(From the Stanly News & Press)
Congressman Larry Kissell (NC-08) and Agriculture Secreary Tom Vilsack announced projects funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) for forest health protection projects in the Uwharrie and Croatan National Forests.
This funding will be used to restore forest health conditions on federal, state and private forest and rangelands recovering from fires, forest insects and disease outbreaks.
These conditions weaken affected lands and threaten the benefits these lands provide, including clean water, clean air, habitat for wildlife, resistance to wildfire, and recreational opportunities for the public.
“The Uwharrie National Forest is one of the most over-looked treasures in North Carolina. I have spent many days enjoying the wonders of the Uwharrie with my family. It is so important that we protect these national treasures for our future,” Kissell said.
“Using Recovery funds to prevent more damage from the Southern Pine Beetle will not only protect our national forest but help put people to work.”
North Carolina will receive $2,802,00 for use in for projects including $181,000 for Southern Pine Beetle Prevention Thinning on the Croatan and Uwharrie National Forests as well as SPB Restoration on the Croatan National Forest.
“These Recovery Act projects will put people to work and advance the Obama Administra-tion’s vision for a balanced and cooperative approach to forest management that will provide for public health and safety by restoring forestlands and rangelands damaged by insects, disease and invasive species,” Vilsack said.
“Proper forest management helps protect our forests for the benefit of current and future generations by restoring the vitality and productivity of the land.”
These Recovery Act funds will be used to complete high priority projects to restore forest health and resiliency by reducing insect and disease problems. Among the projects announced will be efforts to thin understory trees and control spread of pests, which will reduce the risk of massive forest die-offs. Epidemic insect outbreaks, such as hemlock woody adelgid, Asian longhorn beetle and bark beetles have killed large expanses of forests and threaten to kill more.
Additionally, workers will undertake efforts to control the spread of invasive plants by hand and with machinery, thus protecting and restoring healthy ecosystems. Invasive plants such as Cogan Grass, leafy spurge and cheatgrass threaten ecosystems by out-competing and displacing native plants.
Finally, the funds will also help provide technical and financial assistance for care of lands owned by states, local governments, private organizations and private individuals. These activities will protect highly valued forested areas, reduce the risks of vegetation mortality, increase landscape resilience, and prevent future disease and insect outbreaks.
A listing of the forest health protection projects and information on other Forest service ARRA projects may be found at http://fs.usda.gov/recovery.