Introducing the Climate Data Portal for U.S. Native Lands

Related Topics: Climate Data Portal, Climate Resilience, Resources

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December 3, 2024

The Native Lands Advocacy Project (NLAP) is thrilled to announce the launch of our Climate Data Portal for U.S. Native Lands! Developed with funding from the Native American Agriculture Fund, this portal is the result of our dedicated GIS team’s efforts to create & consolidate relevant climate-related data tools into one living resource. NLAP acknowledges the struggle that Native Nations face when accessing important tribal data, and this Portal was designed to…

bridge this gap by providing a centralized, comprehensive platform for climate-related data, specifically tailored to the unique needs of Native American Tribes.”

Five Climate Themes: Air, Water, Earth, Fire, & Life

Structured to reflect the non-linear approach Native tribes take when approaching climate issues, this portal organizes data tools into five thematic categories. The video on the left shows these five categories in the interactive menu developed for the Portal’s homepage. The purpose of organizing the portal this way is to honor and emphasize the interconnected nature of climate systems, as well as the interdependent solutions required to adapt to our rapidly changing climate.

Each of the five categories hosts a collection of data tools (some tools appear in multiple categories when relevant). A description of the data topics & types of tools you can expect to find under each category are as follows:

Air

focuses on topics such as air quality, atmospheric data, climate projections, wind and air current alterations, etc.

Water

focuses on topics such as water stress and availability, precipitation changes at elevation, localized water temperature readings, surface water and groundwater, local water quality, changes in flood plains, etc.

Earth

focuses on topics such as soil quality and health, land cover, elevation and topography, forest densities, etc.

Fire

covers topics such as fire incidence and severity, burned area, fire management and prevention, etc.

Life

representing the interconnectedness of all elements, this section provides insights on relocation sites, energy access, renewable energy, and infrastructure, emphasizing the Indigenous understanding of human stewardship as part of an interdependent system. Rooted in Traditional Ecological Knowledge, the Life theme supports culturally relevant and balanced climate strategies for community resilience.

If you’re interested in further information about the Climate Data Portal’s background, methodologies, the Tribal Climate Advisory Committee that steered the portal’s development, the importance of Tribal Ecological Knowledge, and more, view our Getting Started page. This page also contains an introductory video!

The Climate Portal also hosts a variety of additional resources, all geared towards aiding tribes and tribal organizations in their efforts to bolster their inherent sovereignty. Located at the bottom of the Portal’s main page is a series of subheadings that each host an array of tools (both created by NLAP and by external organizations) that are helpful for users seeking to expand their knowledge regarding climate issues and how they impact Native Nations.

NLAP is also excited to announce that we will be hosting a webinar on December 16, 2024 to introduce the Climate Data Portal and answer any questions you have. Register for the webinar by clicking the button below!

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Written by Mauryn Morfitt

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