Merkley, Wyden announce over $4 million coming to Oregon for ecosystem restoration

Siuslaw News

Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced a total of $4.4 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will be coming to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Oregon Office to support eight ecosystem restoration projects around the state over the next several years.

These projects build on proven programs and partnerships to protect wildlife and natural resources, while creating good-paying jobs to strengthen local communities.

 “Oregon’s diverse landscapes—our forests, coastline, rivers, mountains, high desert, and other natural treasures—are what make this state such a special place to live,” said Merkley, Chairman of the Interior Appropriations Subcommittee, which oversees funding for the Bureau of Land Management. “Climate chaos and human actions are threatening the permanent loss of plants and wildlife that have defined Oregon. These Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funds will be used to protect, conserve, and restore Oregon’s critical habitats and ecosystems around the state so it remains the best place in the world for future generations.”

 “Funding ecosystem restoration is critical to combatting the effects of the climate crisis and preserving the beautiful outdoors that Oregonians know and love,” Wyden said. “The positives of investing in our outdoor spaces always outweigh the negatives, and I will continue to fight for more resources to support restoration efforts.”

Today’s funding announcement is part of a $41 million investment—allocated by the Bureau of Land Management—through President Biden’s Investing in America agenda for ecosystem restoration.

 This is the third investment of ecosystem restoration funds from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which was passed by Congress in November 2021. Oregon received BLM investments from this program in 2022 and 2023.

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