CNRA Launches Policy to Expand Tribal Stewardship for at Least 7.5 Million Acres in California

March 17, 2027 – The California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA) launched the state’s first-ever Tribal Stewardship Policy, establishing a statewide goal of expanding tribal stewardship over at least 7.5 million acres of lands and coastal waters in California. The Policy sets clear standards for all CNRA departments, conservancies, commissions, boards, and many other non-tribal partners to institutionalize meaningful and durable tribal-state partnerships and advance tribal stewardship through tribal access, collaboration, and ancestral land return. The Policy is supported by a companion toolkit containing training materials, templates, webinars, and technical resources designed for tribes, agency staff, and partners. The forthcoming 2026 California Wildfire and Landscape Resilience Action Plan will support, build upon, and align with CNRA’s Tribal Stewardship Policy.