and ways of life. Indigenous peoples have been stewards of the environment since time immemorial, preserving the land, water, and species that have sustained their communities for generations. They have long learned the delicate balance of sustainable practices while living in harmony with the environment.

 

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Tribal Conservation Pledge & Funding Collaborative

Native Americans in Philanthropy (NAP) has launched a Tribal Nations Conservation Pledge & Funding Collaborative (the Collaborative) that calls on the philanthropic sector to make significant investments in biodiversity and conservation projects led by Tribal Nations. With support from Biodiversity Funders Group (BFG) and The Christensen Fund, the Collaborative provides a forum to strategize, share knowledge and educational resources, and participate in a funding mechanism to quickly move capital to Tribal Nations.

 

For more information on NAP's Tribal Nations Initiative, please visit:  nativephilanthropy.org/tni

For additional information and support please email: info@nativephilanthropy.org

LATEST PRESS RELEASES

11/14/2023

NFWF Announces $141.3 Million in Grants from the America the Beautiful Challenge
 
The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) joined its public partners today in announcing $141.3 million in grants through the America the Beautiful Challenge (ATBC). The 74 new grants announced today will support landscape-scale conservation projects across 46 States, three U.S. Territories, and 21 Tribal and Native Nations.

Read the Full Press Release  

 

03/05/2023

2023 Request For Proposals Opens For The America the Beautiful Challenge. Tribes are Encouraged to Apply To Support Their Locally Led Conservation Projects.
 
NFWF expects to award at least 10% of ATBC grant funding to Tribal and Native Nations and 3% to U.S. territories. Native Americans in Philanthropy (NAP),as a part of their partnership with NFWF, will be providing all match for any granted Tribally led projects up to the 10% ATBC funding set aside for Tribal Nation grantees. 

Read the Full Press Release  


03/01/2023

Biden-Harris Administration, National Fish & Wildlife Foundation Announce Up To $116 Million for Locally Led Conservation Projects. 

Read the Full Press Release  

11/10/2022

14 Tribal Nations have been awarded $26.7 million to invest in Native-led conservation projects through the 2022 America The Beautiful Challenge

Read the Full Press Release  


11/07/2022

Native Americans in Philanthropy Announce First of its Kind Tribal Nations Conservation Pledge and Fund to Distribute Millions to Native American Tribes for Environmental and Conservation Work in the U.S.

Read the Full Press Release  

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The Collaborative FAQ
Conservation Fund FAQ
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