§2109a State and Private Forest Landscape-scale Restoration Program

Summary

Creates a competitive grant program to pay for and help guide collaborative, science-based restoration of important forest areas on State and private lands. The Secretary must work with State foresters or State agencies to run the program. Applicants must send proposals through the State forester or appropriate State agency. Proposals must come from a multiyear restoration plan that is complete or nearly complete, covers nonindustrial private forest land or State forest land, can reach wood-processing facilities, and uses the best available science. Plans must address things like cutting wildfire risk, helping fish and wildlife (including threatened and endangered species), protecting water and watersheds, fighting invasive species and disease, improving forest ecosystems, and measuring ecological and economic benefits (for example air and soil). Priority goes to plans that match a State forest strategy, work across property lines, and bring in other public or private money. The Chief of the Forest Service, the Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service, and stakeholders must keep consulting about program management and other resources. Grant recipients must match Federal money with at least the same amount from non-Federal sources. The Secretary may coordinate grants with other large landscape projects and must write needed rules to run the program. One-line definitions: "Indian tribe" — as defined in title 25; "Nonindustrial private forest land" — rural land with trees or able to grow trees owned by private entities or tribes; "State forest land" — rural forest land owned by State or local government. The Secretary must report to the House and Senate Agriculture Committees not later than 3 years after December 20, 2018, covering project status, spending, and results. A fund called the State and Private Forest Landscape-Scale Restoration Fund is created, and $20,000,000 is authorized for each fiscal year starting with the first full fiscal year after December 20, 2018, through fiscal year 2023, to remain available until spent.