BLM announces $26 million for Ecosystem Restoration

The Bureau of Land Management announced project allocations for $26 million received through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to begin the work of ecosystem restoration following the Department of the Interior’s allocation of more than $68 million for 125 ecosystem restoration projects in over 20 states, Tribes and territories.

The BLM expects to fund dozens of projects across the country in 2022 from the additional dollars. The influx of money will advance several of the Department’s restoration goals:

• Advancing partnerships with states and Tribes using Good Neighbor Agreements
• Assessing and eradicating invasive species
• Restoring recreation sites and making them more resilient from erosion and human-caused damage
• Reducing hazards and revegetating impacted mine lands
• Advancing the national revegetation effort and the National Seed Strategy

“Putting people to work on restoration efforts on our public lands will be key to help address the effects of a changing climate and long-term drought,” said BLM Director Tracy Stone-Manning. “We all rely on healthy, functioning ecosystems that deliver clean air and clean water, support wildlife, sequester carbon, and are less prone to the effects of catastrophic wildfire. These are wise investments for future generations.”

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law was signed by President Biden last November. It represents a once-in-a-generation investment to help local, state, and Tribal communities tackle the climate crisis while creating good-paying jobs, advancing environmental justice, and boosting local economies.

In addition to ecosystem restoration, the law also authorizes BLM to plug and restore orphaned well sites, improve wildland fire fighting, support hazardous fuels reduction, and advance clean energy.

A full list of restoration projects to be funded is available on the Interior Department’s website.

Original source can be found here.