FOREST SERVICE HIGHLIGHTS EXPANSION OF RESTORATION OF NATIONAL FORESTS AND FUNDING FOR COLLABORATIVE FOREST LANDSCAPE RESTORATION PROJECTS
http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?contentidonly=true&contentid=2012/02/0039.xml
WASHINGTON, Feb. 2, 2012 —Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced a new report, Increasing the Pace of Restoration and Job Creation on our National Forests, that outlines a strategy and series of actions for management on 193 million acres of national forests and grasslands managed by the U.S. Forest Service.
As part of the accelerated restoration strategy, $40 million for 20 forest and watershed restoration projects have been announced for the upcoming year. The funding includes ten new projects under the Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration (CFLR) program, continued funding for the original 10 projects selected under the CFLR program in 2010, and an additional $4.6 million to support other high priority restoration projects.
“Through our partnerships with states, communities, tribes and others, we are committed to restoring our forests and bringing jobs to rural America,” said Vilsack. “Whether the threat comes from wildfire, bark beetles or a changing climate, it is vital that we step up our efforts to safeguard our country’s natural resources.”