Indigenous peoples are the original stewards of nature. Yet, some countries have for eably removed Indigenous peoples to create parks. Furthermore, national park managers and other government natural resources staff often have failed to include Indigenous peoples in the management of public lands and waters. Many agencies around the world, including the U.S., are seeking to address these historical wrongs through co-stewardship agreements between government agencies and Indigenous groups.
The UC Berkeley Institute for Parks, People, and Biodiversity collaborated with the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, California Biodiversity Network, East Bay Regional Park District, California Natural Resources Agency, and other partners on an event to bring together Indigenous resource managers and government agencies, February 21-22, 2024. The event sought to improve the understanding of agencies to more fully integrate the rich knowledge and practices of Indigenous peoples into conservation areas management. This can take the form of co-stewardship agreements between government agencies and Indigenous groups for specific national parks or other conservation areas.
The UC Berkeley Institute for Parks, People, and Biodiversity is editing a theme issue of Parks Stewardship Forum, scheduled for January 15, 2025, on Indigenous co-stewardship of public lands, as the principal written outcome of the workshop.
We gratefully acknowledge funding from the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, the Moore Foundation, and the Resources Legacy Fund.
https://cabiodiversitynetwork.org/indigenous-costewardship-of-public-lands/
