Kamala Harris’ husband joins announcement of $44 million investment in enhancing national parks’ resilience to climate change.

Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff visited Grand Teton National Park to announce a $44 million investment in making national parks more resilient to climate change. The funding, which comes from the Biden Administration’s Inflation Reduction Act, aims to preserve land and water in national parks. Emhoff’s visit came just a day after President Joe Biden created a new national monument near the Grand Canyon.

During his visit, Emhoff emphasized the importance of preserving national parks and their ecosystems. He stated, “Preserving this land matters. It matters to all of us. It matters to everyone.” With the funding, national parks will be able to address climate change impacts and restore natural habitats.

One of the major focuses of the funding will be on sagebrush projects. Sagebrush ecosystems are critical habitats for various wildlife species, such as mule deer, elk, and pronghorn. These landscapes also support the migration patterns of these animals. The federal funds will help restore sagebrush in the Tetons, which will benefit not only wildlife but also the local communities and economies that rely on healthy ecosystems.

Wyoming has the largest intact sagebrush ecosystem in the West, but it has been significantly reduced over the years due to human activities. However, park staff are working to restore these shrubs, and the federal funds will accelerate their efforts. Park ecologist Laura Jones explained that the money will be used to generate more native seeds and hire more people to plant them. This restoration work will not only benefit the plant community and wildlife but also make the sagebrush habitat more resilient in the face of climate change.

In addition to sagebrush projects, the funding will also go towards restoring Grand Teton and Yellowstone whitebark pines. These trees play a crucial role in keeping snow on the ground and reducing erosion. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently listed the high-alpine trees as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.

The Biden Administration’s America the Beautiful initiative aims to preserve 30% of U.S. lands and water by the end of the decade. With the federal dollars allocated to national parks, efforts will be made to make water supplies in these parks less vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Emhoff emphasized the urgency of taking action, stating, “There is a climate crisis happening right now everywhere as we speak — there’s no disputing it. There’s no denying it. We must act now before it’s too late.”

The investment in national parks’ resilience to climate change is a significant step towards preserving these natural treasures for future generations. With the funding, national parks will be better equipped to address the challenges posed by climate change and protect the diverse ecosystems that they encompass.

Original Story at www.wyomingpublicmedia.org – 2023-08-10 16:05:00