News Release
Date: March 8, 2024
Contact: NCR_Communications@nps.gov
WASHINGTON— The National Park Service will invest $195 million in Inflation Reduction Act funding to restore and build resilience in the lands and waters that serve as important wildlife and native plant habitats, spaces for recreation and reflection, and memorials to our nation’s history.
In the national capital region, an estimated $13 million will help protect historic structures, such as the Fort Washington lighthouse, the Jefferson Memorial, and Chesapeake and Ohio Canal lockhouses from rising water levels and restore native grasslands that support vulnerable grassland birds and pollinators and preserve historic landscapes.
National parks across the United States will use this funding to prepare for the effects of climate change, protect species, restore ecosystems and invest in jobs in conservation.
“This investment in conservation demonstrates an unprecedented commitment towards tackling the climate crisis and strengthening America’s resilience,” said National Park Service Director Chuck Sams. “From restoring species to cleaning up abandoned mines in our national parks, this investment will support ongoing efforts to protect and preserve our nation’s most cherished places.”
In the national capital region, land development, changing climate conditions, overabundant deer and invasive plants are stressing eastern grassland and forest ecosystems. The Inflation Reduction Act will fund projects to expand the range, connectivity and biodiversity of native grasslands – home to 60 percent of the at-risk plant and animal species in this area. Investments in forest regeneration will help reverse or prevent forest loss, restore forest ecosystems and enhance their long-term resilience.
“National parks will use this investment to remove invasive plants, plant native trees and plants, and protect at-risk species that call the parks home,” National Capital Region Natural Resources and Science Division Manager Pat Campbell said. “Parks will also invest in 3-D scanning of irreplaceable historic structures to help understand and improve their resilience to flood risks.”
Learn more about the National Park Service’s Inflation Reduction Act projects.
About the National Park Service: More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America's 429 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov, and on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.
Last updated: March 8, 2024