NRCS in the Pacific Islands Area Seeks Producers and Forest Land Managers for Joint Chiefs Project on Hawaiʻi Island

HONOLULU, HI, February 1, 2023 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Natural Resources Conversation Service (NRCS) in the Pacific Islands Area (PIA) is seeking producers and forest land managers to apply for funding through Joint Chiefs Landscape Restoration Partnership Project, "Hawaiʻi Island Wildfire Mitigation and Support". This project is a joint effort between the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Forest Service and is targeted at addressing natural resource issues in the Keauhou-Kilauea Forest.

The Joint Chiefs Landscape Restoration Partnership Project enables NRCS and the Forest Service to collaborate with agricultural producers and forest landowners to invest in conservation and restoration at a big enough scale to make a difference. Working in partnership, and at this scale, helps reduce wildfire threats, protect water quality and supply, and improve wildlife habitat for at-risk species. Through the new three-year projects, landowners will work with local USDA experts and partners to apply targeted forestry management practices on their land, such as thinning, hazardous fuel treatments, fire breaks and other systems to meet unique forestry challenges in their area.

NRCS in the Pacific Islands Area and its partners work with local farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners to implement conservation systems, easements and watershed plans that help enhance and sustain the use of water, soil, and wildlife habitat, in targeted project areas. Producers and forest land managers can participate in the "HawaiʻiIsland Wildfire Mitigation and Support" Joint Chiefs project by reaching out to the NRCS Hilo Field Office.

"The Joint Chiefs Landscape Partnership Project is interagency collaboration working to benefit and protect our forestlands." said J.B. Martin, Director for the Pacific Islands Area for USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service. "This project supports the sustainability of the Keauhou-Kilauea Forest by ensuring that our public and private lands are protected from the effects of climate change and wildfire while enhancing and supporting water quality in this important area."

Pacific Islands Area producers with the targeted project area looking to implement conservation systems that help address degraded plant condition, pest pressure, and terrestrial habitat through this project opportunity should contact the NRCS Hilo Field Office. Applications for funding through this project will be accepted through March 10, 2023.

For more information about Joint Chiefs Landscape Restoration Initiative, visit the Joint Chiefs website.

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