The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced Wednesday it is investing more than $8 million in five new projects aimed at reducing wildfire risk, protecting water quality, and improving forest health across the country.
The funding, part of the Joint Chiefs’ Landscape Restoration Partnership Program, supports collaborative efforts between USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the U.S. Forest Service to address forest management across public and private lands.
The new investment expands on $32 million already dedicated to 24 existing Joint Chiefs’ projects and aligns with President Donald J. Trump’s initiatives to support rural communities, strengthen domestic timber production, and improve the quality of life for American families.
“Wildfires have no boundaries, and neither should our prevention work,” said Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz. “We need everyone at the table to deliver the kind of active management that will return our forests to health and productivity.”
The five newly funded projects are:
- Alabama: Alabama Chattahoochee Fall Line Restoring Longleaf – National Forest in Alabama
- Colorado and Wyoming: Headwaters of the Colorado – Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest
- Montana: Blackfoot River Valley Landscape Mosaic – Lolo National Forest
- North Carolina: Uwharries to Sandhills, Phase 2 – National Forests in North Carolina
- Oregon: Hood River Wildfire and Watershed Resilience – Mt. Hood National Forest
“These projects enable cross-boundary work based on shared priorities with states, partners, industry, and forest landowners,” Schultz said. “It’s a win-win.”
USDA Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins emphasized the department’s commitment to wildfire preparedness and safeguarding communities, echoing the administration’s broader vision.
NRCS Chief Aubrey J.D. Bettencourt highlighted the importance of supporting private forest landowners through technical and financial assistance.
“Providing assistance to private forest landowners is key to supporting locally led conservation, especially in the wildland-urban interface,” Bettencourt said. “This allows us to address multiple challenges in one project, such as reducing the risk of catastrophic wildfire, protecting clean water, and improving wildlife habitat.”
The Joint Chiefs’ Landscape Restoration Partnership Program aims to foster resilience in forests and communities by uniting federal, state, and local partners in long-term restoration efforts.