Forestry Assistance Programs
Megan Stubbs
Analyst in Agricultural Conservation and Natural Resources Policy
March 6, 2012
Congressional Research Service
7-5700
www.crs.gov
RL31065
CRS Report for Congress
Pr
epared for Members and Committees of Congress

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Forestry Assistance Programs

Summary
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has numerous programs to support management of
state and private forests. These programs are under the jurisdiction of the Agriculture Committees
and are often examined in the periodic legislation to reauthorize agricultural programs, commonly
known as farm bills. The 2008 farm bill (P.L. 110-246) included a forestry title with numerous
provisions, and forestry activities were included in several other titles, as well. Congress might
oversee the implementation as well as the funding of these programs.
Forestry-specific assistance programs (in contrast to agriculture conservation programs that
include forestry activities) are primarily administered by the USDA Forest Service (FS), with
permanent authorization of funding as needed. Some programs provide technical assistance—
information, advice, and aid on specific projects. Other programs provide financial assistance,
usually through grants (with or without matching contributions from recipients) or cost-sharing
(typically though state agencies, with varying levels of contributions from recipients). Many
programs provide both.
Most of the programs provide assistance to the states. The state agencies can use the assistance on
state forestlands or to assist local governments or private landowners. How the states use the
funds is largely at the discretion of the states, within the authorizations of each program; however,
the 2008 farm bill added national priorities for state assistance and state-wide assessments and
strategies to focus state efforts on achieving the national priorities. Funds are appropriated for
planning and implementing forestry and related land management practices—site preparation for
reforestation, tree planting, thinning, pruning, fertilizing, prescribed burning, restoring
watersheds, improving wildlife habitats, and other activities. Other programs provide support for
protecting forestlands from wildfires, insects and diseases, and from clearing forests for non-
forest uses (such as growing crops or building houses). Two programs are designed specifically to
assist landowners to recover or restore forests following catastrophic events, such as wildfires.
Additional programs provide economic assistance for communities in or near federal forests
whose economies have traditionally relied on forests and forest resources. In addition,
International Forestry is often included as a forestry assistance program, because it provides
technical forestry help and because it has often been funded out of FS appropriations for forestry
assistance programs.
Finally, states are authorized to request consolidated payments, for flexibility in program
administration, and several coordinating or advisory groups exist to coordinate programs or for
specific purposes under one or more programs.
Funding for the forest management assistance programs—forest stewardship and urban and
community forestry—has remained relatively constant over the past five years. Forest protection
programs—forest health (for insect and disease identification and control), fire assistance, and
forest legacy (for easements to prevent forest clearing)—grew substantially in 2001, and have
remained at relatively high levels. For the first time in several years, forest recovery programs
have begun to receive intermittent funding, primarily through supplemental appropriation acts.
Funding for economic assistance programs has declined after peaking in FY2001.

