A U.S. Department of Agriculture official announced Friday a $145 million investment from President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act to assist forest landowners in the fight against climate change.
Homer Wilkes, the USDA’s undersecretary for natural resources and environment, told a large crowd inside the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff’s H.O. Clemmons Arena the school would receive nearly $3.2 million as part of what is considered the largest climate investment in history. Nearly $1.5 million will go to the Center for Heirs’ Property Preservation to partner with UAPB to provide landowners in Arkansas with education and technical assistance to address heirs’ property issues and forestry-focused technical assistance. More than $1.7 million will help the university expand the assistance to landowners into new counties while supporting better tracking of efforts to assist families with retaining land and accessing climate markets.
“The Biden-Harris Administration understands that private landowners are key in the fight for climate resilience and forest health,” U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said in a news release. “These investments announced today will expand access to markets that were previously out-of-reach, allowing underserved and small-acreage forest landowners to address climate change, while also supporting rural economies and maintaining land ownership for future generations.”
In a climate market, businesses and other entities can offset carbon dioxide emissions through the activities of others by purchasing carbon credits, according to the Southern Group of State Foresters. Forest owners may then gain financially from their contribution to the forest carbon sink.
More than 105 million Southern residents depend on the benefits of the estimated 245 million acres of forestland, according to the Southern Group, but a federal report suggests urbanization is threatening up to 23 million acres.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Unlocking heirs’ property was a key topic during the Rural Life Conference. The event included exhibits and vendors, breakout sessions, a high school forum and a legal clinic that provide free consultations with experienced attorneys and tax professional to assist with simple wills, deeds, land issues, taxes and business entities.
Arkansas River Rice Owner P.J. Haynie and NFL center-turned-farmer Jason Brown delivered keynote addresses.
Of the $145 million announced, according to the USDA, $116 million is allocated to 20 Forest Landowner Support projects to provide equitable access to emerging markets. Among those projects serving Arkansas, as named by the Southern Group, $20 million will support the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities, $10 million each is going to the Center for Heirs’ Property Preservation and Ducks Unlimited, and $1,978,714 is going to Magnolia Land Partners Inc.
“The bottom line is that this provides technical assistance to the community,” Wilkes said after his address during the 65th annual Rural Life Conference. “Heir property is one of the biggest tickets we have, particularly for African American landowners participating in our programs. This helps them come in and work on their wills and heir properties and so on.”
Another $29 million is available to states and territories to help develop technical assistance programs of their own that connect underserved landowners to incentives, programs and markets.
UAPB and Prairie View A&M University in Texas were selected to receive funding through the investment, Wilkes said. Dewayne Goldmon, a senior advisor for racial justice and equity in the under secretary’s office, remarked he was happy to see the USDA partner with such institutions to reach all customers in an equitable manner.
“To have HBCUs participate in this program, it’s monumental because they have been serving these communities forever,” Wilkes said. “They have not had the dollars to do it. This time, they have the dollars to help with those particular things.”
Proposals for projects up to $2 million are being accepted. Grants.gov has more information.
“We try to make sure it’s inclusive, that you have a whole host of people and African American people who can go in and work, because heir property is the biggest ticket that hinders people from clearing their land and participating in our programs,” Wilkes said.