Two national forests in Idaho and Washington state could receive more than US$90m over the next 10 years as part of a forest restoration plan designed to boost timber production and create jobs while improving forest management.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced last week that the Colville National Forest in Washington state and the Panhandle National Forests in northern Idaho are among 13 national forests selected to receive money.
The money is coming through the Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration programme enacted by Congress in 2009.
The projects were submitted by local timber, conservation, and community groups that want to produce a reliable stream of timber from national forests while reducing fire danger, insect infestations, and reducing erosion.
If full funding is awarded, the goal for the Colville National Forest, which could create more than US$70m in restoration work over 10 years, is to return the forest to more natural conditions. Local sawmills or a biomass plant would receive trees logged during the work.
