California Natural Resources Agency

The California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA) established the Tribal Nature-Based Solutions (TNBS) Program in response to feedback received from California Native American tribes during the tribal consultations on Governor Newsom’s Executive Order N-82-20 (Nature-Based Solutions Executive Order), the Pathways to 30x30 Strategy, and Natural and Working Lands Climate Smart Strategy. The California Natural Resources Agency is committed to working towards meaningful partnerships with California Native American tribes in the implementation of our nature-based solutions policies and programs.  The Tribal Nature-Based Solutions program and grant funds are part of this commitment to partner with California Native American tribes in advancing multi-benefit nature-based solutions priorities for their communities.

To learn more about the Tribal Nature-Based Solutions logo, please read our blog post explaining the importance of protecting and respecting culturally important native species. 

Climate Bond Funding Solicitation:

Pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 93040 (Senate Bill 867) otherwise known as, the Climate Bond, Proposition 4, or the Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparedness, and Clean Air Bond Act of 2024 (Climate Bond) and Chapter 6,  statutes of 2024, the California Legislature appropriated $10 million to the California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA) for funding California Native American tribes’ priorities for multi-benefit nature-based solutions projects located within the state of California. These funds are available for encumbrance or expenditure until June 30, 2028.

In response to input received from California Native American tribes during the tribal consultations on Governor Newsom’s Executive Order N-82-20 (Nature-Based Solutions Executive Order), the Pathways to 30x30 Strategy, and Natural and Working Lands Climate Smart Strategy, the Newsom Administration proposed the funding and creation of the new Tribal Nature-Based Solutions program to support tribal nature-based solutions priorities. This program and associated program grant funds will assist California Native American tribes in advancing multi-benefit nature-based solutions consistent with the 2021 Nature-Based Solutions trailer bill, Chapter 258 of the Statutes of 2021, the Pathways to 30x30 Strategy, and the Natural and Working Lands Climate Smart Strategy.

Funding Allocation

Approximately $9.2 million is available for tribal multi-benefit nature-based solutions projects. The program anticipates having some funds available for escrow-ready multi-benefit ancestral land return projects. CNRA may utilize these funds to support direct expenditures, block grants, contracts, or competitive grants, and may be used for support or local assistance.

Grant Amounts

Ancestral Land Return grants:

• Minimum award amount is $1,000,000
• Maximum award amount is total available grant funds

Escrow-Ready grants:

• No minimum
• Maximum award amount is total available grant funds

The 2026 TNBS Climate Bond Grant Program opens for Solicitation Feb. 13, 2026

Download the Final Updated 2026 Tribal Nature Based Solutions Grant Guidelines

Key Dates for the TNBS Climate Bond Grant Program:

• Solicitation Opens*: February 13, 2026
• Step 1 Application and Escrow Ready Application due: April 15, 2026
• Invitation to Step 2: May 29, 2026
• Step 2 Application Due: August 29, 2026
• Step 3 Site Visits (if applicable): Early September through Mid-October 2026

*RAPTR Submission portal will begin accepting application submissions. Applicants are welcome to begin preparing application materials as soon as guidelines are published. 

TNBS Application Process:

Step 1: Preliminary Project Proposal

Step 2: Final Project Proposal

Step 3: Field Visit & Supporting Documents

STEP 1: PRELIMINARY PROJECT PROPOSAL

To begin the standard grant process, applicants are required to submit a Preliminary Project Proposal by online portal submission (via the Resources Agency Tracking and Reporting-RAPTR System) to the California Natural Resources Agency. Refer to the solicitation due dates above for key deadlines.

• RAPTR Portal
• If you are new to RAPTR, please review the User’s Guide for Grant Applicants prior to registration and logging in.

If unable to submit via RAPTR, please contact the TNBS Team at tribalaffairs@resources.ca.gov.

Applicants with competitive eligible Preliminary Project Proposals will be invited to submit a full Final Project Proposal. Incomplete or non-compliant Preliminary Project Proposals may be eliminated from the competitive process.

 

STEP 2: FINAL PROJECT PROPOSAL

Applicants invited to the next phase (Step 2) will be asked to submit a Final Project Proposal by RAPTR to the California Natural Resources Agency. Applicants will work with TNBS Grant Staff to schedule a presentation on the information requested within the Step 2 package. Presentations may be in-person or virtual at the discretion and availability of the applicant and TNBS Grant Staff. Grant Staff will strive for maximum flexibility to accommodate applicant needs.

STEP THREE (IF APPLICABLE) – SITE VISIT AND SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS

Applicants with the most competitive projects after Step 2 scoring will be advanced for final project evaluation for award recommendation. These projects may be required to submit further supporting documentation.

As applicable, staff may request a field visit and/or follow-up conversations with the applicant as a Step 3. At the field visit or during meetings, applicants should be prepared to respond to project-specific questions including, but not limited to, the cost estimate, funding, site plan, project goals, site control, community involvement, operations and maintenance, sustainability, partnerships, transportation, and any possible barriers to completion.

ESCROW READY APPLICATION

Escrow ready applications will submit a combined Step 1 and Step 2 application package. To meet the expedited encumbrance and expenditure deadlines, Escrow-Ready projects will utilize the grant agreement template language as is and applicants forgo negotiation of grant terms. Deed restriction, work plan, and budget will undergo negotiation for finalization before grant agreement execution.

Projects that are eligible for TNBS funds but that are not awarded during the Escrow Ready review period will be automatically included in the Standard Grant Review Process for further consideration.

FAQ

If you have any additional questions or inquiries, please reach out to the TNBS grant team at tribalaffairs@resources.ca.gov.

Tribal Nature-Based Solutions Webinars:

Tribal Nature-Based Solutions grant program will host a webinar to go over the final grant guidelines for the 2026 solicitation. The webinar will cover an overview of the application process, key guideline updates, and key deadlines for submission.

This webinar will be held on Tuesday February 10, 2026 and will have 2 identical sessions covering the same information. Please register for the session that works best for you.

A recording of the webinar will be posted onto this webpage for those who could not attend the webinar live.

Session 1: 12pm-1:30pm
Register here- https://events.gcc.teams.microsoft.com/event/76edbf1a-dea4-4c42-aafb-fcdf9c136027@b71d5652-4b83-4257-afcd-7fd177884564

Session 2: 5:30-7pm
Register here - https://events.gcc.teams.microsoft.com/event/4274a858-c96b-423c-84cf-4bff732340da@b71d5652-4b83-4257-afcd-7fd177884564

Tribal Nature-Based Solutions Grant Office Hours:

Office Hour for General Grant Questions
02/18/2026 at 11am-12pm
Register to attend - https://events.gcc.teams.microsoft.com/event/76b09057-3f5c-4798-a669-e6110589634a@b71d5652-4b83-4257-afcd-7fd177884564

Escrow Ready Application Office Hour

03/04/2026 at 11am-12pm

Register to attend - https://events.gcc.teams.microsoft.com/event/1b89244a-81c8-4c03-a701-5becd3830f55@b71d5652-4b83-4257-afcd-7fd177884564