Legal Definitions - Department of the Interior (DOI)

The Department of the Interior (DOI) is a major executive agency within the U.S. federal government. Its primary mission is to manage and protect the nation's vast natural resources and cultural heritage. This includes overseeing public lands, conserving wildlife, providing scientific information related to these areas, and fulfilling its unique trust responsibilities and special commitments to Indigenous peoples across the country.

Here are some examples illustrating the work of the Department of the Interior:

• Managing a National Park: Imagine a family planning a trip to Yosemite National Park. The DOI, through its National Park Service, is responsible for managing Yosemite. This involves everything from maintaining hiking trails and visitor centers to protecting the park's iconic giant sequoias and granite cliffs, as well as preserving historical sites within its boundaries. This demonstrates the DOI's role in safeguarding the nation's natural resources and cultural heritage for public enjoyment and future generations.

• Protecting Endangered Species: Consider efforts to save the California condor, a critically endangered bird. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, an agency within the DOI, leads programs to monitor condor populations, manage their habitats, and implement breeding programs. This work illustrates the DOI's commitment to managing natural resources—specifically wildlife—and often involves extensive scientific research and data collection to inform conservation strategies.

• Upholding Tribal Water Rights: In a scenario where a Native American tribe relies on a river for cultural practices and sustenance, and a new development threatens to divert water, the DOI might step in. The agency would work to ensure that the tribe's treaty-reserved water rights are respected and protected. This highlights the DOI's critical responsibility to uphold its trust obligations and special commitments to Indigenous peoples, ensuring their rights and resources are maintained.