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Alaska Tribal Conservation District Network
AITRC is proud to be a Tribal Conservation District (TCD) and an active participant in the Alaska Tribal Conservation District Network, a statewide initiative connecting Tribal communities and conservation partners to strengthen locally led natural resource stewardship. Through collaboration, training, and knowledge sharing, the Network supports the development of Tribal Conservation Districts and advances conservation priorities related to subsistence and food security, habitat restoration, climate adaptation, and cultural preservation. AITRC helps organize regional and statewide gatherings, build partnerships, and expand opportunities for Tribal-led conservation across Alaska.
Strengthening Tribal-led conservation, collaboration, and natural resource stewardship across Alaska.!
The Alaska Tribal Conservation District Network brings together Tribal Conservation Districts, communities, and conservation partners from across the state to share knowledge, strengthen relationships, and support locally led natural resource management.
Through statewide and regional meetings, training opportunities, and technical assistance, the Network helps established TCDs strengthen their programs while supporting Tribes interested in forming new conservation districts. These collaborative efforts provide opportunities to exchange experiences, identify shared conservation priorities, and develop strategies that reflect the unique environmental and cultural needs of Alaska's Tribal communities.
As a participating TCD, AITRC contributes its experience in fisheries and wildlife research, environmental monitoring, subsistence resource management, and community outreach. By working alongside other Tribal organizations, AITRC helps strengthen conservation partnerships and expand opportunities for Tribal leadership in natural resource stewardship.
A Tribal Conservation District (TCD) is a Tribal-led organization that helps communities identify, prioritize, and address natural resource concerns within their traditional territories. TCDs provide a framework for developing conservation programs that reflect local environmental, cultural, and subsistence priorities while strengthening Tribal leadership in natural resource management.
TCDs work with federal agencies, nonprofit organizations, and other conservation partners to access technical assistance, conservation planning resources, training, and potential funding opportunities. Partnerships with organizations such as the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA NRCS) can help Tribes develop and implement locally identified conservation projects.
Tribal Conservation Districts support a variety of conservation priorities, including:
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Subsistence and Food Security: Protecting fish, wildlife, plants, and other resources that support traditional harvesting practices and local food systems.
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Habitat Conservation and Restoration: Maintaining healthy ecosystems, restoring important habitats, and supporting fish and wildlife populations.
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Climate Adaptation: Addressing changing environmental conditions and strengthening community resilience.
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Cultural Preservation: Incorporating Indigenous Knowledge, traditional practices, and cultural priorities into conservation planning.
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Community Capacity Building: Expanding access to technical assistance, training, partnerships, and conservation resources.
By placing Tribal priorities at the center of conservation planning, TCDs help communities develop locally appropriate solutions that support Tribal sovereignty, self-determination, and long-term stewardship.
How to Form a TCD?
1. Determine Interest and Participating Entities
One or more Tribes identify an interest in establishing a TCD. In Alaska, TCDs are typically initiated by local Tribes, although participating entities may also include village and regional nonprofit organizations and Alaska Native corporations.
2. Prepare Resolutions and a Mutual Agreement
NRCS provides templates for a Mutual Agreement (MA) and resolutions for each participating Tribal government. The Mutual Agreement establishes the formal relationship between the participating entities and USDA, with all participating entities serving as signatories.
3. Submit Documents for NRCS Review
NRCS reviews the Mutual Agreement and corresponding Tribal resolutions and prepares a cover memorandum. Together, these three components form the official TCD application package.
4. Complete State and Federal Review
The completed package is submitted to the NRCS State Conservationist before advancing through additional reviews at the national office. During this process, documents may be returned to NRCS Alaska for clarification, corrections, or additional information before approval.
5. Finalize and Sign the Mutual Agreement
Following approval, the Mutual Agreement is signed by the authorized USDA representative and leadership from each participating Tribe. The TCD is officially established once all required parties have signed the Mutual Agreement.
6. Establish Governance and Conservation Priorities
Following formation, USDA encourages participating entities to hold a signing ceremony, establish a governing board, develop organizational bylaws, and identify shared conservation goals, responsibilities, and expectations. These foundational steps help guide the TCD's future operations and conservation activities.
Establishing a TCD is the beginning of a longer process of building organizational capacity and implementing conservation projects. Once formally recognized, TCDs can begin translating community priorities into actionable conservation programs.
What happens next?
Some important next steps include:
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Assess Community Conservation Priorities: Engage Tribal leadership, community members, and resource managers to identify concerns related to subsistence and food security, fish and wildlife habitat, climate adaptation, and cultural resource protection.
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Develop a Conservation Action Plan: Establish clear goals, identify priority projects, assign responsibilities, and outline milestones and deliverables to guide implementation.
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Build Partnerships: Work with USDA NRCS, conservation organizations, and other partners to explore technical assistance, conservation planning resources, and collaborative opportunities.
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Identify Funding and Training Opportunities: Explore grants, technical assistance programs, and professional development opportunities that support organizational capacity and conservation projects.
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Begin Implementing Conservation Projects: Put conservation plans into action while maintaining ongoing communication with participating Tribes and community members.
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AITRC, in collaboration with Knik Tribal Conservation District and Tyonek Tribal Conservation District, was honored to co-organize and participate in the first Alaska Tribal Conservation District Network Annual Meeting in 2026, with funding provided by the Denali Commission.
This inaugural gathering brought together Tribal Conservation Districts and conservation partners from across Alaska to share knowledge, strengthen relationships, and explore opportunities for locally led natural resource conservation.
The meeting emphasized collaboration among Tribal organizations working to address conservation priorities such as subsistence and food security, climate adaptation, habitat stewardship and restoration, and cultural preservation. Participants exchanged experiences, discussed shared challenges, and explored ways to strengthen Tribal conservation programs through partnerships and knowledge sharing.
The gathering represented an important milestone in the continued development of the Alaska TCD Network, creating opportunities for stronger relationships and future collaboration among Tribal Conservation Districts statewide.
2026 Alaska TCD Network Annual Meeting.
Project Leads: Karen Linnell, Deanna Kosbruk, & Kelsey Stanbro | Questions on this network?