Date: Tuesday, August 8, 2023
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WASHINGTON — Today, the Department of the Interior announced over $44 million from the Biden-Harris administration’s Investing in America agenda to meet critical ecosystem resilience, restoration and environmental planning needs for the National Park Service in fiscal year 2023. These investments from the Inflation Reduction Act will be guided by the Department’s Restoration and Resilience Framework to support coordination across agency programs and ensure collaborative, strategic and measurable landscape-scale benefits that advance climate resilience. This announcement continues to deliver on President Biden’s historic conservation agenda and investments to build community resilience.
“Nature is one of our best tools in improving our resilience to climate change and creating a thriving sustainable economy,” said Secretary Deb Haaland. “Through President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, we are making coordinated investments to safeguard our National Park System, advance nature-based solutions in our efforts to address the climate crisis, safeguard endangered species, and ensure clean air and clean water for all.”
Through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act, the Department is implementing more than $2 billion in investments to restore our nation’s lands and waters and advance the America the Beautiful initiative, the Biden-Harris administration’s goal to restore and conserve 30% of lands and waters by 2030.
Today’s announcement comes as President Biden visits the Grand Canyon area today. Tomorrow, Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff and Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks Shannon Estenoz will travel to Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming to mark this new investment and uplift the latest climate and conservation actions by the Biden-Harris administration.
“From providing critical care to cultural resources at risk in Alaska, to mitigating climate change impacts on coral reefs, these projects will support ongoing efforts to restore habitats, address climate change impacts, and bolster park resources for years to come,” said National Park Service Director Chuck Sams. “Many of these projects support restoration and resilience efforts in national parks located in small and rural communities, bringing much-needed investments and jobs that support the American economy while protecting and preserving our nation’s most cherished places.”
The projects announced today infuse much-needed funding to put people to work addressing critical ecosystem needs to restore healthy and resilient park lands while benefiting communities surrounding parks. Through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act, the National Park Service is working to address the impacts of the climate crisis, including intensifying drought, wildfires, flooding and legacy pollution in national parks and other public lands. Resources are making significant strategic investments to repair critical facilities and infrastructure and enhance conservation through ecosystem restoration and recreation opportunities.
The $44 million investment announced today will support 43 projects across 39 states, DC, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands including:
The full list of fiscal year 2023 projects are available on the National Park Service’s website.
This content was originally published here.
