Strengthening the Land and Water Conservation Fund starts with equitable Tribal access

(May 27, 2026) -- Tribal organizations and nonprofit partners announced the launch of the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) Tribal Hub, a new resource developed by Indigenous leaders and advocates to help Tribal governments navigate and access conservation and recreation funding opportunities nationwide. 

Established to support conservation and outdoor recreation, LWCF is funded through offshore oil and gas royalties rather than taxpayer dollars and receives $900 million annually. Since its creation, the program has helped protect more than 7 million acres in nearly every U.S. county, yet many Tribal governments remain unaware of available LWCF opportunities or face barriers to accessing them. 

Although Tribal governments steward 2.3% of the nation’s lands and waters, they have received less than 1% of the $4.5 billion in LWCF grants awarded between 1965 and 2019. Tribal leaders and advocates say structural barriers, including matching-fund requirements and application processes that undermine Tribal sovereignty, continue to restrict direct access to the program. 

Starlyn Miller, (Little Shell Chippewa citizen & Menominee and Mohican descendant) senior director of Native Lands Partnerships at The Wilderness Society, said: 

“The LWCF Tribal Hub reflects the power of Indigenous partnerships to strengthen conservation so people and nature can thrive together. As sovereign nations and the original stewards of these lands and waters since time immemorial, Tribal Nations should have the freedom to access LWCF funding directly, move resources more efficiently and make decisions that best serve their lands, cultures and communities.” 

The Tribal Hub offers practical support through plain-language guidance, downloadable tools, recorded trainings and direct access to free technical assistance. It was created for The Wilderness Society’s Native Lands Partnerships program and co-authored by National Association of Tribal Historic Preservation Officers (NATHPO) in collaboration with Against the Current Consulting, Trust for Public Land and the National Park Service. 

Improved access to LWCF funding would help Indigenous communities protect culturally significant landscapes, restore habitat, strengthen food sovereignty, support traditional practices and expand education opportunities for future generations. 

For more information, contact gaby_diaz@tws.org