Sierra Club Celebrates DOI’s $195 Million to Protect and Improve National Parks

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the Department of the Interior announced funding for dozens of projects across the country to address climate restoration and resilience in National Parks. The $195 million investment, which comes from the Inflation Reduction Act, will restore ecosystems, provide climate protection for cultural resources, improve visitor safety, invest in volunteer and youth programs, invest in conservation jobs, and much more.

Examples of projects to be funded include:

• Protection from climate impacts such as flooding or wildfires for National Parks
• Funding to expand youth and volunteer-focused programs such as the Landscape Stewardship Corps Pre-Apprenticeship Program, Pacific Islands Conservation Corps Program, and YMCA Partnership Program
• Mitigation of high priority abandoned mine lands to ensure greater visitor and wildlife safety
• Management of invasive plant and wildlife species

In response, Sierra Club Director of the Outdoors for All Campaign, Jackie Ostfeld, released the following statement: 

“This forward-looking investment is so important for ensuring that future generations will still have National Parks to enjoy and instill a love for nature in them. With climate crisis impacts becoming increasingly worse, taking action to provide climate-resilient protection for our forests, mountains, and lakes is vital.

“We applaud the administration’s investment in youth and volunteer programs, which will provide many young people with the opportunity to explore careers in the conservation and outdoors sectors. This investment will not only work to protect our public lands for current and future visitors, but also establish a next generation of protectors and advocates.”