Department of the Interior Announces Nearly $7 Million Investment in Climate Resilience and Ecosystem Restoration in U.S. Territories
The Department of the Interior has revealed a significant investment of close to $7 million from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda. The funding aims to advance climate resilience efforts and support the restoration of lands and waters in the U.S. territories.
A substantial portion of the investment, totaling $3.9 million, will come from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. This funding will go towards various programs and projects in American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Guam. The initiatives include enhancing biosecurity measures, restoring coastal areas and flora ecosystems, and eradicating invasive species.
Additionally, Puerto Rico will receive $3 million from the Inflation Reduction Act to combat climate change.
According to Secretary Deb Haaland, the U.S. territories play a crucial role in the fabric of America. As the Department moves forward with new investments, they are working closely with territorial partners to ensure these investments have the most significant impact and reach as many communities as possible. This is particularly important given the increasing threats posed by the climate crisis to these communities and ecosystems.
Assistant Secretary for Insular and International Affairs Carmen G. Cantor emphasized that President Biden’s Investing in America agenda extends to the U.S. territories. The Office of Insular Affairs is committed to supporting critical investments in the territories, with a focus on developing resilient physical and natural infrastructure.
The announcement aligns with the Interior Department’s Restoration and Resilience Framework, which aims to leverage historic investments in climate and conservation to achieve landscape-level outcomes across the nation. The framework includes a commitment to building resilient islands. Through the Investing in America agenda, the Department is implementing more than $2 billion to restore the nation’s lands and waters and enhance climate resilience.
Various projects and programs will be funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. American Samoa will receive $1,799,000 for the development of a biosecurity plan, restoration efforts in coastal areas affected by sand and coral mining, coral reef restoration, and the revegetation of degraded wetland mangrove forest zones.
The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands will receive $975,000 to restore flora ecosystems and explore restoration and reclamation of inactive quarries. The funding will also support invasive species efforts throughout the territory.
The U.S. Virgin Islands will be granted $971,000 to develop an early detection and rapid response framework for invasive species. The funding will also support surveys of plant communities connecting different shorelines in St. Croix, St. Thomas, and St. John.
Guam will receive $154,000 to facilitate the participation of territorial representatives in a 2023 Regional Biosecurity Training hosted by the Department’s Office of Insular Affairs.
Projects funded through the Inflation Reduction Act will allocate $2,750,000 to the U.S. Geological Survey to address workforce capacity challenges and enhance climate expertise in Puerto Rico’s Department of Natural and Environmental Resources. The funds will support the development of the climate workforce and enable DNER employees to pursue advanced degrees focused on climate adaptation.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will receive $250,000 to continue implementing the National Seed Strategy in Puerto Rico. The investment will deploy seed collecting teams and bolster seed production to restore ecosystems affected by fires, hurricanes, drought, and other natural disasters.
This funding not only promotes climate resilience and ecosystem restoration but also aligns with the President’s Justice40 Initiative. The initiative aims to ensure that 40 percent of the overall benefits of federal investments are delivered to disadvantaged communities that have historically faced underinvestment and suffer from pollution burdens.
The Office of Insular Affairs was granted $15 million under the Inflation Reduction Act to support climate change planning, mitigation, adaptation, and resilience efforts in the U.S. territories. Previous funding announcements were also made last year.
To learn more about this funding and other support provided to the Insular Areas, visit the Office of Insular Affairs’ website.
Analyst comment
Positive news. The market is expected to see an increase in investment in climate resilience and ecosystem restoration in U.S. territories. This funding will support various projects and programs aimed at enhancing biosecurity measures, restoring coastal areas, eradicating invasive species, and combating climate change. The investment aligns with the President’s agenda and the Interior Department’s Restoration and Resilience Framework, highlighting a commitment to building resilient islands. This funding will have a positive impact on communities and ecosystems in the U.S. territories.
