Yosemite National Park has published the final Plant Gathering for Traditional Purposes Environmental Assessment (EA) and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI), concluding the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review and compliance process. The EA establishes a framework through which members of seven Tribes traditionally associated with Yosemite National Park may gather plants and plant parts for traditional purposes.
The plan is needed to protect park resources, ensure cultural continuance in association with Tribal gathering and Indigenous Knowledge (IK), and comply with 36 CFR § 2.6 - Gathering of Plants or Plant Parts by Federally Recognized Indian Tribes. 36 CFR § 2.6 was passed in 2016 and allowed park units to negotiate and enter into agreements with federally recognized Tribes for the gathering of plants or plant parts.
Currently, removal or disturbance of plants or plant parts in the park is prohibited, except where authorized in the Superintendent’s Compendium. This has impacted the transfer of cultural practices between generations, according to Yosemite’s website.
A plant gathering request on behalf of the seven Tribes traditionally associated with Yosemite National Park was initiated by the Bridgeport Indian Colony in August of 2022. Public input on an EA for the request opened in January and February 2025.
The published EA describes the proposed action, evaluates its environmental effects, and outlines measures that will guide implementation of traditional gathering activities within the park. This will allow Yosemite to enter into agreement with the Tribes outlined in the EA.
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