§6601 Forestry Rural Revitalization

Summary

The Secretary of Agriculture must use the National Institute of Food and Agriculture and the Cooperative Extension System, and work with the Forest Service, to run education and technical-help programs. These programs must help businesses, industries, and policymakers create jobs, raise incomes, and increase public revenue in ways that protect the environment. They must move useful technologies into natural-resource industries to make them more efficient and competitive, help businesses find and sell in world markets, and train local leaders in community economic planning. The Secretary must also set up programs that teach community economic analysis, planning for diversification, keeping and growing local industries, tourism and entrepreneurship on forest lands, and using Extension databases and tools to add local value to raw forest products. The Cooperative Extension System, land‑grant universities, and county offices must be used to promote sustainable, environmentally sound development. Working with the Forest Service and the State and Private Forestry Technology Marketing Unit at the Forest Products Laboratory, the Secretary may fund projects to speed use of biomass and small-diameter materials, create community enterprises through marketing and demonstrations, and start small businesses that use those materials. There is authorization of $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2023 for these activities.