Gracie WarhurstThe U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is dedicating almost $66 million to conservation efforts such as wildfire risk management, water quality and forest health. This funds comes from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL).
Most of the award — $55 million — will be distributed through the Joint Chiefs’ Landscape Restoration Partnership, which works with private, state and Tribal landowners to conserve forests and agricultural lands alongside federal lands. The money will go toward projects in 11 states.
About $12 million of the total investment is provided through the Forest Services’ Good Neighbor Authority, supporting projects in 13 states. The program allows the USDA to collaborate with state forestry agencies, tribes and counties to protect their lands.
The department also entered a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Western Governors’ Association. The entities plan to work together to facilitate forest and rangeland health and wildfire risk reduction projects across state lines.
“These projects are indicative of a growing movement of cooperation around natural resource issues for the betterment of us all,” Forest Service Chief Randy Moore said in a statement. “A keystone of the Joint Chiefs’ projects is the people and the understanding that the healthier our forests, the healthier our nation.”
States in the Western Governors’ Association, including Arizona, California, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming, will receive $9 million of the USDA’s investment.
