ARCADIA, CA, Oct. 12, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) today announced $2.5 million in grants for fire recovery and watershed restoration related to three historic fires on Angeles National Forest. Grantee organizations have committed another $1.6 million in match, generating a total conservation investment of $4.1 million.
The grants were awarded through the Angeles National Forest – Wildfires Restoration Grant Program (Wildfire Restoration Program), a partnership between NFWF and the U.S. Forest Service’s Angeles National Forest. This is the first year the program has administered grant awards. Subsequent award cycles are expected annually for at least the next four years.
“These first grants exhibit not only a significant amount of community support for helping the Angeles National Forest, but also provide funding for outstanding conservation, education and resiliency projects to help restore important watersheds in the Angeles National Forest,” said Jeff Trandahl, executive director and CEO of NFWF. “NFWF is passionate about this partnership with Angeles National Forest to help them accomplish their restoration needs. We look forward to working together to improve watershed health and protect natural resources important for nearby residents and local communities.”
The 15 projects awarded grants this year will address damage caused by the Copper, Ranch and Sayre fires. Projects aim to restore the watersheds and ecosystems affected by these fires, promote ecological resilience to future wildfire events, inform efficient post-fire restoration through innovation, and increase awareness and understanding of fire’s impact on Southern California landscapes.
A complete list of the 2017 grants made through the Wildfire Restoration Program is available here .
“We are excited about the opportunity to partner with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to engage local stakeholders and resource experts in forest watershed restoration projects,” said Angeles Forest Supervisor Jeffrey Vail. “Partnering with NFWF will allow us to increase the forest’s capacity for our ecological restoration efforts, and lead to a healthier, more resilient landscape with improved habitat for fish and wildlife.”
Angeles National Forest serves as the picturesque backdrop for one of the country’s largest urban centers, providing approximately 700,000 acres of open space to the roughly 18 million residents of the greater Los Angeles metropolitan area. The first designated National Forest in California, Angeles National Forest is located within one of the world’s vital biodiversity hot spots. It is home to many natural and cultural resources unique to Southern California, including a variety of threatened and endangered species. In addition to managing and maintaining the unique ecosystems of the region, Angeles National Forest also provides opportunities to experience nature and the outdoors for almost four million visitors annually.
The Copper, Ranch and Sayre fires burned approximately 37,000 acres of Angeles National Forest, leaving a significant impact on the landscapes, watersheds and ecosystems of the region. Angeles National Forest and NFWF’s partnership aims to restore the watersheds and ecosystems affected by these wildfire events.
About the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Chartered by Congress in 1984, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) protects and restores the nation's fish, wildlife, plants and habitats. Working with federal, corporate and individual partners, NFWF has funded more than 4,500 organizations and committed more than $3.8 billion to conservation projects. Learn more at www.nfwf.org .
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Rob Blumenthal National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (202) 857-0166 rob.blumenthal@nfwf.org