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Contents
Overview.......................................................................................................................................... 1
Assistance for Forest Management Practices .................................................................................. 4
Forest Stewardship .................................................................................................................... 5
Purposes .............................................................................................................................. 5
Activities ............................................................................................................................. 5
Eligibility............................................................................................................................. 6
Authorization and Appropriations....................................................................................... 6
Rural Forestry Assistance .......................................................................................................... 7
Purposes .............................................................................................................................. 7
Activities ............................................................................................................................. 7
Eligibility............................................................................................................................. 7
Authorization and Appropriations....................................................................................... 7
Financial, Technical, and Related Assistance to States.............................................................. 7
Purpose................................................................................................................................ 7
Activities ............................................................................................................................. 8
Eligibility............................................................................................................................. 8
Authorization and Appropriations....................................................................................... 8
Urban and Community Forestry Assistance .............................................................................. 8
Purposes .............................................................................................................................. 8
Activities ............................................................................................................................. 9
Eligibility............................................................................................................................. 9
Authorization and Appropriations....................................................................................... 9
Assistance for Forest Protection .................................................................................................... 10
Forest Health Protection .......................................................................................................... 10
Purposes ............................................................................................................................ 10
Activities ........................................................................................................................... 10
Eligibility........................................................................................................................... 11
Authorization and Appropriations..................................................................................... 11
Rural Fire Protection ............................................................................................................... 12
Purpose.............................................................................................................................. 12
Activities ........................................................................................................................... 12
Eligibility........................................................................................................................... 12
Authorization and Appropriations..................................................................................... 12
Forest Legacy .......................................................................................................................... 13
Purposes ............................................................................................................................ 13
Activities ........................................................................................................................... 13
Eligibility........................................................................................................................... 13
Authorization and Appropriations..................................................................................... 14
Community Forest and Open Space Conservation.................................................................. 14
Purpose.............................................................................................................................. 14
Activities ........................................................................................................................... 14
Eligibility........................................................................................................................... 14
Authorization and Appropriations..................................................................................... 15
Community Fire Protection ..................................................................................................... 15
Purpose.............................................................................................................................. 15
Activities ........................................................................................................................... 15
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Eligibility........................................................................................................................... 15
Authorization and Appropriations..................................................................................... 16
Assistance for Forest Recovery or Restoration.............................................................................. 16
Emergency Reforestation Assistance....................................................................................... 16
Purpose.............................................................................................................................. 16
Activities ........................................................................................................................... 16
Eligibility........................................................................................................................... 16
Authorization and Appropriations..................................................................................... 17
Emergency Forest Restoration................................................................................................. 17
Purpose.............................................................................................................................. 17
Activities ........................................................................................................................... 17
Eligibility........................................................................................................................... 17
Authorization and Appropriations..................................................................................... 18
Economic Assistance ..................................................................................................................... 18
Economic Action ..................................................................................................................... 18
Purpose.............................................................................................................................. 18
Activities ........................................................................................................................... 18
Eligibility........................................................................................................................... 19
Authorization and Appropriations..................................................................................... 19
Cooperative National Forest Products Marketing Program..................................................... 20
Purpose.............................................................................................................................. 20
Activities ........................................................................................................................... 20
Eligibility........................................................................................................................... 20
Authorization and Appropriations..................................................................................... 20
International Forestry..................................................................................................................... 20
Purpose.............................................................................................................................. 20
Activities ........................................................................................................................... 20
Eligibility........................................................................................................................... 21
Authorization and Appropriations..................................................................................... 21
Related Provisions ......................................................................................................................... 21
Consolidation of Payments...................................................................................................... 22
The National Urban and Community Forestry Advisory Council........................................... 22
Forest Resource Coordinating Committee .............................................................................. 22
State Forest Stewardship Coordinating Committees ............................................................... 23
Summary and Conclusions ............................................................................................................ 24

Tables
Table 1. USDA Forestry Assistance Programs ................................................................................ 2
Table 2. Forestry Assistance Program Activities ............................................................................. 3
Table 3. Appropriations for Forest Stewardship, FY2008-FY2012................................................. 6
Table 4. Appropriations for Urban and Community Forestry, FY2008-FY2012........................... 10
Table 5. Appropriations for Forest Health Protection, FY2008-FY2012 ...................................... 11
Table 6. Appropriations for Rural Fire Protection, FY2008-FY2012............................................ 13
Table 7. Appropriations for Forest Legacy, FY2008-FY2012 ....................................................... 14
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Table 8. Appropriations for Community Forest and Open Space Conservation, FY2008-
FY2012 ....................................................................................................................................... 15
Table 9. Appropriations for Emergency Forest Restoration, FY2008-FY2012 ............................. 18
Table 10. Appropriations for Economic Action, FY2008-FY2012................................................ 19
Table 11. Appropriations for International Forestry, FY2008-FY2012 ......................................... 21

Contacts
Author Contact Information........................................................................................................... 25
Acknowledgments ......................................................................................................................... 25

