The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced $20.5 million in federal grants to help states and Tribes better protect water sources during forest operations while helping wood processing facilities increase capacity.
According to a Nov. 17 news release, the grants are concentrated on sawmills and other wood processing facilities that buy and process waste materials from forest restoration activities in regions with high fire risks and insect or disease infestations.
“We are working to increase economic opportunities for rural and Tribal communities adjacent to national forests and grasslands," Forest Service Chief Randy Moore said in the release. "Our Tribal, state and wood processing partners are working in the woods every day to improve forest health and protect water resources. Today’s investments will expand these opportunities and provide much needed financial resources to restore and conserve our forests.”
The money to fund the program was included in President Joe Biden's Infrastructure Law. The program aims to help the USDA's work to help community initiatives that help keep forests healthy while making sure tribes and underserved communities have access to funding, according to the release.
The money also complies with President Joe Biden's executive order mandating USDA speed up rural economic development and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack's goal to have the Forest Service explore new applications for byproducts from upgrades to landscape and wildfire mitigation projects to "enhance carbon sequestration while creating jobs and economic opportunities," the release stated.
