The following is a news release from the National Park Service.
Denver, Colo. — On February 27, the National Park Service (NPS) announced it will invest $195 million in Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) funding to restore and build resilience in the lands and waters that serve as important wildlife and native plant habitats, spaces for recreation and reflection, and memorials to our nation’s history.
An estimated $24 million will go to national parks in the Intermountain Region, which spans from Mexico to Canada and includes parks in Arizona, Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah and Wyoming. This investment includes approximately $7.4 million for bison conservation in Yellowstone National Park, Glacier National Park and Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. Approximately $4.6 million will go to national parks in the Colorado River basin to assess the effects of climate change and inform Colorado River management plans, as well as to remove invasive species and protect at-risk species. Another $4 million will go to fourteen national parks across the arid Southwest to restore native plants and reduce the vulnerability of river systems to climate change. These are just a few examples of the multiple projects that will take place across the region.
National parks across the United States will use this Inflation Reduction Act funding to prepare for the impacts of climate change, protect species, restore ecosystems and invest in conservation jobs. “This investment in conservation demonstrates an unprecedented commitment towards tackling the climate crisis and strengthening America’s resilience,” said NPS Director Chuck Sams. “From restoring species to cleaning up abandoned mines in our national parks, this investment will support ongoing efforts to protect and preserve our nation’s most cherished places.”
“IRA funding invests in the people and partnerships that will carry out the work of preserving and restoring our natural and cultural resources,” said NPS Intermountain Regional Director Kate Hammond. “Projects funded by the Inflation Reduction Act will benefit people, wildlife, and local economies in the region for generations to come.”
These investments are incredibly timely, as healthy ecosystems, wildlife and native plant habitats, and cultural resources are threatened by climate change and many other environmental challenges. Learn more about the National Park Service’s Inflation Reduction Act projects here.