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he federal government has numerous programs to support forest management on state and
private forestlands, primarily administered by the Forest Service (FS) in the U.S.
T Department of Agriculture (USDA). The House and Senate Agriculture Committees often
examine these programs in the periodic legislation to reauthorize agriculture programs,
commonly known as farm bills. The 2008 farm bill (P.L. 110-246) contained a forestry title (as
did three of the previous four farm bills) and addressed forests and forestry practices in several
other titles.1 Congress provides annual appropriations for these programs, and may oversee their
implementation.
This report describes the current forestry assistance programs funded through the State and
Private Forestry (S&PF) branch of the FS.2 Following a brief overview, this report presents basic
information on the programs to assist forestry practices, forest protection, forest recovery, and
rural economies—the purposes of the programs, types of activities funded, eligibility
requirements, and authorized program duration and funding level, with recent program
appropriations.
Overview
Federal forestry assistance for nonfederal landowners has been a part of USDA programs for
more than a century. Initial forestry assistance efforts began with the creation of the USDA
Division of Forestry in 1881 (to complement forestry research begun with funding in 1876).
Forestry assistance and research programs grew slowly, and in 1901 the Division was upgraded to
the USDA Bureau of Forestry. In 1905, the USDA Bureau merged with the Interior Department’s
Division of Forestry (which administered the forest reserves, later renamed national forests) and
became the USDA Forest Service (FS). Forestry assistance, the primary mission of the State and
Private Forestry (S&PF) branch, together with forestry research and management of the National
Forest System, comprise the three primary FS missions.
Authority for the forestry assistance programs was reestablished and coordinated in the Clarke-
McNary Act of 1924 (ch. 348, 43 Stat. 653). This law guided these programs for more than half a
century, until it was revised in the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978 (CFAA, P.L. 95-
313; 16 U.S.C. §§2101 et seq.). The CFAA has been amended several times, including in the four
most recent farm bills. The Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990—the 1990
farm bill (P.L. 101-624)—added and rewrote several of the CFAA sections. The Federal
Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996—the 1996 farm bill (P.L. 104-127)—made a
few additions and modifications to the CFAA (as amended). The Farm Security and Rural
Investment Act of 2002—the 2002 farm bill (P.L. 107-171)—replaced two CFAA provisions (as
amended) with a new provision, and created another new program. Finally, the Food,
Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008—the 2008 farm bill (P.L. 110-246)—established national
priorities and a process for states to address them, while adding and modifying other programs.
There are currently more than a dozen forestry assistance programs, as shown in Table 1. The
programs are primarily administered by the FS, with permanently authorized funding but without

1 See CRS Report RL33917, Forestry in the 2008 Farm Bill, by Ross W. Gorte and Megan Stubbs.
2 Assistance for forestry practices is also available through many agricultural conservation programs, generally under
the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. For information on these programs, see CRS Report R40763,
Agricultural Conservation: A Guide to Programs, by Megan Stubbs.
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specified funding levels. No forestry assistance programs have mandatory spending; all require
annual funding, and all are funded in the annual Interior appropriations acts. Table 1 identifies the
U.S. Code citation, the authorized duration and level of funding, and FY2012 enacted funding for
each program; the FY2012 funding includes both S&PF appropriations and transfers from
Wildland Fire Management appropriations. Note that some programs are combined for funding
purposes. Programs are listed in decreasing order of FY2012 appropriations.
Table 1. USDA Forestry Assistance Programs
Authorization
FY2012
Program
U.S. Code Citation
Enacted
Duration Funding Fundinga
Forest Health Protection
16 U.S.C. §2104
permanent
as needed
$112 million
Rural Fire Protectionb
16 U.S.C. §2106
permanent
as needed
$99 million
Forest Legacy
16 U.S.C. §2103c
permanent
as needed
$53 million
Urban Forestry
16 U.S.C. §2105
permanent
as needed
$31 million
Forest Stewardship
16 U.S.C. §2103a
permanent
as needed
$29 million
Rural Forestry Assistance
16 U.S.C. §2102
permanent
as needed
d
Assistance to States
16 U.S.C. §2107
permanent
as needed
d
Emergency Forest Restoration
16 U.S.C. §§2201-2204
permanent
as needed
$28 millionc
International Forestry
16 U.S.C. §§4501-4505
permanent
as needed
$8 million
Community Forest and Open Space
16 U.S.C. §2103d
permanent
as needed
$2 million
Conservation
Emergency Reforestation
16 U.S.C. §2106a
unspecified
unspecified
$0
Economic Action
7 U.S.C. §§6611-6617
permanent
as needede $0
Wood Product Marketing
16 U.S.C. §2112
permanent
as needed
f
Community Fire Protection
16 U.S.C. §2106c
permanent
as neededg $0
a. Includes both S&PF appropriations and funds transferred from Wildland Fire Management appropriations.
b. Includes both State Fire Assistance and Volunteer Fire Assistance programs. Authorized funding is $35
mil ion annual y in cost sharing and “as needed” for other activities.
c. Supplemental funding through the FY2012 agricultural appropriations act (P.L. 112-55).
d. Since FY1993, Congress has funded this program as part of the Forest Stewardship program.
e. Up to 5% of FS receipts from sales and user fees, plus added funds “as needed.”
f.
Since FY1993, Congress has funded this program as part of the Economic Action Program.
g. Authorized at $35 million annual y for FY2002-FY2007, “as needed” thereafter.
Many forestry assistance programs are intended to provide assistance to the states for undertaking
forestry practices intended to improve timber productivity or to enhance other resource values.
These are shown in Table 2 as forest management assistance programs.3 For the first time since at
least 1978, no forestry program exists to provide cost-sharing for forestry practices on private

