TALLAHASSEE — Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Charles H. Bronson today announced that his department has received $8 million in federal stimulus grants to minimize the state’s wildfire risk and restore longleaf pine ecosystems.
The funding, part of the federal government’s Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 which is designed to put Americans back to work and rejuvenate the national economy, will be administered by the department’s Division of Forestry.
“We’re very grateful to be chosen to receive these grants,” Bronson said. “It is a tribute to the professionalism and reputation of our Division of Forestry, and the funding will assist us with both our fire-fighting and land management responsibilities.”
Here are the details:
Florida Communities Fuel Management Program
The department is receiving $6.28 million to develop three hazard fuel burn teams, contract with outside companies to reduce hazardous vegetation buildup and hire companies to assist in the department’s longstanding “Firewise” program in an effort to teach homeowners on how to protect their houses from fire.
The funding represents Phase 2 of the project, which began last spring with the receipt of a $900,000 federal grant.
Bronson said the project is designed to minimize Florida’s wildfire threat by decreasing the density of vegetation by using proven land management techniques, including prescribed burning and mechanical methods such as roller chopping, mulching and mowing. It will also involve providing “Firewise” information to civic groups and local homeowners on how to minimize the risk of wildfires to both communities and individual homes.
Regional Longleaf Pine Restoration
The department will receive $1.8 million to restore longleaf pine ecosystems on public lands, assist private landowners with longleaf pine reforestation efforts and increase production of containerized longleaf pine seedlings at the department’s tree nursery.
State lands will experience increased longleaf pine plantings, understory restoration and new research on the trees’ ecosystem and its dependent wildlife. Private landowners will be eligible for incentive payments to implement longleaf pine restoration practices that are approved by their County Forester. And the department’s Andrews Tree Nursery will increase production of containerized tree seedlings to support the effort.
As in the case of the project designed to minimize the wildfire risk, various private contractors will be turned to assist landowners in implementing approved practices.
Bronson stressed the importance of using outside companies to perform much of the work on both projects, noting that the federal stimulus program is designed to put people to work.
“We are committed to working in partnership with other land management organizations and engage contractors in the effort as a key element of the program is job creation,” Bronson said.