U.S. Senator Mazie Hirono (D-HI), a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, announced on Wednesday that the U.S. Department of Agriculture is awarding $5 million to the State of Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources to support forest management and restoration efforts across the state.

The grant funding will specifically focus on assisting landowners in their efforts to protect and restore Hawaii’s watersheds, forest resources, wildlife habitats and endangered species.

“Hawaii’s forestlands are essential to its diverse ecosystem and this funding is an important investment in the protection and management of these lands throughout our state,” said Hirono in a release. “As Maui continues to recover following the devastating wildfires last year, this funding will help encourage sustainability in preserving our natural resources and support Hawaii’s efforts to plan for and reduce the risk of future wildfires.”

This grant was possible through the Biden-Harris Administration’s Inflation Reduction Act, which Hirono helped pass into law in 2022.

The funding is part of approximately $335 million in grants that were awarded to motivate private forest landowners to manage their forests sustainably and conserve private forests in partnership with states.