The US Department of Agriculture will invest more than US$41 million this fiscal year through the Joint Chiefs’ Landscape Restoration Partnership for projects that mitigate wildfire risk, improve water quality and restore healthy forest ecosystems on public and private lands. Source: Timberbiz
Funding for 36 projects includes US$10.6 million for 16 new projects and US$30.5 million to complete work on 20 projects previously selected in 2018 and 2019.
Through the projects, USDA’s Forest Service (FS) and Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) are working hand-in-hand with agricultural producers, forest landowners and National Forest System lands to improve forest health using available Farm Bill conservation programs and other authorities.
USDA has invested more than US$225 million over seven years to Joint Chiefs’ Landscape Restoration Partnership projects, which focus on areas where public forests and grasslands intersect with privately-owned lands.
“This partnership has a strong history of accomplishing critical management work across boundaries,” FS Chief Vicki Christiansen said.
“The collaborative approach exemplifies USDA’s shared stewardship model of working with our federal, state and local partners to springboard high-priority restoration work.”
The Joint Chiefs’ Landscape Restoration Partnership allows NRCS and FS to collaborate with agricultural producers and forest landowners to invest in conservation and restoration at a big enough scale to make a difference. Working in partnership, and at this scale, helps reduce wildfire threats, protect water quality and supply, and improve wildlife habitat for at-risk species.
“This partnership has become a catalyst for turning discussions about restoration among a variety of groups into on-the-ground implementation,” NRCS Chief Matt Lohr said. “The selected projects are scientifically strong and allow us to work seamlessly across public and private lands to deliver positive outcomes for wildlife, landowners and entire communities.”
