The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced a partnership with American Forests, aimed at scaling up climate-adapted reforestation efforts over the next five years. This collaboration is set to restore millions of acres of burned and degraded forest across the United States.
Under this agreement, the USDA will provide $20 million in funding to American Forests, a nonprofit conservation organization. As outlined in a USDA press release, this partnership forms part of the REPLANT Act. The Act empowers American Forests to assist the Forest Service by developing a reforestation plan, enhancing seed collection capabilities, and addressing gaps in climate-resilient restoration. Prior to the REPLANT Act's passage in 2021, there was a cap on Forest Service funding for reforestation. With this cap now removed, the agency can access ten times more investment for reforestation.
An estimated four million acres of National Forest System land require reforestation. The increased funding capacity will equip the agency with sufficient resources to replant these forests. Both the Forest Service and American Forests will employ landscape-level planning and climate-informed restoration practices to meet the goals set by the USDA. The USDA press release reveals that 81 percent of reforestation needs on national forests result from high-severity wildfires.
Founded in 1875, American Forests is committed to creating healthy forests that deliver essential benefits for climate, people, water, and wildlife. According to its website, the organization envisions a world where everyone can enjoy the environmental, societal and economic benefits of forests. Partnerships such as this one with USDA are instrumental in advancing their mission.
Forest Service Chief Randy Moore expressed his views on this initiative: "Reforestation is an important investment for the future and resiliency of forests across the country," said Moore. "This agreement with American Forests will help the agency reduce the backlog of reforestation needs to support wildfire and disaster recovery, identify future reforestation needs, and improve our ability to monitor the impact and outcomes of this important work."
