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Intertribal Timber Council Voices Concerns Over EU's EUDR Review

On May 12, 2026, the Intertribal Timber Council (ITC) publicly expressed strong disappointment regarding the European Commission's latest review of the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). The ITC contends that this new iteration fails to provide any meaningful relief for Indigenous Tribal Nations, while leaving several crucial concerns raised by tribal forest managers unaddressed.

Despite engaging in extensive dialogue over several months with tribal representatives and repeatedly sounding alarms about the unintended consequences of the EUDR for Indigenous communities, the Commission has chosen not to revisit the underlying regulations. Instead, they have offered only limited technical adjustments through implementation acts, FAQs, and guidance documents. Consequently, compliance obligations affecting low-risk Tribal Nations remain largely unchanged.

Cody Desautel, the president of the ITC and executive director of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, remarked, "Tribal nations are among the best forest managers in the world; however, the European Commission continues to treat Indigenous forest systems as if they carry the same risks as regions enduring active deforestation. This is not risk-based policy; it exemplifies a lack of recognition for Indigenous governance, sustainable management, and sovereignty."

The ITC emphasizes that Tribal Nations in the United States currently manage 7.8 million acres of forests under systems of sovereign governance, supported by long-term management plans, active restoration practices, controlled burns, and sustainable harvest standards aimed at preserving forests for future generations. These practices showcase their commitment to sustainable forest management.

Furthermore, while the ITC supports the EU's goal of preventing global deforestation, they caution that the current framework of the EU Deforestation Regulation is already impacting the supply chains for U.S. forest products even before full implementation begins in December 2026. Desautel pointed out that wood slated to enter EU markets in 2026 is already being harvested, and tribal producers are beginning to face new compliance requirements through downstream contracts and client specifications.

"The paradox is impossible to overlook," Desautel added. "A policy meant to protect forests is erecting barriers for Indigenous peoples who have successfully safeguarded these lands for generations."

In light of these developments, the ITC urges the European Commission to:
1. Acknowledge U.S. tribal forests as low-risk and legally protected systems.
2. Simplify geolocation requirements for Indigenous and low-risk forest operations.
3. Allow for temporary compliance flexibility during the implementation phase.
4. Engage in meaningful government-to-government consultations with Tribal Nations before the final application of the law.

Founded in 1976, the ITC is a national non-profit consortium comprised of Indigenous tribes, native corporations from Alaska, and individuals dedicated to enhancing the management of natural resources essential to Native American communities. Their call to action aims to ensure that Indigenous forest management practices receive the recognition and support they deserve as integral components of sustainable forestry in a global context.