Portman, Udall, Stabenow Introduce Legislation to Restore America's National Forests
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- The Reforestation Act of 2019 Would Double Funding to
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Given the
"I am pleased to join Senators Udall and Stabenow in introducing this bipartisan legislation to address the reforestation needs within our federal forests. With 1.3 million acres of forest in need of replanting, addressing this backlog provides a wide range of benefits, including sequestering as much as 1.1 million metric tons of carbon emissions, reinvigorating the ecosystems and native plant and animal species that depend on healthy forests, and creating jobs and recreation opportunities on our forestland. I look forward to working with my colleagues on this common-sense, bipartisan legislation to address the reforestation backlog in our nation's forests," said Portman.
"America's National Forests are some of our greatest natural resources. Investing in them is a necessity made more urgent by the rising toll from fire damage," said Udall. "Reforestation supports species diversity, providing wildlife with habitat while also supplying clean air and water and supporting jobs in local communities. And in the fight against climate change, re-growing our forests is a cost-effective and powerful tool to capture carbon and combat the threats we will have to confront, including drought and extreme weather. I am proud to introduce this bipartisan legislation that lives up to our responsibility to conserve our nation's natural gifts for future generations."
"Restoring our national forests will not only improve water quality and create new habitats for hunting and fishing, it's also part of the solution to combat the climate crisis," said Stabenow. "Supporting reforestation is a cost-effective way to draw carbon pollution out of air, while restoring our public lands."
USFS has estimated that in FY 2018, 80 percent of its reforestation needs were attributed to wildfires. And one recent study found that tree mortality caused by insects and diseases alone--which impacts less acreage than wildfires--released 6 million tons of carbon, the equivalent of tailpipe emissions from 4.4 million cars.
With only approximately 15 percent of the tree planting backlog addressed each year with current funding levels, this legislation will help provide much-needed resources to the
The legislation is supported by
"Thanks to the leadership of
"Our National Forest System is a beautiful gift from God, and we are thankful for Senators Portman and Udall who are working to protect and restore these special places. Reforesting vulnerable swaths of land will help to restore fragile ecosystems, capture carbon, and clean the air. Overall, this bill is good news for our climate and all of God's bountiful creation. We encourage
"America's forests provide essential wildlife habitat, protect healthy watersheds and clean drinking water, and serve as natural carbon-sinks -- a vital climate solution. Investing in forest restoration and reforestation benefits wildlife and people alike," said
"Investing in our forests is one of the clearest paths to a healthy and sustainable future for our planet, and this bill puts us on the right path," said
The Reforestation Act of 2019 would:
- Direct the USFS to develop a plan to address its backlog of replanting needs on national forestlands within 10 years: The Act amends the Forest Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 to require USFS to develop a plan and cost estimate to address the backlog of replanting needs on national forestlands by 2029. To aide in how to prioritize the backlog, the Act directs the USFS to prioritize land that is in need of reforestation due to unplanned events, such as wildfire and disease.
- Provide additional funding to tackle the backlog: The Act amends the
- Direct the USFS to reduce delays in tackling reforestation projects through expanded
- Encourages Federal, State, Tribal Partnerships: The Act expands the
The full text of the bill is available here (http://www.portman.senate.gov/sites/default/files/2019-12/Reforestation%20Act%20of%202019%20Bill%20FINAL.pdfhttps:/www.tomudall.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Reforestation%20Act%20of%202019%20Bill%20FINAL.pdf). A summary of the legislation can be found here (https://bit.ly/2Z57W7i).
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