§2113 Federal, State, and local coordination and cooperation

Summary

The Secretary of Agriculture must create a Forest Resource Coordinating Committee to guide work on nonindustrial private forests inside the Department and with outside groups. The committee will be led by the Forest Service Chief and include chiefs or directors from several USDA agencies plus non‑federal members appointed to 3‑year terms (with the first group staggered). Non‑federal members must include things like State foresters, a State fish and wildlife representative, a private forest owner, an industry rep, a conservation group rep, a land‑grant college rep, a private forestry consultant, a State Technical Committee rep, and others the Secretary finds helpful. The committee must coordinate agency actions on the national priorities for forests, make clear who in each agency is responsible, advise on how funds are allocated (including competitive set‑asides), help prepare a required report, and meet at least once a year. Federal members get no extra pay. Non‑federal members serve without pay but can be reimbursed for reasonable expenses. The Secretary must also work with each State forester to set up a State Forest Stewardship Coordinating Committee for that State. The State forester runs it, and it should include USDA agency reps and state‑appointed people from local government, consulting foresters, environmental groups, industry, landowners, land trusts, conservation groups, the State fish and wildlife agency, the State Technical Committee, and others. State members serve 3‑year staggered terms and may be reappointed. Existing similar state committees can be used. State committees must consult with other forestry committees, recommend priorities and responsibilities, advise on the statewide assessment and strategy, and suggest lands for the Forest Legacy Program. These state committees do not end, and no State official is forced to take action.