#USA #Washington #EUDR #Intertribal Timber Council #Indigenous Forests

Intertribal Timber Council's Response to EUDR Review by European Commission

The Intertribal Timber Council (ITC) has conveyed its profound disappointment following the European Commission's recent publication reviewing the simplification of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). ITC criticized the lack of substantial support for Native American tribes and highlighted that significant concerns from tribal forest managers remain unaddressed.

Despite many months of active engagement from representatives of tribal nations, including repeated warnings about the unintended impacts on indigenous communities, the Commission did not reformulate the regulation. Instead, it proposed minor technical corrections in the form of executive acts, frequently asked question documents, and guidelines, which fail to address the underlying issues of indigenous forest management practices.

Cody Desautel, Chair of the ITC and Executive Director of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, emphasized that tribal nations are among the best forest managers in the world. However, the European Commission continues to treat indigenous forest systems as posing the same risks as regions facing active deforestation. Desautel stated, “This is not a policy based on risk assessment. It's a failure to recognize indigenous leadership, sustainable management, and sovereignty.”

In the United States, tribal nations manage 7.8 million acres of forest land, governed by sovereign management systems that incorporate long-term forest management plans, active resource renewal practices, and fire protection and sustainable procurement standards aimed at preserving forests for future generations.

The ITC underlined that tribal nations support the EU's objective of preventing global deforestation. Nonetheless, it warns that the current EUDR framework disrupts U.S. supply chains for forest products even before the regulation is fully implemented, which is set to begin in December 2026. Timber procurement destined for EU markets in 2026 has already started, with tribal producers facing new compliance conditions manifesting in contracts with end consumers and client demands.

Desautel noted the paradox: a law intended to protect forests inadvertently creates barriers for indigenous nations that have successfully safeguarded these forests for generations.

In light of these concerns, the ITC calls upon the European Commission to recognize tribal forests in the United States as legally protected low-risk systems. It urges a reduction in geolocation requirements for indigenous and low-risk forest management, temporary exemptions from requirements during the implementation phase, and meaningful consultations with tribal nations before the regulation's final adoption.

Founded in 1976, the ITC operates as a nonprofit consortium representing Native American tribes and Alaska Natives, focusing on improving the management of natural resources critical to indigenous communities. The Council remains committed to advocating for a balanced approach that respects the sovereignty and sustainability of tribal forest economies while contributing to global conservation efforts.