The $790 billion stimulus bill, now out in final form, does not include funding for urban forestry improvements that were in the original House version of the bill. The original bill included funding within wildlands fire management that could provide urban forestry funding:
$550,000,000… for State fire assistance hazardous fuels projects, volunteer fire assistance, cooperative forest health projects, city forest enhancements, and wood to energy grants on State and private lands
However, the final bill (available at the House Appropriations web site) now says:
$250,000,000 is for State and private forestry activities including hazardous fuels reduction, forest health and ecosystem improvement activities on State and private lands using all authorities available to the Forest Service: Provided, That up to $50,000,000 of the total funding may be used to make wood-to-energy grants to promote increased utilization of biomass from Federal,State and private lands…
Photo: Street trees in Lexington, KY. Photo by Tom Kimmerer
