$100 Million to Expand Work to Confront the Wildfire Crisis

WASHINGTON, September 10, 2024 – Today, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the Biden-Harris Administration is investing $100 million in 21 new projects to expand work on the USDA Forest Service’s Wildfire Crisis Strategy to reduce the threat of wildfire in high-risk areas across the country.

The new projects span 14 states and 18 national forests and are part of the $3.2 billion investment in this comprehensive strategy made possible through President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

Project	National Forest	Funding
Clinch River District Fire and Fuels Vegetation Management – This investment will enable a mix of forest restoration efforts, project and risk mitigation planning, community engagement and collaboration, and workforce capacity building in the Clinch River Ranger District of the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests. The project area is characterized by rough mountainous terrain, dispersed communities and inholdings, and historic coal mining legacy impacts.	George Washington and Jefferson National Forests	$4,992,000
De Soto Ranger District Longleaf Pine Ecosystem Restoration – This project will begin to restore longleaf pine forest health in areas of the De Soto Ranger District around urbanized and other developed areas. Using mechanical thinning, prescribed fire, and other tools, tree density will be reduced, and longleaf pine stands will be restored. These efforts will dovetail into similar ongoing efforts, resulting in landscape-level stewardship. Wildfire severity will also be reduced, allowing wildfires to be managed more easily and safely.	National Forests in Mississippi	$5,000,000
Croatan Fireshed Community Wildfire Risk Reduction Program Project – One year ago, the Great Lakes Fire rapidly spread through the Croatan National Forest and burned 32,400 acres in a few days—posing a significant risk to homes and the City of New Bern. On the heels of this incident, this project aims to reduce the pressing wildfire risk in the Croatan National Forest through hazardous fuels reduction treatments, public outreach and education, and capacity building.	Croatan National Forest	$4,950,000
Cherokee National Forest Unaka and Watauga Ranger Districts CWRRP Vegetation Management Treatment Project – This project will restore forest health through prescribed fire, mechanical thinning, controlling invasive species, and creating shaded fuel breaks. The forests in the Cherokee National Forest have become overly dense and shaded due to fire suppression, leading to the disappearance of open, fire-maintained ecosystems with high biodiversity. Through working with partners to thin vegetation and reintroduce fire, this project will improve ecosystem health and wildlife habitat while lowering wildfire risk.	Cherokee National Forest	$3,071,967