What is a TCD?

Tribal Conservation Districts (TCDs) combine local and traditional knowledge with technical resources to actively manage natural resources in a defined area. The goal of a TCD is to set local priorities for conservation and ensure sustainable use of natural resources for subsistence, economic opportunity, resource development, and cultural preservation. TCDs establish a formal partnership between the USDA and the tribal nation, allowing for an efficient framework to identify, develop, and provide technical, financial, and educational resources.

Benefits of a TCD

• Providing a Voice: TCDs provide a local voice in efforts to address natural resource concerns. They provide leadership for intra-tribal coordination between tribal governments and other tribal natural resource managers, and they coordinate assistance from NRCS and other federal, state, local, and private sources.
• Nation-to-Nation Relationship: TCDs work with the USDA in strengthening the government-to-government relationship. A TCD can support enhanced working relationships with state and federal agencies that can assist in meeting the community’s needs.
• Capacity to Apply for and Coordinate Funding: TCDs can provide dedicated staff to facilitate the application process for tribal landowners within their boundaries to apply for diverse funding sources, including NRCS programs. As an established entity, TCDs may be recipients of funding such as cooperative agreements or partnership agreements. TCDs may apply for a variety of non-federal funding sources to provide match-funding that may be required for federal programs. They may provide a mechanism to secure and manage diverse funding sources to accomplish projects on the ground.
• Technical Support: TCDs provide technical, financial, and educational assistance in addressing the resource needs of traditional lands.

Forming a TCD

The TCD formation process is relatively simple but can be lengthy. Typically, one or multiple tribes work with NRCS staff to develop a mutual agreement between the future TCD participants and the USDA. TCD participants may include tribes and village and/ or regional tribal non-profits and corporations. Additionally, each participating tribal entity must draft and sign a resolution through their governing body which authorizes the future TCD to be a party in the agreement. NRCS then submits these documents through a series of approvals all the way up to the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture.

Process to Form a TCD

1. Tribal entity determines interest in creating a TCD. In Alaska, TCDs are typically initiated by one or more local Tribes, though participating entities may include village and/or regional non-profits and corporations.
2. NRCS provides TCD participants templates for one Mutual Agreement (MA) and a resolution for each participating Tribal government within the TCD. All entities are signatories of the MA.
3. NRCS will review the MA and all corresponding resolutions and draft a Cover Memo. These three items comprise the TCD package.
4. The TCD package is sent to the NRCS State Conservationist for review. It is then elevated through a series reviews at the national office for review and approval. At any point in the review process the package can be returned to NRCS Alaska for clarification, inconsistencies, incomplete information, or other concerns.
5. The MA is then first signed by Chief Colton L. Buckley as a delegated signatory on behalf of U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins; and then the MA is signed by leadership of each participating Tribe. The TCD is officially established once all parties have signed the MA.
6. USDA encourages TCD participants to have a signing ceremony, develop a TCD board and bylaws, and identify and define common goals, roles and expectations.

Alaska Tribal Conservation Districts by Year Established

Note: Years provided below are when the Mutual Agreements were signed by the USDA.

1. Bering Sea Interior TCD - 2026
2. Native Village of Goodnews Bay TCD - 2026
3. Salamatof TCD - 2026
4. Chugach Region TCD - 2021
5. Keex’ Kwaan TCD (Kake) - 2021
6. Native Village of Eyak - 2021
7. Ruby TCD - 2019
8. Ketchikan Indian Community TCD - 2018
9. Nuiqsagmiut TCD (Nuiqsut) - 2018
10. Southeast Alaska TCD - 2018
11. Tanana TCD - 2018
12. Eklutna TCD - 2016
13. Yakutat TCD - 2015
14. Ahtna Intertribal Resource Commission TCD - 2014
15. Akiacuarmiut TCD (Akiachak) - 2014
16. Knik TCD - 2014
17. Kuuvanmiut TCD (Ambler) - 2014
18. Nuvendaltun TCD (Nondalton) - 2014
19. Prince of Wales Island TCD - 2014
20. T’ee Drin Jik TCD (Venetie) - 2014
21. Tuyuryak TCD (Togiak) - 2014
22. Nunivak Island TCD (Mekoryuk) - 2011
23. Asa’carsarmiut TCD (Mountain Village) - 2009
24. Kuigglugmiut TCD (Kwethluk) - 2009
25. Tyonek TCD - 2005