3 The forestry program to provide financial assistance to private landowners for forest management—the Forest Land
Enhancement Program (that replaced the Forestry Incentives and Stewardship Incentives Programs in 2002)—was not
reauthorized in the 2008 farm bill.
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lands. However, the 2008 farm bill expanded the definition of authorized conservation practices
for agricultural conservation programs generally to include forestry practices, and thus financial
assistance to private forest landowners may be feasible through the conservation programs.4
Table 2. Forestry Assistance Program Activities
Program
Type of
Aid
Eligible Recipients
Primary Activities
Forest Management Practices
Forest Stewardship
tech. &
states
planning; tree planting; thinning; watershed
financial
restoration; wildlife habitat improvement
Rural Forestry Assistance
tech. &
states
planning; produce & distribute tree seeds &
financial
seedlings; protect soils
Assistance to States
tech. &
states
planning, organization, & management; data
financial
col ection & management
Urban & Community
tech. &
state & local govts.,
planning; education; tree planting &
Forestry
financial
private orgs.
maintenance
Forest Protection
Forest Health Protection
tech. &
governments—federal,
survey, prevent, retard, or control insects
financial
state, & local
& diseases
Rural Fire Protection
tech. &
states; volunteer fire
systems for fire prevention, control, & use;
financial
departments
fire equipment & training; etc.
purchase forestlands or easements for
Forest Legacy
financial
states
forests threatened with conversion to
other uses
Community Fire Protection
tech. &
communities
planning; fuel reduction; education; wood
financial
utilization & marketing
Community Forest & Open
local govts., Indian tribes, purchase forestlands or easements for
Space Conservation
financial
nonprofit orgs.
forests threatened with conversion to
other uses
Forest Recovery & Restoration
Emergency Reforestation
financial
private landowners
site preparation & tree planting for areas
with trees killed by natural disasters
Emergency Forest
financial private
landowners
restoration of forested areas damaged by
Restoration
natural disasters
Economic Assistance
Economic Action
tech. &
rural communities,
planning; training & education; loans for
financial
workers, firms
infrastructure & facilities
Wood Product Marketing
tech. &
states, firms, & private
domestic & export marketing
financial
landowners
International Forestry
technical other
countries
planning & management; fire, insect, &
disease prevention & control; rehabilitation


