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The Interior Department announced a list of 125 ecosystem restoration projects that will receive $68 million in funding through the bipartisan infrastructure law.
The projects will take place in 20 states, U.S. territories, and on Native American tribal lands and will aim to address a wide array of issues, including slowing the spread of invasive plant species and preventing catastrophic wildfires.
“President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is a once-in-a-generation investment that will allow us to restore healthy ecosystems across the country,” said Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland. “This is an important step towards building a better America for people and wildlife, for generations to come.”
Projects will be spread across Interior bureaus, including the Bureau of Land Management, which will receive $26 million to fund a broad range of projects. "We all rely on healthy, functioning ecosystems that deliver clean air and clean water, support wildlife, sequester carbon, and are less prone to the effects of catastrophic wildfire. These are wise investments for future generations," said BLM Director Tracy Stone-Manning. She added, "Putting people to work on restoration efforts on our public lands will be key to help address the effects of a changing climate and long-term drought."
First-ever map shows wildfire risk to homes
New data released Monday by the First Street Foundation, a nonprofit research group in New York, shows the nation’s wildfire risk is widespread, severe, and accelerating quickly, and for the first time, calculates fire risk to residential and other properties throughout the lower 48 United States. The findings show 1 in 6 Americans live in areas with significant wildfire risk.
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I think the federal government can make a good argument that our national energy needs have changed, and that renewable energy should be our focus and that therefore we do not need to have a schedule of proposed lease sales.”
