Three tribes are set to benefit from a $25 million provided by the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs to relocate their homes, schools, and other vital infrastructure that is threatened by sea level rise, flooding, and erosion.
These are the first awards given out as part of a program designed to assist tribes in adapting to climate change.
Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, said that One of the most significant climate-related investments we might make in Indian Country is aiding these communities in leaving for safety on their ancestral grounds.
The 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which established the initiative, allots $216 million for climate resilience. The first beneficiaries are Newtok Village and the Native Village of Napakiak in Alaska, both of which face threats from storm surges and rapid erosion as the permafrost thaws.
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According to reports, the third beneficiary is Taholah Village in Washington State, which plans to relocate to a higher elevation due to the threat posed by rising sea levels and river flooding.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs said that eight planning grants totalling $5 million will be given out. Four Alaskan tribes, one each from Arizona, California, Louisiana, and Maine, are among the awardees.
Having money will make it easier for tribes to deal with climate hazards including erosion, flooding, wildfires, and permafrost thawing.
Story was adapted from Yale Environment.
