A Guide for Developing Tribal Wetland Management Programs
Protecting Wetlands in Indian Country
This Guide is part of the on-going technical assistance provided by EPA’s Wetlands Program to support tribes, states, territories, and local entities to build the capacity of diverse communities to increase the quantity and quality of wetlands in the U.S. by conserving and restoring wetland acreage and improving wetland condition.
EPA worked collaboratively with tribes to establish a Tribal Roundtable with representatives from around the country to support the Guide’s development and to ensure it reflects tribal needs, knowledge, and perspectives. The Guide provides a picture of various tribal governments’ approaches and values surrounding wetland protection and the vital ecosystem services provided by these resources.
While each tribe has its own unique story, language, and history, all share an abiding and deep-rooted connection to the land. Wetlands and other waters play an important role in ecological functions and cultural uses for tribes. Aquatic habitats provide diverse species of plants, fish, and wildlife, which are used to provide a great variety of food, fibers, and medicines. There are as many native words for water as tribes themselves.
This new Guide, which augments the National Association of Wetland Managers (NAWM) 2013 Wetland Program Plans Handbook, is designed to aid tribal leadership and tribal natural resource managers in strategic wetland resource planning and management. The Guide provides information about how to begin wetland program planning and addresses EPA’s core elements framework for developing strong wetland programs, funding and other sources of support, and suggests collaboration approaches. Seventeen tribal case studies highlight the importance and some of the diversity of tribal community wetland programs, including how Indigenous Knowledge (e.g., Traditional Ecological Knowledge) and cultural values are addressed in tribal wetland programs.
A Guide for Developing Tribal Wetland Management Programs (pdf)