Washington, DC – The Senate Agriculture Committee today passed a bill introduced by Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet to ensure the National Forest Foundation (NFF) continues to have the resources it needs to enhance and protect national forests and grasslands.
The NFF is a nonprofit partner of the U.S. Forest Service, created in 1993, that uses public and private funds to help communities play an active role in maintaining and adding value to their national forests. The foundation has supported a number of projects throughout Colorado, including work by youth Conservation Corps crews to restore trails and recreational areas after the devastating flood in 2013.
“The National Forest Foundation is a key partner in maintaining the health and beauty of our national forests by engaging the local community,” Bennet said. “Thanks to the foundation’s efforts, we completed projects in our state to maintain trail systems, rebuild after fires and floods, and restore habitat for wildlife. The foundation helps connect communities with their local public lands to preserve them for future generations, and we will work to ensure that continues.”
The NFF’s matching grant program has helped support conservation and stewardship projects in Colorado including those carried out by the Colorado Mountain Club, Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado, the Wildlands Restoration Volunteers, and the Colorado Fourteeners Initiative.
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