HomeMy WebLinkAbout051424 - News Release_ USDA Forest Service partners with Oregon_ Washington to conserve private forestlands across Pacific Northwest RegionALERT: BE CAUTIOUS This email originated outside the organization. Do not open attachments or click on links if you are not expecting them.
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Pacific Northwest Region
Forest Service News Release
Contact: Jon McMillan
SM.FS.R6pressoffice@usda.gov <mailto:SM.FS.R6pressoffice@usda.gov>
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USDA Forest Service partners with Oregon, Washington to conserve private forestlands across Pacific Northwest Region
PORTLAND, Ore., May 13, 2024 — At an event held in Cle Elum, Wash., today, Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Xochitl Torres Small announced that the Forest Service is providing more than
$34 million in grants to four projects in Oregon and Washington to conserve working forests that support rural economies.
The Forest Service is partnering with both states to conserve more than 33,000 acres of the most economically and ecologically significant forestlands across the nation through the agency’s
Forest Legacy program.
Including Oregon and Washington, the U.S. Department of Agriculture is partnering with states to conserve approximately 168,000 acres and is investing nearly $70 million in funding from
the Inflation Reduction Act and more than $84 million from the Land and Water Conservation Fund to conserve these lands.
“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 four Pacific Northwest Projects are:
In Oregon:
Tualatin Mountain Forest Project, Multnomah County, Ore.
Funded: $3.63 million from the Land and Water Conservation Fund
This proposed acquisition will establish a 3,111-acre working research forest to be owned by Oregon State University. Pioneering forestry methods like climate-smart forestry, the project
will serve as a national model for an actively managed forest that balances the needs of financial productivity, carbon sequestration, healthy watersheds, and diverse plant and wildlife
communities. By creating public access to 24 miles of trails, this project will benefit both locally underserved residents and the Portland Metropolitan Area's outdoor recreation economy.
In Washington:
Mt. Adams Forest Project Phase 2, Klickitat County, Wash.
Funded: $14 million from the Land and Water Conservation Fund
The Mt. Adams Forest's Phases 1 and 2 will use conservation easements to protect 6,378 acres of forests surrounding the rural community of Trout Lake, Wash., and 13,850 acres of forests
above the Wild and Scenic White Salmon River. The projects will support one of Washington's last thriving forestry workforces, feeding 3 local mills that alone support 300 jobs, protect
drinking water supply for Trout Lake, and secure public recreation access in support of the counties' $275M recreation economy.
Cle Elum Ridge Large Landscape, Kittitas County, Wash.
Funded: $15.3 million from the Inflation Reduction Act
This 9,700-acre project is the culmination of 20 years of conservation to expand the adjacent Teanaway Community Forest, connecting the last piece in a corridor of protected lands. Once
acquired, the property will be managed by the Washington Department of Natural Resources under a community-backed Forest Management Plan for enhancing water supply, expanding recreation,
maintaining forestry, and conserving habitat.
Green Mountain West, Kitsap County, Wash.
Funded: $1.5 million from the Inflation Reduction Act
The Green Mountain West project will permanently conserve 360 acres of productive working forestland and important salmon habitat adjacent to federal, state, and local forestland in
Kitsap County, Wash. Benefits to the local economy are substantial, providing sustainable forest sector employment and securing year-round access for the 80,000-100,000 visitors annually
who currently use the property.
"These are important investments in our nation's future. We are conserving over 33,000 acres of vital forest ecosystems while also reinforcing the economic backbone of rural communities,”
said Laura Schweitzer, Deputy Regional Forester for the Pacific Northwest Region of the Forest Service. “These projects exemplify our commitment to preserving the environmental integrity
and economic viability of the Pacific Northwest. As we continue these efforts, we ensure that our forests remain a source of strength, stability, and renewal for generations to come."
Through the Forest Legacy Program, States work with local communities to identify private forestlands and develop proposals to conserve these lands as forests for their values as places
for recreation, as wildlife habitat, and as sustainable sources of wood and other forest products. The Forest Service then selects the top proposals for funding through an entirely
voluntary competitive process and provides grant funding to States. Some of this land will stay in private ownership and will be permanently protected and conserved as forests, while
States will purchase other parcels to be managed as public land.
For a complete list of projects, or to learn how States can apply for fiscal year 2025 funding, visit the program webpage at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/private-land/forest-legacy/program/
fy24-funded-projects.
To view the USDA announcement, visit: https://www.usda.gov/media/press-releases/2024/05/13/biden-harris-administration-partners-states-conserve-168000-acres
To view this release online, visit: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/r6/news-events/?cid=FSEPRD1175793
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