Forest Management Projects
The Intertribal Timber Council Travels to Brussels for EU Efforts
Debra John — January 29, 2026
Forest management projects led by Indigenous communities were the focus of recent discussions between the Intertribal Timber Council (ITC) and European Union officials in Brussels. The meetings highlighted the environmental benefits of Tribal forest stewardship and how these practices intersect with the EU Regulation on Deforestation-free Products (EUDR). Tribal Nations in the United States manage millions of acres of forestland using long-standing, legally protected systems that prioritize ecosystem health, biodiversity, and long-term sustainability.
During the meetings, ITC leaders emphasized that Indigenous forest management plays a critical role in carbon sequestration, wildfire risk reduction, watershed protection, and habitat conservation. These forests are governed under Tribal law, U.S. federal law, and treaty obligations, and are widely regarded as low-risk for deforestation.
Adopted in 2023 under the EU Green Deal, the EUDR aims to curb global deforestation through enhanced traceability requirements. ITC representatives noted that applying these rules uniformly may overlook the proven environmental performance of Tribal forests and could create unintended challenges for sustainable forest management systems that already deliver strong ecological outcomes.
