---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 2109a"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "2109a"
heading: "State and private forest landscape-scale restoration program"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/2109a"
units:
  - "Chapter 41 — Cooperative Forestry Assistance"
---

# §2109a. State and private forest landscape-scale restoration program

- (a) **Purpose—** The purpose of this section is to encourage collaborative, science-based restoration of priority forest landscapes.
- (b) **Definitions—** In this section:
  - (1) **Indian tribe—** The term “Indian tribe” has the meaning given the term in [section 5304 of title 25](/usc/25/5304.md).
  - (2) **Nonindustrial private forest land—** The term “nonindustrial private forest land” means land that—
    - (A) is rural, as determined by the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1);
    - (B) has existing tree cover or is suitable for growing trees; and
    - (C) is owned by any private individual, group, association, corporation, Indian tribe, or other private legal entity.
  - (3) **State forest land—** The term “[State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) forest land” means land that—
    - (A) is rural, as determined by the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1); and
    - (B) is under [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) or local governmental ownership and considered to be non-Federal forest land.
- (c) **Establishment—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1), in consultation with [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) foresters or appropriate [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) agencies, shall establish a competitive grant program to provide financial and technical assistance to encourage collaborative, science-based restoration of priority forest landscapes.
- (d) **Eligibility—** To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, an applicant shall submit to the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1), through the [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) forester or appropriate [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) agency, a [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) and private forest landscape-scale restoration proposal based on a restoration strategy that—
  - (1) is complete or substantially complete;
  - (2) is for a multiyear period;
  - (3) covers nonindustrial private forest land or [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) forest land;
  - (4) is accessible by wood-processing infrastructure; and
  - (5) is based on the best available science.
- (e) **Plan criteria—** A [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) and private forest landscape-scale restoration proposal submitted under this section shall include plans—
  - (1) to reduce the risk of uncharacteristic wildfires;
  - (2) to improve [fish and wildlife](/usc/16/3102.md?p=17) habitats, including the habitats of threatened and endangered species;
  - (3) to maintain or improve water quality and watershed function;
  - (4) to mitigate invasive species, insect infestation, and disease;
  - (5) to improve important forest ecosystems;
  - (6) to measure ecological and economic benefits, including air quality and soil quality and productivity; and
  - (7) to [take](/usc/16/3102.md?p=18) other relevant actions, as determined by the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1).
- (f) **Priorities—** In making grants under this section, the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) shall give priority to plans that—
  - (1) further a statewide forest assessment and resource strategy;
  - (2) promote cross boundary landscape collaboration; and
  - (3) leverage public and private resources.
- (g) **Collaboration and consultation—** The Chief of the Forest Service, the Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service, and relevant stakeholders shall collaborate and consult on an ongoing basis regarding—
  - (1) administration of the program established under this section; and
  - (2) identification of other applicable resources for landscape-scale restoration.
- (h) **Matching funds required—** As a condition of receiving a grant under this section, the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) shall require the recipient of the grant to provide funds or in-kind support from non-Federal sources in an amount that is at least equal to the amount of Federal funds.
- (i) **Coordination and proximity encouraged—** In making grants under this section, the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) may consider coordination with and proximity to other landscape-scale [projects](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) on other land under the jurisdiction of the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1), the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) of the Interior, or a Governor of a [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a), including under—
  - (1) the Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program established under [section 7303 of this title](/usc/16/7303.md);
  - (2) landscape [areas](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) designated for insect and disease treatments under [section 6591a of this title](/usc/16/6591a.md);
  - (3) good neighbor authority under [section 2113](/usc/16/2113.md)[^1] of this title;
  - (4) stewardship end result contracting [projects](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) authorized under [section 6591c of this title](/usc/16/6591c.md);
  - (5) appropriate [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a)-level programs; and
  - (6) other relevant programs, as determined by the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1).
- (j) **Regulations—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) shall promulgate such regulations as the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) determines necessary to carry out this section.
- (k) **Report—** Not later than 3 years after December 20, 2018, the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a report on—
  - (1) the status of development, execution, and administration of selected [projects](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4);
  - (2) the accounting of program funding expenditures; and
  - (3) specific accomplishments that have resulted from landscape-scale [projects](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4).
- (l) **Fund—**
  - (1) **In general—** There is established in the Treasury a fund, to be known as the “[State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) and Private Forest Landscape-Scale Restoration Fund” (referred to in this subsection as the “Fund”), to be used by the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) to make grants under this section.
  - (2) **Contents—** The Fund shall consist of such amounts as are appropriated to the Fund under [paragraph (3)](#l-3).
  - (3) **Authorization of appropriations—** There is authorized to be appropriated to the Fund $20,000,000 for each fiscal year beginning with the first full fiscal year after December 20, 2018, through fiscal year 2023, to remain available until expended.

## Footnotes

[^1]: So in original. See section 2113a of this title.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 95–313, § 13A, as added Pub. L. 110–234, title VIII, § 8007, May 22, 2008, 122 Stat. 1285, and Pub. L. 110–246, § 4(a), title VIII, § 8007, June 18, 2008, 122 Stat. 1664, 2047; amended Pub. L. 115–334, title VIII, § 8102(a), Dec. 20, 2018, 132 Stat. 4837.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Codification

Pub. L. 110–234 and Pub. L. 110–246 enacted identical sections. Pub. L. 110–234 was repealed by section 4(a) of Pub. L. 110–246.

### Amendments

2018—Pub. L. 115–334 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, section related to competitive allocation of funds to State foresters or equivalent State officials.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Enactment 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 a note under section 8701 of Title 7, Agriculture.