4 For information on USDA conservation programs, see CRS Report R40763, Agricultural Conservation: A Guide to
Programs, by Megan Stubbs.
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Some programs provide assistance for protecting forestlands from wildfire, insects, diseases, and
for preventing conversion of forests to non-forest uses (e.g., agriculture, residences). Table 2
shows these as forest protection programs. Forest health and community fire protection activities
can be applied on private lands with the cooperation of the landowner. Most other forest
protection programs provide financial and/or technical assistance to government or quasi-
government entities—states, local governments, communities, volunteer fire departments, and
Indian tribes. The Community Forestry and Open Space Conservation program also allows grants
to nonprofit organizations.
Two programs provide funding directly to private landowners in response to disasters. The
Emergency Reforestation Program was created in 1990, and has not been funded since 1993. The
Emergency Forest Restoration Program was created in the 2008 farm bill as an amendment to an
existing agricultural conservation program to assist landowners in recovering from natural
disasters.
Two other programs provide assistance to communities whose economic well-being has
traditionally depended on federal forests. These are shown as economic assistance programs in
Table 2. In addition, International Forestry has been included, because (a) it provides technical
assistance to other nations on forestry matters, and (b) it has often been funded out of S&PF
appropriations.
Table 2 also shows the type of assistance available under each program. Some programs provide
only technical assistance, which can range from relevant existing information to advice and aid
on specific projects. Other programs provide financial assistance. Typically these programs are
grants (with or without contributions from recipients) or cost-sharing (with varying levels of
matching contributions from recipients), although two programs have other “financial”
provisions: (1) Forest Health Protection funds FS activities to survey and to control insects or
diseases on state or private lands (with the consent and cooperation of the landowner); and (2)
Forest Legacy includes federal purchase of lands or easements as well as grants to states. Many
programs include both technical and financial assistance.
Assistance for Forest Management Practices
Four forestry assistance programs provide financial and/or technical aid for planning and
implementing forestry practices (establishing and managing stands of trees) on nonfederal lands.
Two of the programs (Rural Assistance and Assistance to States) have been funded through a third
FS program (Forest Stewardship). Historically, forestry assistance has included programs with
cost-share assistance to private landowners for forestry practices on their lands, but the forestry-
specific landowner assistance program created in the 2002 farm bill (the Forest Land
Enhancement Program) was not reauthorized in the 2008 farm bill.5

5 The Forest Land Enhancement Program (FLEP) in the 2002 farm bill replaced the Forestry Incentives Program (FIP)
created in the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978 and the Stewardship Incentives Program (SIP) added in the
1990 farm bill. FLEP was created with $100 million in mandatory spending through FY2007, but some funds were
borrowed to pay for firefighting and others were cancelled. Ultimately, only about half of the mandatory funds were
actually spent on landowner assistance. FIP appropriations had been between $10 and $15 million annually through
FY1994 and between $5 and $7 million annually from FY1995 through FY2002 (except for $16.6 million in FY1999).
SIP funding was more sporadic, with funds between $15 and $20 million for FY1991 and FY1993 through FY1995,
$6.5 million in FY1998, $4.5 million annually in FY1996 and FY1997, and $3.0 million in FY2002, with no funding in
(continued...)
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Forest Stewardship
Purposes
The Forest Stewardship program was created to improve timber production and environmental
protection on nonfederal forest lands. The Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the FS,6 is
authorized “to encourage the long-term stewardship of nonindustrial private forest lands.” These
lands are defined as “lands with existing tree cover, or suitable for growing trees, and owned by
any private individual, group, association, corporation, Indian tribe, or other private legal entity.”7
Forest stewardship is not defined directly in the statute or indirectly by reference to any listing of
forest stewardship practices or standards.
Section 8001 of the 2008 farm bill added a set of national priorities for Forest Stewardship of
private forest conservation through federal support for state assistance. National priorities,
including for allocating funding, are:
• conserving and managing working forests for multiple values and uses;
• protecting forests from threats, including “catastrophic wildfires, hurricanes,
tornados, windstorms, snow or ice storms, flooding, drought, invasive species,
insect or disease outbreak, or development,” and restoring appropriate forest
types in response to such threats; and
• enhancing public benefits from private forests, including air and water quality,
soil conservation, biological diversity, carbon storage, forest products, forestry
jobs, production of renewable energy, wildlife, wildlife corridors, wildlife
habitat, and recreation.
Activities
The program provides technical assistance to private landowners to help them evaluate alternative
actions, including:
• managing and enhancing the productivity of timber, fish and wildlife habitat,
water quality, wetlands, recreational resources, and aesthetic values;
• investing in practices to protect, maintain, and enhance resources;
• ensuring that afforestation, reforestation, improvement of poorly stocked stands,
timber stand improvement, practices to improve seedling growth and survival,
and growth enhancement practices occur where needed to enhance and sustain
the long-term productivity of timber and non-timber forest resources; and

