Wyden, Merkley Announce $1.9 Million to Promote Sustainable Forest Health for Small-Acreage Forest Landowners

Wyden, Merkley Announce $1.9 Million to Promote Sustainable Forest Health for Small-Acreage Forest Landowners

Washington D.C.-U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced a federal investment of $1.9 million for the Bonneville Environmental Foundation to connect underserved and small acreage forest landowners to emerging carbon markets that provide incentives to improve forest management, including reforestation and other sustainable practices, for a healthier climate.

"Maintaining the health of our forests is central to what it means to be an Oregonian," Wyden said. "Responsible forest management helps reduce the risk of wildfires and creates a sustainable outdoor economy that generates jobs while balancing environmental needs and landowner interests. These are the types of federal climate investments I fought for in the Inflation Reduction Act, and I will continue to advocate for resources that help both the environment and rural Oregonians."

"Oregon's forests are key to fighting climate chaos, and it is essential that our lands remain healthy and well managed," said Merkley, Chair of the Senate Appropriations subcommittee that funds the U.S. Forest Service. "This nearly $2 million in federal funding to the Bonneville Environmental Foundation supports this goal and connects underserved, small-acreage forest landowners with new economic opportunities across our region. I will keep working to ensure Oregon benefits from the Inflation Reduction Act's historic climate investments, creating and conserving healthy, resilient forests for all Oregonians."

The federal investment of $1,903,797 is from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Forest Service with funding made available through the Inflation Reduction Act. This investment allows underserved and small-acreage forest landowners to address climate change while also supporting local economies, maintaining land ownership for future generations, and protecting private forestlands from increasing development pressure.

"This grant from the U.S. Forest Service will allow BEF to support partners throughout Oregon and Washington give small forest landowners access to voluntary carbon markets, providing both new revenue streams and much needed capacity support for ongoing stewardship of their forests. This will expand a Carbon Credit Regional Operator program that we are piloting in Washington's Puget Sound region through a grant from EPA's National Estuary Program and leverages millions of dollars in state and federal investments in restoration projects. Together with those capital investments, this additional capacity will help make communities throughout the Pacific Northwest more resilient in the face of climate change and the increasing risks of forest fires, flooding, and other extreme weather events," said Allan Warren, Senior Program Manager at Bonneville Environmental Foundation.

Wyden and Merkley have pushed for more resources to support sustainable forest management in Oregon and across the nation. In May, Wyden reintroduced the National Prescribed Fire Act of 2024that would invest in hazardous fuels management to reduce the risk of wildfires by increasing the pace and scale of prescribed burns during cooler, wetter months. In March, Merkley and Wyden announced numerous federal investments from the 2024 funding package for Oregon infrastructure, climate action and forest management projects.