Bipartisan Legislation Introduced to Support Reforestation and Habitat Restoration Efforts

U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich, Ben Ray Lujan, and John Cornyn introduced the Seedlings for Sustainable Habitat Restoration Act of 2025, a bipartisan legislation aimed at supporting the development of seedling nurseries and expanding critical seedling supplies for reforestation and habitat restoration programs across the nation. The bill allows funding from the Infrastructure Law to support the development of seedling nurseries at state forestry agencies, local private or non-profit entities, and institutions of higher education. Without sufficient nursery capacity, seedling supplies will not keep pace with critical reforestation efforts underway across the nation's threatened habitats.

Key Takeaways:

• The Seedlings for Sustainable Habitat Restoration Act of 2025 allows for funding from the Infrastructure Law to support the development of seedling nurseries at state forestry agencies, local private or non-profit entities, and institutions of higher education.
• The legislation aims to address the shortage of native seedlings for reforestation and habitat restoration programs, which has resulted in a critical shortage of trees in areas threatened by climate change and wildfires.
• The bill will provide support to local nurseries, like the John T. Harrington Forestry Research Center in Mora, which supplies critical seedlings for climate-resilient trees.
• Texas, home to approximately 60 million acres of forest land, will benefit from the legislation, which will help support forest restoration efforts and seedling growth across the state.
• The bill will provide New Mexico with much-needed support to develop its state nursery and increase the production of drought-tolerant tree seedlings.
• The legislation will enable New Mexico State University to continue and expand its production of tree seedlings at the John T Harrington Forestry Research Center, supporting the massive need to reforest burned landscapes not only in the state but throughout the western region.

Statistics:

• The United States has lost approximately 20% of its tree cover over the last 20 years, disrupting ecosystems and the critical benefits they provide (Senator Lujan).
• Texas has approximately 60 million acres of forest land, more than any other contiguous state (Senator Cornyn).
• The Infrastructure Law provides funding for tree planting programs, but does not address the need for expanded nursery capacity (Senator Heinrich).
• The Seedlings for Sustainable Habitat Restoration Act of 2025 will provide support to approximately [X] number of local nurseries nationwide.
• The bill will support [X] number of critical reforestation and habitat restoration programs across the nation's threatened habitats.

Sources:

• [Senators introduce Seedlings for Sustainable Habitat Restoration Act of 2025, a bipartisan bill to support reforestation and habitat restoration efforts](https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/news/press-release/senators-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-to-support-reforestation-and-habitat-restoration-efforts)
• [Statement of Senator Martin Heinrich on the introduction of the Seedlings for Sustainable Habitat Restoration Act of 2025](https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/news/press-release/statement-of-senator-martin-heinrich-on-the-introduction-of-the-seedlings-for-sustainable-habitat-restoration-act-of-2025)