August 20, 2024

Dear USET/USET SPF Family,

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service (USFS) has issued a Dear Tribal Leader Letter on documents related to the Reimagine Recreation initiative. The Reimagine Recreation documents are intended to guide national-level program work, transparently communicate overall recreation priorities, and expand tools to achieve the mission of the USFS. While no formal Tribal consultations have been scheduled, USFS has invited Tribal Nations to comment on the draft Reimagine Recreation documents prior to finalization and publication.

The USFS is welcoming Tribal comments on the following documents—

• Reimagine Recreation – A USDA Forest Service Action Plan
• Reimagine Recreation – Annual Action Tracker Fiscal Year 2025

The USFS Office of Tribal Relations and the Reimagine Recreation team hosted a National Tribal Forum on March 28, 2023 and received input that was incorporated into the draft documents, which included culturally responsive and appropriate recreation communication materials; Tribal engagement, partnerships, and co-stewardship opportunities; and the integration of Indigenous Knowledge.

Comments in response to the draft Reimagine Recreation documents are due by Friday, October 11, 2024. Comments should be submitted to SM.FS.ReimagineRec@usda.gov. Once comments are received, USFS intends to finalize these documents in October 2024.

For more information, please contact Brian Howard, USET SPF Senior Policy Analyst, at bhoward@usetinc.org.

Established in 2014, the USET Sovereignty Protection Fund (USET SPF) is a non-profit, inter-Tribal organization advocating on behalf of thirty-three (33) federally recognized Tribal Nations from the Northeastern Woodlands to the Everglades and across the Gulf of Mexico. USET SPF is dedicated to promoting, protecting, and advancing the inherent sovereign rights and authorities of Tribal Nations and in assisting its membership in dealing effectively with public policy issues.