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Hawai'i will receive more than $8.1 million in grant funding for coastal resilience projects on Moloka'i, Maui and O'ahu, according to Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawai'i.
Schatz announced on Monday that the new funding from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation will enable various restoration projects that will help reduce flood and wildfire risk, protect forests and coral reefs, and increase community resilience.
"This new funding will help communities across Hawai'i adapt to a changing climate," Schatz said in a statement. "The more we invest in proven solutions to protect our environment, the better prepared Hawai'i will be for years to come. We're going to continue working to deliver as much federal funding for these efforts as possible."
The grand awards include $919,400 for the Moloka'i Land Trust to identify suitable wetlands for restoration. The project will develop a final design for two prioritized sites, conduct environmental compliance assessments, and increase community capacity to restore and maintain wetlands.
Additionally, Tipu Tipu Restoration and Sustainability will receive $3.1 million to prevent sediment erosion along abandoned agricultural roads and protect coral reefs and fisheries through engagement of the Native Hawaiian community.
Another $1.67 million will go to the state Department of Land and Natural Resources to protect and restore native vegetation. The project will protect more than 5,000 acres of native forest and reduce sedimentation of coral reefs.