§6704 Establishment of Institutes

Summary

The Secretary, working with the Secretary of the Interior, must set up Institutes within 180 days after October 5, 2004, to promote adaptive ecosystem management that lowers wildfire risk and restores dry forests and woodlands in the interior West. The Secretary can use an institute that already existed on October 5, 2004. One Institute must be in Arizona at Northern Arizona University, one in New Mexico at New Mexico Highlands University (using INRAM resources), and one in Colorado. The Secretary must also help the Institutes use collaborative processes and adaptive management, and may create more Institutes in other interior West States if, two years after October 5, 2004, the model proves useful. Each Institute must research, carry out, promote, and monitor treatments that reduce hazardous fuels and restore forest health; adapt scientific findings to apply those treatments across landscapes using adaptive management; share scientific and interdisciplinary knowledge with people and groups affected by wildfires and forest work; help design adaptive management and monitoring plans; and publish peer-reviewed annual reports. Each Institute must build skills in the natural, physical, social, and policy sciences and use those together. They may work with colleges, extension programs, and other organizations in the interior West. To receive funding each fiscal year, each Institute must make an annual work plan with the Secretary for review, showing the work will meet the information needs of affected parties.