16 U.S.C. § 6702

Current through P.L. 118-107 (published on www.congress.gov on 11/21/2024)

Section 6702 - Purposes

The purposes of this chapter are-

(1) to enhance the capacity to develop, transfer, apply, monitor, and regularly update practical science-based forest restoration treatments that will reduce the risk of severe wildfires, and improve the health of dry forest and woodland ecosystems in the interior West;

(2) to synthesize and adapt scientific findings from conventional research programs to the implementation of forest and woodland restoration on a landscape scale;

(3) to facilitate the transfer of interdisciplinary knowledge required to understand the socioeconomic and environmental impacts of wildfire on ecosystems and landscapes;

(4) to require the Institutes established under this chapter to collaborate with Federal agencies-

(A) to use ecological restoration treatments to reverse declining forest health and reduce the risk of severe wildfires across the forest landscape; and

(B) to design, implement, monitor, and regularly revise representative wildfire treatments based on the use of adaptive ecosystem management;

(5) to assist land managers in-

(A) treating acres with restoration-based applications; and

(B) using new management technologies (including the transfer of understandable information, assistance with environmental review, and field and classroom training and collaboration) to accomplish the goals identified in-

(i) the National Fire Plan;

(ii) the report entitled "Protecting People and Sustaining Resources in Fire-Adapted Ecosystems-A Cohesive Strategy" (65 Fed. Reg. 67480); and

(iii) the report entitled "10-Year Comprehensive Strategy: A Collaborative Approach for Reducing Wildland Fire Risks to Communities and the Environment" of the Western Governors' Association;

(6) to provide technical assistance to collaborative efforts by affected entities to develop, implement, and monitor adaptive ecosystem management restoration treatments that are ecologically sound, economically viable, and socially responsible; and

(7) to assist Federal and non-Federal land managers in providing information to the public on the role of fire and fire management in dry forest and woodland ecosystems in the interior West.

16 U.S.C. § 6702

Pub. L. 108-317, §3, Oct. 5, 2004, 118 Stat. 1205.

adaptive ecosystem management: The term "adaptive ecosystem management" means a natural resource management process under which planning, implementation, monitoring, research, evaluation, and incorporation of new knowledge are combined into a management approach that-(i) is based on scientific findings and the needs of society;(ii) treats management actions as experiments;(iii) acknowledges the complexity of these systems and scientific uncertainty; and(iv) uses the resulting new knowledge to modify future management methods and policy.
affected entities: The term "affected entities" includes-(A) land managers;(B) stakeholders;(C) concerned citizens; and(D) the States of the interior West, including political subdivisions of the States.
interior West: The term "interior West" means the States of Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah.
restoration: The term "restoration" means a process undertaken to move an ecosystem or habitat toward-(A) a sustainable structure of the ecosystem or habitat; or(B) a condition that supports a natural complement of species, natural function, or ecological process (such as a low-intensity fire).