The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced on December 20 that it would be investing $32 million for landscape conservation efforts through the Joint Chiefs? Landscape Restoration Partnership. The partnership between the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and U.S. Forest Service (USFS) is working to ?improve the health and resiliency of the forest ecosystems where public forests and grasslands connect to privately-owned lands.? The new funding will focus on 10 new projects and 26 existing partnerships extending the effort to 29 states and is anticipated to leverage an additional $30 million through contributions from federal, state, and local partners.

?This collaboration helps local partners meet the growing challenges that come with protecting communities, watersheds, forests and woodlands from the devastating and costly impacts of wildfires and other threats, while protecting water resources, and improving wildlife habitat,? USDA Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment Robert Bonnie said.

Full descriptions of the projects, including the 10 new projects are available on the partnership website.