(...continued)
the other years (FY1992 and FY1999—FY2001).
6 Throughout this report, the FS as the action agency is identified in lieu of the Secretary of Agriculture, even though
the laws typically specify action by the Secretary.
7 Typically, “nonindustrial private forest lands” exclude forest lands owned by companies engaged in manufacturing
wood products, but the definition for the forest stewardship program, in 16 U.S.C. Section 2103a(c), apparently allows
the program to be available for timber industry lands, as well.
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• protecting private forests from damage caused by fire, insects, disease, and
damaging weather.
Eligibility
The FS provides technical and financial aid to the states, which provides information and
assistance to private landowners. For states to be eligible to receive funds, they must prepare:
• a statewide assessment of forest resource conditions, including:
—the conditions and trends of forest resources in the state;
—threats to forest lands and resources, consistent with the national priorities;
—any areas or regions of the state that are a priority; and
—any multi-state areas that are a regional priority; and
• a long-term statewide forest resource strategy, including:
—strategies for addressing the threats to forest resources identified in the assessment; and
—a description of the resources necessary for the state forester8 to address the statewide
strategy.
The assessments and strategies are to be updated “at such times as the Secretary determines to be
necessary,” and are to be coordinated with the state’s forest stewardship coordinating committee
(see below), wildlife agency, technical committee (under Section 1261 of the Food Security Act
of 1985 (16 U.S.C. §3861)), and relevant federal land management agencies.
Authorization and Appropriations
The Forest Stewardship program was added as a new Section 5 to the CFAA by Section 1215 of
the 1990 farm bill. It is codified at 16 U.S.C. Section 2103a. Annual appropriations for Forest
Stewardship were authorized at $25 million annually for FY1991-FY1995, with “such sums as
may be necessary thereafter.” The authorization does not expire. Funding for statewide forest
resource assessments and strategies was authorized at $10 million annually for FY2008-FY2012,
with up to another $10 million from other appropriations for planning under the CFAA. Annual
appropriations are shown in Table 3.
Table 3. Appropriations for Forest Stewardship, FY2008-FY2012
(in millions)

