Tom Vilsack Secretary of U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) | Official Website
During a meeting of the Western Governors' Association today, Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Xochitl Torres Small announced that the USDA is investing nearly $66 million for projects aimed at reducing wildfire risk, protecting water quality, and improving forest health across the nation. This initiative is part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda.
Deputy Secretary Torres Small also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Western Governors’ Association to reestablish a cooperative framework for addressing challenges across western landscapes. The MOU was signed on behalf of the USDA alongside Governors Brad Little of Idaho, Joe Lombardo of Nevada, Michelle Lujan Grisham of New Mexico, Doug Burgum of North Dakota, and Mark Gordon of Wyoming. It aims to enhance shared stewardship work between participating states and the USDA by integrating forest and rangeland health and wildfire risk reduction projects across various land ownerships.
“People across rural America face growing wildfire threats to their homes, business, infrastructure, and resources,” said Deputy Secretary Torres Small. “Through the investments announced today, President Biden is investing in state and local governments, Tribal partners, and private landowners to ensure our landscapes are healthy, our infrastructure is strong, and our communities stay safe.”
Of the total investment announced, $12 million will be provided through the USDA Forest Service’s Good Neighbor Authority. This funding will support 22 projects across 13 states through collaboration with state forestry agencies, Tribes, and counties to mitigate wildfire risk and enhance forest health. Nearly $9 million will be allocated to support projects in several states that are members of the Western Governors' Association.
Additionally, $55 million will be invested through the Joint Chiefs’ Landscape Restoration Partnership to reduce wildfire risk and improve water quality and forest health. This collaborative effort between USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and Forest Service aims to conserve forests and agricultural lands while safeguarding communities. The investment will support 41 projects -- including 10 new ones -- across 11 states.
This program supports President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative which aims for 40% of certain federal climate benefits to flow to disadvantaged communities affected by underinvestment.
The NRCS and Forest Service are now accepting proposals for Joint Chiefs’ Landscape Restoration Partnership projects for fiscal year 2025. Proposals can include post-fire watershed recovery efforts among other priorities. Applications are due on August 23rd.
“These projects are indicative of a growing movement of cooperation around natural resource issues for the betterment of us all,” said Forest Service Chief Randy Moore. “A keystone of the Joint Chiefs’ projects is the people understanding that healthier forests mean a healthier nation.”
“The Joint Chiefs’ Landscape Restoration Partnership enables NRCS and the Forest Service to collaborate with agricultural producers and forest landowners on conservation at a scale large enough to make a difference,” said NRCS Chief Terry Cosby.
Today’s announcements build on Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack’s recent announcement of $18 million for new Tribal Forest Protection Act projects.
Since its inception in 2014 through Congress's establishment of Good Neighbor Authority programs like these have facilitated restoration work on national forests intersecting privately-owned lands by pooling federal resources with those from states, Tribes, counties ensuring effective project completion funded further by President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law allocating up-to $160 million over five years supporting restoration via both GNA & TFPA initiatives aimed towards resilience equity sustainability within America's food system landscape beyond merely environmental conservation alone impacting daily lives positively as underscored within broader departmental transformation objectives detailed further via www.usda.gov
