Supporting the Next Generation of Conservation and Climate Stewards
Summary
In 2023, the Department of the Interior (the DOI) commits to expand the programmatic and geographic capacity of their Indian Youth Service Corps (IYSC) and programs with historically underserved communities. IYSC supports Tribes in developing the next generation of environmental, conservation, and climate stewards by supporting environmental conservation on federal and Tribal lands by matching partners or providing direct assistance to Tribes and communities working to develop youth programs at the local level, ultimately distributing $15 million in funding. These programs provide invaluable opportunities for youth to engage in the outdoors, explore new professional paths, and learn about the environment, and natural resources. Youth programs will support the Department’s restoration and resilience framework, a plan to leverage historic investments in climate and conservation to achieve landscape-level outcomes across the nation through a set of keystone initiatives that address climate and biodiversity, advance stewardship, and equity, and further locally led conservation.
Approach
The Department of the Interior (the Interior) commits to expand programmatic and geographic capacity of their Indian Youth Service Corps (IYSC) and projects with underserved communities by 30%, reaching over 5,000 youth. The expanded program will work with federally recognized Tribes as well as programs serving youth in the U.S. territories, the Native Hawaiian Community, and urban communities across the United States.
IYSC is dedicated to supporting Tribal Nations in developing the next generation of environmental, conservation, and climate stewards. These programs support Tribes as they work to connect youth with ancestral lands, preserve their culture, and revitalize Native languages. Interior prioritizes supporting and growing programs with historically underserved communities, connecting all youth to outdoor opportunities as well as educational and employment opportunities is a priority for the Biden-Harris Administration. Through historic investments from the Inflation Reduction Act, the Interior is committed to supporting community-led youth programs that meet the needs of local communities and Tribal communities across the United States.
Additionally, the youth programs will support the Department’s restoration and resilience framework, a plan to leverage historic investments in climate and conservation to achieve landscape-level outcomes across the nation. The framework lays out an initial set of keystone initiatives that are focused on addressing the climate and biodiversity crises, advancing co-stewardship and equity, furthering locally led, collaborative strategies and focusing landscape-scale restoration work on areas where the DOI has an opportunity have a transformational impact at scale.
The Interior has a long history of developing public-private partnership and has dedicated youth program staff who can support and grow partnership commitments. New partners can engage through financial support as well as in -kind or direct assistance to interested Tribes and local communities with technical assistance as well as capacity building opportunities.
Action Plan
2023 Q4: Announce commitment, partner commitments at White House Tribal Nations Summit
2024 Q1: Work with Bureaus, Tribes, and communities to identify projects and match projects with partner commitments. Finalize project list and funding mechanisms
2024 Q2: Announce youth project list and projects begin. DOI team will track number of youth participants and outcomes from projects
2024 Q3 to Q4: Update project tracking and adjust project plans and partnership agreements as needed.
Continue to track project work and work with partners and Bureaus to adjust project plans as needed.
The above timeline to be repeated each year through 2029, with the DOI continuing to work with partners and Bureaus to adjust project plans as needed.
Background
Climate change and ecosystem collapse endanger food and energy production, human health, and the economy. These activities and their impacts have resulted in socioeconomic inequities and disproportionately impacted disadvantaged communities. As frontline and historically discriminated and disinvested communities, Tribal Nations, Indigenous peoples, and communities of color face unique challenges resulting from climate change and ecosystem collapse. Through historical policies of relocation and segregation, these communities have been cut off from accessing outdoor spaces and removed from sites of cultural and spiritual significance. These communities have not had equitable access to safe outdoor spaces nor the benefits of better physical health and wellbeing outcomes or economic opportunities that come with access to the outdoors. These communities also experience higher rates of unemployment and lower rates of college enrollment. The unemployment rate for American Indians and Alaska Natives is around 6.6% compared to 3.9% for the U.S., and 22% of the 18–24-year-old Native American population are enrolled in college compared to 40% of the overall U.S. population.
To combat the climate crisis, youth education, employment, and engagement must be integrated into community planning and response efforts. Through the Public Land Corps Act, the federal government has a range of programs that are available to communities and provide opportunities for youth engagement to develop the next generation of climate and conservation stewards. These programs provide invaluable opportunities for young people, aged 16-30 and veterans up to age 35, to engage in the outdoors, explore a new professional path, and learn more about environmental science, and natural resources. The Department of the Interior will work with the 574 federally recognized Tribes as well as with historically underserved communities to design programs that are responsive to community needs and assist youth in developing skills to meet the challenges of climate change and provide pathways to education and economic advancement.
Progress Update
The Department of the Interior has planned 54 Inflation Reduction Act funded projects for a total investment of
$127,121,710 through the National Park Service that have a youth and young adult employment component.. These projects are focused on combating the adverse impacts of climate change on national parks natural and cultural resources. Five of these projects focus entirely on providing youth and young adults employment opportunities: The Scientists in Parks Internships and Youth Partnership for Conservation and Climate Change Resilience, the Landscape Stewardship Corps Pre-Apprenticeship Program, the YMCA Partnership Program for Engaging Diverse Youth in Climate Change Education and Outdoor Recreation, the Pacific Islands Indigenous Conservation Corps Program, and the Expand Youth Volunteer Action for Climate Resiliency in National Parks Program.
The DOI original commitment was for $15 million in Inflation Reduction Act funding to support service corps programs and projects. There are 54 projects currently underway with more in the planning stages through the Bureau of Land Management. None of the programs and projects are completed. The initial first year funded projects (3-year programs) for Scientists in the Parks, the Landscape Stewardship Corps Pre-Apprenticeship Program , YMCA Partnership Program, Pacific Islands Conservation Corps Program and the Expand Youth Volunteer Action for Climate Resiliency in National Parks Program will conclude September 2024 and first year completion reports will be filed.
Partnership Opportunities
To leverage the DOI’s many youth-focused programs, partnerships, and employment opportunities, the DOI seeks to develop public-private partnerships to leverage and match federal funding and increase opportunities for youth across the country. In particular, to foster partnerships to support newly launched Indian Youth Service Corps (IYSC) as well as programs that support communities of color.,The Department of the Interior is providing funding for youth projects and has existing agreements with implementing partners and Tribes. The Department can also provide media support and best practices information.