Summary
Lets the Forest Service work with states, tribes, schools, and private groups to collect native seeds and grow seedlings for restoring natural areas.
What problem does this solve?
Restoring damaged forests and lands requires a large supply of native seeds and seedlings, which can be hard to get. This bill allows the Forest Service to partner with states, tribes, and schools to collect more seeds and grow more seedlings for these projects.
Who does this affect?
- State forestry agencies
- Indian Tribes
- Universities and environmental nonprofits
What does this bill do?
New partnerships for ecosystem restoration
Allows the Secretary of Agriculture, through the Forest Service, to make deals with states, tribes, schools, and private groups to help restore natural areas.
Focus on native seeds and seedlings
Specifies that these new partnerships can be used for collecting and storing native seeds and for growing seedlings to replant damaged areas.
Expands a forest restoration program
Updates the Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program to explicitly include collecting native seeds and growing seedlings as approved activities.
Adds universities as partners
Allows institutions of higher education to be included as partners in the Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program.
What is the real world impact?
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Boosts forest and land recovery efforts
Makes it easier to restore areas damaged by things like wildfires by increasing the supply of native seeds and young plants. This helps forests and other natural areas grow back faster and healthier.
When does this start?
This bill would take effect as soon as it is signed into law.