Statement in Support of the Administration Moving Forward with the Climate-Smart Agriculture and Forestry Partnership Program
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Christine Griffiths
The Nature Conservancy
Email: cgriffiths@TNC.ORG
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.”
The Nature Conservancy is a global conservation organization dedicated to conserving the lands and waters on which all life depends. Guided by science, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world’s toughest challenges so that nature and people can thrive together. We are tackling climate change, conserving lands, waters and oceans at an unprecedented scale, providing food and water sustainably and helping make cities more sustainable. Working in 76 countries and territories—37 by direct conservation impact and 39 through partners—we use a collaborative approach that engages local communities, governments, the private sector, and other partners. To learn more, visit www.nature.org or follow @nature_press on Twitter.