$20 Million Awarded for Forest Restoration and Economic Resilience

Launched in August 2024 by the National Wild Turkey Federation and the Forest Service, this innovative program aims to bolster the Forest Service’s Wildfire Crisis Strategy. Funded through the Inflation Reduction Act, the initiative addresses one of the most pressing challenges in hazardous fuel reduction efforts: the transportation of removed materials to locations where they can be effectively utilized. By overcoming this barrier, the Hazardous Fuels Transportation Assistance program supports forest health, reduces wildfire risks and promotes economic resilience in rural communities.

The forest products industry plays a critical role in creating resilient landscapes and reducing wildfire risks. Many Wildfire Crisis Strategy projects, such as the Drummond project on the Colville Wildfire Crisis Landscape, employ timber removal as a management strategy to alleviate overcrowded conifers, decreasing the potential for catastrophic wildfire spread. However, the success of these efforts hinges on the ability to transport significant amounts of material from areas where forest product markets are sometimes oversaturated to facilities that can process and utilize the material.

The projects funded through this program will bridge this gap, ensuring harvested materials reach mills in need, benefiting both forest restoration efforts and supporting critical forest product industries, generating jobs and bolstering economies — particularly in rural areas impacted by mill closures.

The NWTF played a key role in the program’s launch, collaborating with the Forest Service to provide outreach, host webinars, assist applicants and evaluate submissions. Throughout August, the NWTF hosted a series of informational webinars to guide applicants through the process, contributing to the program’s success.

“The NWTF has been integral to the success of the HFTA,” said Eli Ilano, USDA Forest Service Risk Reduction Solutions team leader.“They have been involved in each step of the process, from improving our outreach to providing review of applications.”

For more information about the Hazardous Fuels Transportation Assistance program and to view the selected 2024 projects, visit the USDA Forest Service website here.

About the National Wild Turkey Federation

Since 1973, the National Wild Turkey Federation has invested over half a billion dollars into wildlife conservation and has positively impacted over 23 million acres of critical wildlife habitat. The NWTF has also invested over $10 million into wild turkey research to guide the management of the wild turkey population and to ensure sustainable populations into perpetuity. The organization continues to deliver its mission by working across boundaries on a landscape scale through its Four Shared Values: clean and abundant water, healthy forests and wildlife habitat, resilient communities, and robust recreational opportunities. With the help of its dedicated members, partners and staff, the NWTF continues its work to provide Healthy Habitats. and Healthy Harvests. for future generations.$20 Million for Wildfire Risk Reduction Across 13 States