The Native American Agriculture Fund (NAAF) joins the U.S. Nature4Climate coalition of conservation, environmental, and sustainable business organizations collaborating on Natural Climate Solutions. NAAF is among the first Indigenous-led entities to join the coalition. US Nature4Climate strategizes on solutions to combat climate change through restoration and management of forests, grasslands, wetlands, farms, and ranches.

“We are looking forward to working with the Native American Agriculture Fund to highlight the important role that U.S. agricultural lands can play in addressing climate change,” said Catherine Macdonald, USN4C Steering Committee Chair and North America Director of Natural Climate Solutions for The Nature Conservancy.  “By helping Native American farmers and ranchers access the training, technical assistance, and capital they need to adopt climate-smart agricultural practices, NAAF is playing a leading role in the effort to transform America’s farmland into an indispensable climate solution.”

With more than 59 million acres of American Indian/Alaska Native operated farms across the United States, Tribal Nations and Tribal producers play a critical role in addressing climate change. Since 2019, NAAF has funded 71 unique projects supporting conservation efforts, which include projects focused on soil and water health, minimizing waste, seed keeping, and data collection. NAAF’s most recent 2022 grantmaking Request for Applications included a special focus area to expand efforts in climate resilience, conservation, and disaster assistance as Native farmers and ranchers face climate related disasters, such as drought and wildfires.

“As the original stewards of this land there is a wealth of generational agricultural knowledge within our communities. Any climate response must include Tribes and our Native producers, recognizing their leadership as sovereign governments and as large landowners. We look forward to working with US Nature4Climate and coalition members dedicated to this effort, as well as with NAAF’s grantees in elevating Native-led climate smart agriculture solutions for climate change,” says Toni Stanger-McLaughlin, CEO of the Native American Agriculture Fund. “Many of today’s climate solutions are derived from tribal ancestral knowledge. For many Indigenous people and communities this is a time of reclaiming our land stewardship and the intimate harmonious knowledge we have possessed and practiced for thousands of years.”

Learn more about US Nature4Climate and Natural Climate Solutions at usnature4climate.org.

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About the Native American Agriculture Fund:

The Native American Agriculture Fund (NAAF) provides grants to eligible organizations for business assistance, agricultural education, technical support, and advocacy services to support Native farmers and ranchers. The charitable trust was created by the settlement of the landmark Keepseagle v. Vilsack class-action lawsuit. NAAF is the largest philanthropic organization devoted solely to serving the Native American farming and ranching community.

About U.S. Nature4Climate

U.S. Nature4Climate (USN4C) is a coalition of 10 leading conservation, sustainability, and business organizations dedicated to amplifying how our forests, farms, ranches, grasslands and wetlands are an important part of our overall strategy to mitigate climate change. USN4C is building a collaborative platform where conservation organizations, small and large businesses, and agriculture and forestry leaders can all work together to ensure that natural climate solutions are maximized as we develop comprehensive climate action strategies. Initial funding for USN4C was provided by a grant from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation. Visit http://www.usnature4climate.org.