08 August 2023- Today, Congressman David Trone (D-MD) announced that $446,000 in federal funding through the Inflation Reduction Act will be used to plant more than 5,000 native trees and protect endangered species at Catoctin Mountain Park. Last Congress, Trone helped pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which will deliver $52 million to the National Park Service in Fiscal Year 2023 to fund projects throughout the country related to ecosystem resilience, restoration, and environmental planning needs.
“With a rise in severe weather and natural disasters across the world, it’s more important than ever that we continue our fight against climate change. I voted for the Inflation Reduction Act so that we could invest in and defend our vital natural resources,” said Congressman David Trone. “I’m glad that with this new funding we can preserve our national parks and protect endangered species in Maryland. It’s on all of us to create a brighter future for our children and grandchildren.”
“The forest needs our help – removing invasive plants and overabundant deer is not enough,” Rick Slade, Catoctin Mountain Park superintendent, said. “Investments from the Inflation Reduction Act will help us create a forest of healthy, abundant, and mature native trees, which are essential components of climate resilience and wildlife habitat.”
In addition to forest restoration efforts, 40 parks across the eastern United States, including Catoctin Mountain Park, will expand native grasslands by restoring agricultural fields and environmentally degraded lands, funded by a $3 million investment from the IRA. More than 90 percent of U.S. grasslands have been converted to other land uses, making them the most at-risk ecosystems in North America.
