OIA provides funding to enhance Biosecurity, restore Ecosystems, assess and mitigate Invasive Species in the U.S. Territories
WASHINGTON — The Office of Insular Affairs (OIA) this month announced $2,681,134 in fiscal year 2024 funding from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda that will provide the U.S. territories of American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) with vital biosecurity training opportunities and projects that improve island and coastal ecosystem resilience.
“Funding provided under President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law continues to make impactful contributions to ecosystem restoration and strengthening biosecurity measures for the U.S. territories,” said Assistant Secretary for Insular and International Affairs Cantor. “Strong coastal, coral, and island ecosystems in the territories are critical to overall well-being for these communities.”
Prioritized and identified by leadership in the territories, much of the funding support provided today places a strong emphasis on strengthening local capacity in biosecurity measures, promoting the protection and restoration of biologically rich and culturally significant island and coastal ecosystems, and enhancing community resilience against invasive species and environmental degradation.
The current projects and programs awarded with fiscal year 2024 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funds include projects to benefit American Samoa, Guam, the CNMI, and the USVI in the following areas:
Enhancing Biosecurity and Mitigating Invasive Species Impacts
- $406,673 to the USVI Department of Planning and Natural Resources for their Biosecurity and Community Invasive Species Programs;
- $162,031 will be provided to the U.S. Geological Survey, through an interagency agreement, to Evaluate the Risk of Invasive Species on Ecosystems, Economics, and the Human Health of the U.S. Territories;
- $100,000 to the American Samoa Biodiversity Conservation Office to Launch American Samoa's Terrestrial Early Detection and Rapid Response Project on Tutuila Island; and
- $50,000 to the USVI Department of Planning and Natural Resources for Comprehensive Biosecurity Training: Addressing Invasive Species.
Revegetation of Mined Lands Initiatives
- $552,430 to the American Samoa Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources for Mined Lands Revegetation; and
- $60,000 to the Caribbean Oceanic Restoration and Education (CORE) Foundation (a non-profit organization) for the CORE St. John Coral Nursery Operations and Research Program.
National Revegetation Effort and National Seed Strategy
- $850,000 to the American Samoa Governor’s Resilience Office for Native Seed Strategy for Rehabilitation and Restoration; and
- $500,000 to the American Samoa Biodiversity Conservation Office for Restoring Wetlands and Mangrove Rainforests in Vatia Village and Aunu'u Coastal Areas.
CLOSE UP FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025
Office of Insular Affairs (OIA) has awarded $1.1 million from OIA’s Technical Assistance Program to fund the 2025 Insular Area Close Up Program for the U.S. territories of American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands as well as the freely associated states which are the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau. Assistant Secretary for Insular and International Affairs Carmen G. Cantor today presented Close Up Director Mia Charity with the grant award to support experiential civic education programs for nearly 500 students and educators from the U.S. territories and the freely associated states.
“This important program provides life-changing experiences for youth and educators from the Insular Areas through opportunities to visit Washington, D.C. and other historical locations critical to the founding of our nation and the democratic processes that support our freedoms,” said Carmen G. Cantor, Assistant Secretary for Insular and International Affairs. “Many leaders in the Insular Areas have been influenced by this program to become future public servants.”
Funded through the Office of Insular Affairs Technical Assistance Program since 1987, the Close Up Insular Areas Program provides civic education opportunities for students and educators from the Insular Areas both at the local and federal level and continues to be supported every year by Congress.