Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration project $$ for Montana
by Duane Williams, KLCB-KTNY Radio
June 9, 2011
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack Thursday announced nearly $22 million in funding for Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration projects that promote healthier, safer and more productive public lands through partnership efforts which will reduce wildfire risk, enhance fish and wildlife habitats, and maintain and improve water quality across all lands.
Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration projects accomplish a variety of U.S. Forest Service priorities including watershed restoration while supporting sustainable and fire-adapted communities through partnerships at the state, local and private level. The 2012 budget includes funding for these projects as part of the broader Integrated Resource Restoration approach to restoring the nation's forests and grasslands.
The 10-year restoration projects were selected and began to receive funding. Projects are located in nine states. In Montana the Southwestern Crown of the Continent Restoration Initiative – $3.5 million. The Southwestern Crown covers 1,449,670 acres, 70 percent of which is public land including the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness. Restoration will focus on stream and forest habitats using prescribed fire and natural ignitions as tools to restore species composition and structure.
The U.S. Forest Service mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the Nation's forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land and is the world's largest forestry research organization.
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Story by Duane Williams, KLCB-KTNY Radio, www.todaysbestcountryonline.com, e-mail: klcb@frontiernet.net.
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