Biden-Harris Administration Allocates $100 Million to Address Wildfire Crisis in Major Investment Initiative
The Biden-Harris Administration has announced a $100 million investment in 21 new projects to expand the USDA Forest Service’s Wildfire Crisis Strategy, aimed at reducing the threat of wildfires in high-risk areas across the nation. These projects, funded through the Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will span 14 states and 18 national forests.
“This investment represents an important expansion of our Wildfire Crisis Strategy work to new areas and states,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. The Collaborative Wildfire Risk Reduction Program will use funds to treat high wildfire risk areas where national forests meet communities, known as the Wildland-Urban Interface. This program allows for collaboration with Tribes, communities, and partners to reduce wildfire risk and improve forest health.
Forest Service Chief Randy Moore highlighted the importance of this program in protecting lives and livelihoods across vast landscapes. President Biden’s Investing in America agenda aims to increase resilience in lands facing wildfire threats and support federal wildland firefighters. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law allocated $1.4 billion for wildfire risk reduction funds, while the Inflation Reduction Act provided an additional $1.8 billion for wildfire risk reduction efforts.
Since the launch of the Wildfire Crisis Strategy in 2022, over 1.5 million acres have been treated across priority landscapes, reducing wildfire risk for communities, power lines, and watersheds. The funding announced today will advance recommendations made by the Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission to improve federal policies related to wildfire mitigation, suppression, and management.
Under the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is focused on transforming America’s food system, ensuring access to safe and healthy food, building new markets for farmers, making investments in rural infrastructure and clean energy, and promoting equity across the Department. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov.
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Sophie Müller completed her studies at ETH Zurich in Switzerland, earning a degree in Environmental Sciences with a concentration in agroecology. Her research explored the interactions between crops and their environment, particularly in relation to organic farming systems. Sophie is now a research scientist, focusing on agroecological practices that promote biodiversity and reduce environmental impact in agriculture.