Natural & Cultural Resources Recovery Support Function

Coordinating Agency: U.S. Department of the Interior

Mission

Assist state, local, Tribal Nation, and territorial governments (SLTTs) in the protection, preservation, and recovery of natural and cultural resources after disaster. Natural resources are land, fish, wildlife, biota, air, and water. Cultural resources are tangible entities or cultural practices that represent the history, art, and traditions of our nation.

Before a Disaster

Building Capacity

• Support the establishment of traditional trades apprenticeship programs to address the shortage of skilled artisans and professionals trained to protect, conserve, and restore cultural resources.
  
  Example: Coordinating with nonprofit organizations to augment staff and provide conservation support, as provided through the National Park Service for the San Juan National Historic Site alongside the American Conservation Experience.

• Support the creation of targeted guidance and tools for SLTTs involved in the protection of natural and cultural resources.
  
  Example: Creating historic preservation guides for states and Tribal Nations on working with the federal government before and after disasters.

Planning and Preparedness

• In collaboration with SLTT partners, identify gaps and inconsistencies among relevant regulations, policies, program requirements, and processes used in disaster recovery that affect natural and cultural resources. Upon identification, offer recommendations to Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and other federal agencies.
  
  Example: Identifying a lack of Tribal Nation engagement and the need for additional consultation with partners not immediately identified after the disaster, and in another instance, the identification of invasive species concerns within redevelopment plans.

After a Disaster

Partnership Development

• Provide public outreach, studies, plans, and financial assistance to help communities with rebuilding and reimagining local recreational opportunities.
  
  Example: Supporting development activities for Recovery Master Plans, as provided for the Blue River Park Wildfire Recovery Master Plan by the National Park Service Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program and funded by FEMA.

• Facilitate meetings with Tribal government officials and intergovernmental partners to identify unmet needs and introduce steady-state federal and nonprofit resources that can be leveraged to address recovery challenges.
  
• Example: Establishing working relationships through Memorandums of Understanding with Tribal Nation leadership and federal agencies, in anticipation of future response and recovery needs.

• Communicate the importance of natural and cultural resource recovery at meetings, webinars, and conferences.
  
  Example: Providing information sessions highlighting the work of the Natural and Cultural Resources Recovery Support Function and the ways it has assisted the preservation of collections, art, archives, buildings, and other cultural assets.

Planning and Preparedness

• Promote SLTT consideration of natural and cultural resources as part of recovery planning, priorities, and goals.
  
  Example: Incorporating actions in Recovery Support Strategies to promote the protection, rehabilitation, and restoration of natural and cultural resources.

• Integrate planning elements that consider long-term environmental effects to natural resources, including open spaces, recreational areas, and ecologically sensitive resources.
  
  Example: Working with local universities through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Sea Grant College program to facilitate research on nature-based solutions to mitigate coastal erosion. Nature-based solutions involve intentionally using natural and nature-based features, like beaches, dunes, islands, marshes and mangroves, and coral and oyster reefs to absorb and protect shorelines during storm events

Technical Assistance, Tools, and Training

• Promote sharing and coordination of natural and cultural resource impact data among SLTTs.
  
  Example: Providing access to tools and informational products through the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) for storm events, the USGS Streamgage Network, USGS Flood Event Viewer, and other data and mapping resources for disaster events.

• Assist SLTT partners with identifying federal, nonprofit, and philanthropic partners to leverage SLTT investments in recovery.
  
  Example: Providing workshops for funding and technical assistance with federal, state, tribal, and non-profit partners

Participating Agencies and Organizations