USA – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced a USD 188 million investment to conserve some of the most economically and ecologically significant forestlands across the nation.

The funding will support 34 projects to conserve more than 245,000 acres of working forests that are critical to rural economies in 22 states and one island territory, as part of the agency’s Forest Legacy program.

USD 100 million of this funding comes from President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, which provides an additional USD 250 million for similar projects next year, and USD 88 million comes from the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

America’s public and private forests provide critical habitat for wildlife, support outdoor recreation, provide families with food and other resources, protect clean water, and are vital to forest products economies.

They play a significant role in the local social and economic fabric, especially for disadvantaged and tribal communities, and support carbon sequestration and climate resilience.