---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 2109"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "2109"
heading: "General provisions"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/2109"
units:
  - "Chapter 41 — Cooperative Forestry Assistance"
---

# §2109. General provisions

- (a) **Cooperative and coordinating requirements for implementation of programs, etc.** In implementing this chapter, the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) shall, to the maximum extent practicable—
  - (1) work through, cooperate with, and assist [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) foresters or equivalent [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) officials;
  - (2) encourage cooperation and coordination between [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) foresters or equivalent [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) officials and other [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) agencies that manage renewable natural resources;
  - (3) use and encourage cooperators under this chapter to use, private agencies, consult­ants, organizations, firms, and individuals to furnish necessary materials and services; and
  - (4) promote effectiveness and economy by coordinating the direct actions and assistance authorized under this chapter with related programs the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) administers, and with cooperative programs of other agencies.
- (b) **Availability of appropriations—** Money appropriated under this chapter shall remain available until expended.
- (c) **Consultation requirements for implementation of programs, etc.** Requirements for the development of [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) forest resources programs and [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) participation in management assistance, planning assistance, and technology implementation, the apportionment of funds among [States](/usc/16/544.md?p=r) participating under this chapter, the administrative expenses in connection with activities and programs under this chapter, and the amounts to be expended by the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) to assist non-[State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) cooperators under this chapter, shall be determined by the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) in consultation with a committee of not less than five [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) foresters or equivalent [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) officials selected by a majority of the [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) foresters or equivalent [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) officials from [States](/usc/16/544.md?p=r) participating in programs under this chapter. However, the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) need not consult with such committee regarding funds to be expended under emergency conditions that the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) may determine.
- (d) **Definitions—** For the purposes of this chapter—
  - (1) The terms “United States” and “[State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a)” shall include each of the several [States](/usc/16/544.md?p=r), the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands of the United States, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Federated [States](/usc/16/544.md?p=r) of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Republic of Palau, and the territories and possessions of the United States;
  - (2) The term “forest resources” shall include esthetics, [fish and wildlife](/usc/16/3102.md?p=17), forage, outdoor recreation opportunities, timber, and water; and
  - (3) The term “urban forestry” means the planning, establishment, protection, and management of trees and associated plants, individually, in small groups, or under forest conditions within cities, their suburbs, and towns.
- (e) **Rules and regulations—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) may prescribe rules and regulations, as the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) deems appropriate, to implement the provisions of this chapter.
- (f) **Granting, etc., authorities—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) is authorized to make grants, agreements, contracts, and other arrangements the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) deems necessary to implement this chapter.
- (g) **Construction of statutory provisions—** This chapter shall be construed as supplementing all other laws relating to the Department of Agriculture and shall not be construed as limiting or repealing any existing law or authority of the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1), except as specifically cited in [section 2111 of this title](/usc/16/2111.md).
- (h) **Additional assistance—** In [addition](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-2) to the authority provided elsewhere in this chapter, the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) may provide assistance to other countries with respect to the activities described in paragraphs (1) through (10) of [section 2102(b) of this title](/usc/16/2102.md?p=b), paragraphs [(1)](/usc/16/2104.md?p=b-1) through [(5)](/usc/16/2104.md?p=b-5) of section 2104(b)[^1] of this title, and paragraphs (1) through (3) of [section 2105(b) of this title](/usc/16/2105.md?p=b). For the purposes of providing assistance to other countries under this subsection, the term “non-Federal forest land” shall mean any forest land and related renewable natural resources in such countries. In providing the assistance authorized under this subsection, the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) shall coordinate with other Federal officials, departments, agencies, or international organizations, as the President may direct. The references to “[State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) foresters or equivalent [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) officials” in this chapter shall not apply to the assistance provided by the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) to other countries under this subsection.

## Footnotes

[^1]: See References in Text note below.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 95–313, § 13, formerly § 10, July 1, 1978, 92 Stat. 373; Pub. L. 101–513, title VI, § 611(b)(3), formerly § 607(b)(3), Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 2072, renumbered § 611(b)(3), Pub. L. 102–574, § 2(a)(1), Oct. 29, 1992, 106 Stat. 4593; renumbered § 13 and amended Pub. L. 101–624, title XII, §§ 1215(1), 1224(3), Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 3525, 3542; Pub. L. 110–234, title VIII, § 8004, May 22, 2008, 122 Stat. 1284; Pub. L. 110–246, § 4(a), title VIII, § 8004, June 18, 2008, 122 Stat. 1664, 2045.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

Section 2104(b) of this title, referred to in subsec. (h), was in the original a reference to section 7(b), meaning section 7(b) of Pub. L. 95–313, which has been translated as reading section 8(b) of Pub. L. 95–313 as the probable intent of Congress. Section 7(b) of Pub. L. 95–313, which is classified to section 2103c of this title, does not contain pars. (1) to (5).

### Codification

Pub. L. 110–234 and Pub. L. 110–246 made identical amendments to this section. The amendments by Pub. L. 110–234 were repealed by section 4(a) of Pub. L. 110–246.

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 13 of Pub. L. 95–313 was renumbered section 16 and is classified to section 2111 of this title.

### Amendments

2008—Subsec. (d)(1). Pub. L. 110–246, § 8004, substituted “the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Republic of Palau,” for “the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands,”.

1990—Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 101–624, § 1224(3), made technical amendment to reference to section 2111 of this title to reflect renumbering of corresponding section of original act.

Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 101–513, which directed amendment of section 12 of Pub. L. 95–313 by adding a new subsec. (h), was executed to this section to reflect the probable intent of Congress.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 2008 Amendment

Amendment of this section and repeal of Pub. L. 110–234 by Pub. L. 110–246 effective May 22, 2008, the date of enactment of Pub. L. 110–234, see section 4 of Pub. L. 110–246, set out as an Effective Date note under section 8701 of Title 7, Agriculture.