Revitalizing forests

The Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack recently discussed increasing efforts to improve forest resiliency through a variety of programs and approaches. “At the US Department of Agriculture we believe that with innovative policies and incentives, climate, smart reforestation and forest management can be a meaningful tool to increasing forest health. To that end, the U.S. Forest Service will be involved in greater actions in reforestation targets by the year 2030, as well as accelerate seed and nursery capacity. Speaker2: What I've seen and what leaders like U.S. Forest Service Chief Randy Moore tell me is that our investments in reforestation rebuild our force to ensure continued carbon, water and wood product benefits. Speaker3: Among the actions announced include development of support, decision tools for aspects from carbon stewardship at water conservation, prescribed fire action plans, innovative markets for sustainable forest products and inventory of Old Growth and mature forest. Speaker2: The Forest Service will build on their existing analysis of forest health by adding an additional data layers on carbon, on reforestation, on equity, and on old growth and mature force. This data will inform policy, development and decision making to protect our forests, to store more carbon, and to make them more resilient into the future. In addition, I'm directing that we develop an implementation plan to immediately increase climate informed afforestation, agroforestry and reforestation.