USDA to Grant $25 Million for Removing Wood From National Forests

The federal government is encouraging local business to tap into a $25 million grant to remove fallen wood from national forests.

The goal of the federal grant, called the Hazardous Fuels Transportation Assistance Grant, is to reduce wildfire risk across the nation while supporting rural economies, said the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

“The timber and wood products industries help support healthy and sustainable forests,” U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack said in an Aug. 6 press release announcing the funding opportunity.

Specifically, the USDA is looking for local businesses or partners to remove woody material that can serve as fuel for wildfires. This woody material typically has little commercial value because, although it can be converted into useful products, the high transportation costs often outweigh its potential value.

“Without transportation assistance, these materials are often burned in place or not removed from the national forests, increasing the risk of insects, disease, and wildfires that threaten ecosystems, communities and critical infrastructure,” the USDA explained.

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