The Nature Conservancy: Statement In Support Of The Administration Moving Forward With Climate-Smart Agriculture And Forestry Partnership

New Milford CT

10 February, 2022

4:40 AM

Description

Press release from The Nature Conservancy: February 9, 2022 U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced $1 billion funding for a new program, the Partnership for Climate Smart Commodities, which will invest in climate pilot projects across the country. This program will support the agency's strategy for climate-smart agriculture and forestry, which is being developed as a part of the Biden Administration's whole-­of-government effort to address the climate crisis. The Nature Conservancy (TNC) welcomes yesterday's announcement by Secretary Vilsack to support climate-smart agriculture with the launch of the Partnership for Climate Smart Commodities. The following is a statement by Kris Johnson, director of agriculture for The Nature Conservancy in North America: "We look forward to working with USDA and in partnership with farmers, ranchers and forest owners to pilot and advance the critical climate-smart science, innovation, rigorous methodologies and standards our producers and climate need. "Our nation's producers are on the front lines of the climate crisis, enduring extreme weather events such as the recent record-breaking droughts that have impaired row crop production and grazing operations. Investments through programs like the Partnership for Climate Smart Commodities can support adoption of practices that build long-term drought resilience for producers and nature and provide other benefits like improved water quality and healthy ecosystems. We applaud the program's commitment to prioritizing projects by small or historically underserved producers." This press release was produced by The Nature Conservancy. The views expressed here are the author's own.