The Biden-Harris administration will invest $33.7 million from President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to support projects aimed at strengthening the wood products economy and promoting sustainable forest management in rural America, according to an April 6 news release.

This investment aims to create a connection between resilient forests and robust rural economies, particularly in communities that rely on national forests and grasslands for their livelihoods.

“Healthy forests depend on a healthy forest products industry and as the nation faces an ongoing wildfire crisis, it is more important than ever to invest in sustainable forest management across all lands,” Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said in the release. “These investments will reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires, support existing jobs and create new economic opportunities in tribal and economically disadvantaged communities.”

According to the release, the funding, provided by the USDA Forest Service, will allocate $29 million to establish, reopen or improve businesses that purchase and process byproducts from forest restoration projects on federally managed lands or tribal lands at risk of wildfire, insects and disease. 

These byproducts, such as small diameter timber and woody biomass, which were previously of little market value, can be utilized to create a variety of wood products, thanks to innovative wood products technologies supported by the USDA Forest Service.

More than two-thirds of the funded businesses will utilize byproducts from forest restoration and hazardous fuels reduction on landscapes identified in the Forest Service's Wildfire Crisis Strategy. 

This investment aims to, not only promote sustainable forest management practices, but also create economic opportunities in rural areas, supporting local businesses and job growth in the forestry sector.