1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Rural Forest Markets Act of 2020”.
Rural Forest Markets Act of 2020
A BILL
To authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to guarantee investments that will open new markets for forest owners in rural areas of the United States, and for other purposes.
2. Rural Forest Market Investment Program
Definitions— In this section:
Rural— The term rural has the meaning given the term in section 343 of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1991).
Secretary— The term Secretary means the Secretary of Agriculture.
Establishment of program—
In general— The Secretary shall establish a program, to be known as the Rural Forest Market Investment Program, to guarantee an environmental impact bond, loan, or other investment vehicle, as determined by the Secretary, issued for the sole purpose of financing eligible projects described in subsection (c), to enable rural private forest landowners to participate in an innovative market for forest carbon or other products.
Consideration— In establishing the program under paragraph (1), the Secretary may consider ways to ensure that the program minimizes, to the extent practicable, disruptions to traditional forest products markets.
Eligible projects— An eligible project referred to in subsection (b)(1) is a project developed by private entity, or a publicly supported, charitable nonprofit organization, engaged in the aggregation of sustainable forestry practices implemented by rural private forest landowners to facilitate the sale of credits in the voluntary carbon market or other environmental market, using a methodology approved by a credible, third-party entity, as determined by the Secretary.
Requirements— A project described in subsection (c) that includes the practice of tree planting may only be carried out, as determined by the Secretary—
on land that was historically forested;
using tree species that are native to the region and at ecologically appropriate densities; and
in a manner that does not create other negative impacts to biodiversity or the environment.
Guarantee amount— The Secretary may guarantee not more than $150,000,000 with respect to each bond, loan, or other investment vehicle under subsection (b)(1).
Regulations— Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall issue regulations to implement the program established under subsection (b)(1).
Termination of authority— The authority provided by this section terminates on September 30, 2023.