Petition for the Recognition of Wild Tending as a Public Right

We, the undersigned, stand in support of recognizing the fundamental right of individuals to participate in the living systems that sustain life. 

 

Across public lands in the United States, a contradiction exists: 

 

Activities that extract, degrade, or commercially utilize land are permitted under regulated systems, while individuals who act independently to restore, regenerate, or contribute to ecological function can face criminal charges. 

 

This contradiction reflects a deeper issue.. not of land management, but of disconnection. 

 

At present, there is no clear path for individuals to directly contribute to the function of ecosystems through everyday participation. Conservation and restoration, as they currently exist, are primarily reactive—addressing damage after it occurs—rather than supporting continuous, place-based stewardship. 

 

We believe this must change. 

 

We define “wild tending” as the active, place-based participation in supporting the health, diversity, and function of living ecosystems. 

 

This includes actions such as: 

- Encouraging native food systems  

- Supporting biodiversity through seed dispersal and plant cultivation  

- Engaging with land in ways that increase ecological resilience over time  

 

These actions are not acts of destruction. They are acts of participation in life itself. 

 

We call for the following: 

 

1. Legal Recognition of Wild Tending  

   Establish a lawful framework that distinguishes regenerative ecological actions from destructive land use. 

 

2. Protection for Beneficial Ecological Activity  

   Ensure that individuals engaging in demonstrably beneficial land-based practices are not subject to criminal prosecution. 

 

3. Integration of Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK)  

   Recognize and respect knowledge systems rooted in long-standing relationships with the land, including Indigenous practices that prioritize reciprocity and function. 

 

4. Public Access to Participation  

   Affirm that public lands are not only for recreation or resource use, but also for responsible, informed participation in sustaining life systems.