YOSEMITE, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – Yosemite is considering a proposal that would allow natives to gather more plants from their ancestral lands.

Currently, nearly every plant in the park is protected, making traditional gathering activities largely illegal.

Under the Superintendent’s Compendium, only 10 species of fruits, fungi, and berries are allowed to be gathered. However, the rule stipulates that tribes can formally request an agreement for gathering additional plants and plant materials.

In 2022, the Bridgeport Indian Colony did exactly that, and requested that associated tribes be able to conduct traditional gathering of plants and plant parts from 428 taxa in and adjacent to the park.

After whittling down the list to 289 vascular plant taxa, the request was accepted. The next step:

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