UNITED STATES — The USDA Forest Service announced Friday that it is investing nearly $19 million to address invasive species threatening the country’s forests, with funding coming from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
The Intermountain Region will split $850,000 of funding across nine national forests: Humboldt-Toiyabe, Bridger-Teton, Dixie, Salmon-Challis, Sawtooth, Caribou-Targhee, Fishlake, Uinta-Wasatch-Cache and Ashley.
Funds will be used for the detection, mapping, control and treatment of invasive plant and animal species. Projects will address such invasive species as wood-boring insects, exotic fungi, non-native plant species and other potential pests and pathogens.
“Invasive species pose a serious threat to the nation’s forests and grasslands, and contribute to increased fire risk, the destruction of habitat and the degradation of water quality,” Intermountain Regional Forester Mary Farnsworth said in a statement. “These investments demonstrate our region’s commitments to addressing and preventing the harm caused by invasive species.”
According to the Forest Service, investments were awarded to public and private organizations, Tribes, states, local landowners and Forest Service research stations.
