CLE ELUM, Wash., May 13, 2024 — Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Xochitl Torres Small announced today that the USDA Forest Service is partnering with states to conserve nearly 168,000 acres of economically and ecologically significant forestlands across the nation. This initiative is part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda.
The USDA's Forest Service will provide more than $154 million through its Forest Legacy Program for 26 projects. These projects aim to conserve working forests that support rural economies in 17 states. The conservation work is funded by over $84 million from the Land and Water Conservation Fund and almost $70 million from President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act. The latter is recognized as the largest climate investment in history and forms a crucial part of the Investing in America agenda.
“Public and private forests give us clean water and air, places to connect with the outdoors, good paying jobs, physical and spiritual renewal, habitat for threatened species, and so much more,” said Deputy Secretary Torres Small. “Joining with state partners to invest in conservation, we are making a real difference in the communities that depend on these forests.”
The Forest Legacy Program enables states to collaborate with local communities to identify private forestlands. They then develop proposals to conserve these lands as forests due to their value as recreational spots, wildlife habitats, and sustainable sources of wood and other forest products. The Forest Service selects top proposals for funding through a voluntary competitive process and provides grant funding to states. Some land will remain under private ownership but will be permanently protected and conserved as forests. States will purchase other parcels for management as public land.
The Forest Legacy Program also aligns with President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative. This initiative aims for 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal investments to flow into disadvantaged communities marginalized by underinvestment or overburdened by pollution. The effort to conserve private forestlands will benefit Tribal Nations and other disadvantaged communities. Nearly 50% of these investments will be directed towards conserving forests near disadvantaged communities identified by the Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool.
For a complete list of projects or to learn how states can apply for fiscal year 2025 funding, visit the program webpage. States can also contact their Forest Service regional office for more information.
The USDA impacts the lives of all Americans daily in numerous positive ways. In the Biden-Harris Administration, the USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production. It ensures access to healthy and nutritious food in all communities, builds new markets and income streams for farmers and producers using climate-smart food and forestry practices, makes historic investments in infrastructure and clean-energy capabilities in rural America, and commits to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov.
