USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the Biden administration is committing nearly $500 million from the Investing in America agenda to bolster the U.S. Forest Service’s Wildfire Crisis Strategy.
The initiative prioritizes 21 designated landscapes while establishing a new $100 million Collaborative Wildfire Risk Reduction Program to extend efforts beyond these areas. The Collaborative Wildfire Risk Reduction Program will utilize hazardous fuels funds allocated by the Inflation Reduction Act to address areas beyond the 21 priority landscapes, focusing on high-risk wildfire zones where national forests intersect with residential areas and communities, known as the Wildland-Urban Interface.
This initiative enables national forests, in conjunction with Tribes, communities, to enhance local capabilities for implementing projects to mitigate wildfire risks and enhance forest health, safeguarding communities, infrastructure, water quality, and neighboring landowners.