FY2008 FY2009 FY2010 FY2011 FY2012

Forest
Stewardship $29.532 $27.000 $29.369 $32.548 $28.814


8 For all the programs discussed in this report, the term state forester means the state forester or “equivalent state
official.”
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Rural Forestry Assistance
Purposes
The Rural Forestry Assistance program was created to assist in the management and protection of
nonfederal forests. The FS is authorized to assist landowners in “protecting, maintaining,
enhancing, restoring, and preserving” forestlands and the values and uses they provide and in
protecting forests from insects, diseases, fire, and conversion to alternative uses. The program
also assists states in providing support for establishing and managing timber stands on nonfederal
lands and for protecting and improving soils and water yields.
Activities
The FS is authorized to provide “financial, technical, educational, and related assistance” for
“private forest land owners and managers, vendors, forest resource operators, forest resource
professionals, public agencies, and individuals to enable such persons to carry out activities that
are consistent with the purposes” of the program. The program may also provide “financial,
technical, and related assistance” to the states to produce, distribute, and plant tree seeds and
seedlings; to assist forest management practices; and to protect soil fertility and water quality and
flows.
Eligibility
The FS provides assistance to state foresters for the entire program and to state extension
directors for assisting forest landowners. Assistance to private landowners is through the state
agencies.
Authorization and Appropriations
Rural Forestry Assistance was created in Section 3 of the CFAA, and rewritten in Section 1213 of
the 1990 farm bill. It is codified at 16 U.S.C. Section 2102. The authorization of annual
appropriations is “such sums as may be necessary,” and does not expire. Since FY1993, the
program has not been funded separately, but rather has been included as part of the Forest
Stewardship program. (See above.)
Financial, Technical, and Related Assistance to States
Purpose
The State Assistance program was created to foster coordination of state and federal organizations
in providing assistance to private landowners. The FS is authorized to assist in developing
“stronger and more efficient State organizations,” to ensure that forest data are available and
comparable, and to foster adoption of new technologies.
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Activities
The FS is authorized to provide “financial, technical, and related assistance” to state foresters for
improving organizational management and forest data collection and use. Specifically, the
program is to “enable them to better fulfill their responsibilities for the protection and
management on non-Federal forest lands [including] ... assistance in matters related to
organizational management, program planning and management, budget and fiscal accounting
services, personnel training and management, information services, and recordkeeping.” The
program may also be used “in the assembly, analysis, display, and reporting of State forest
resources data, in the training of State forest resources planners, and in participating in natural
resources planning.” In addition, the FS is authorized to create “a program of technology
implementation.”
Eligibility
The FS provides assistance to state foresters, and for technology implementation, to
“cooperators.”
Authorization and Appropriations
Financial, Technical, and Related Assistance to States was established in Section 8 of the CFAA,
and renumbered as Section 11 by the 1990 farm bill; it is codified at 16 U.S.C. Section 2107. The
funding authorization is for “such sums as may be necessary,” and does not expire. Since
FY1993, the program has not been funded separately, but rather has been included as part of the
Forest Stewardship program. (See above.)
Urban and Community Forestry Assistance
Purposes
The Urban and Community Forestry Assistance program was created to expand knowledge and
awareness of the value of urban trees and to encourage the maintenance and expansion of urban
tree cover. The FS is to:
• improve understanding of the benefits of preserving existing tree cover in urban
areas and communities;
• encourage owners of private residences and commercial properties to maintain
trees and expand forest cover on their properties;
• provide education programs and technical assistance to state and local
organizations in maintaining forested lands and individual trees;
• provide assistance through competitive matching grants for urban and
community forestry projects;
• implement a tree planting program to support urban open space programs, reduce
carbon dioxide emissions, conserve energy, and improve air quality;
• promote demonstration projects;
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• enhance the technical skills and understanding of sound tree maintenance and
arboricultural practices of individuals involved with urban and community
forests and trees; and
• expand existing research and educational efforts.
Activities
The FS is authorized to provide financial, technical, and related assistance to state foresters and to
establish and support state information and technical assistance programs to encourage
“cooperative efforts to plan urban forestry programs and to plant, protect, and maintain, and
utilize wood from, trees in open spaces, greenbelts, roadside screens, parks, woodlands, curb
areas, and residential developments.” The FS is also authorized to cooperate directly with local
governments and with interested members of the public. The Urban and Community Forestry
program is directed to:
• assist urban areas and communities in inventorying their forest resources and
identifying tree planting opportunities;
• assist state and local organizations in organizing and conducting urban and
community forestry projects and programs;
• improve education and technical support in selecting appropriate tree species,
providing for proper tree planting, maintenance, and protection, protecting
individual trees, preserving open spaces, and identifying opportunities for
expanding tree cover;
• assist in developing state and local tree management plans; and
• increase public understanding of the energy conservation, economic, social,
environmental, and psychological values of trees and open space in urban and
community environments.
In addition, the FS is to establish an “urban and community forestry challenge cost-share
program” for competitive grants to eligible communities and organizations for up to 50% of
project costs. State foresters make recommendations on project proposals, and the FS awards
grants based on criteria developed in consultation with the National Urban and Community
Forestry Advisory Council (established under Section 9(g) of the CFAA, and described below).
Eligibility
No criteria for eligibility are specified in law. Apparently, any community, private nonprofit
organization, or individual can apply for assistance.
Authorization and Appropriations
Urban and Community Forestry was established in Section 6 of the CFAA, and rewritten and
renumbered as Section 9 in Section 1219 of the 1990 farm bill. It is codified at 16 U.S.C. Section
2105. The authorization of appropriations was $30 million annually for FY1991-FY1995 and
“such sums as may be necessary thereafter,” and does not expire. Annual appropriations are
shown in Table 4.
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Table 4. Appropriations for Urban and Community Forestry, FY2008-FY2012
(in millions)

FY2008 FY2009 FY2010 FY2011 FY2012
Urban and
Community
$27.691 $29.541 $30.377 $32.04 $31.327
Forestry
Assistance for Forest Protection
There are currently five authorized programs to provide financial and technical assistance for
protecting nonfederal forests. Two programs are funded in multiple expanded budget line items.
Forest Health and Rural Fire Protection both have two funding components, and both receive
funds through S&PF appropriations and Wildland Fire Management appropriations. To date, the
Community Fire Protection program has not been funded separately (though states can use Rural
Fire Protection funds for the program). Lastly, the Community Forest and Open Space
Conservation program was created in the 2008 farm bill. The programs are discussed below in
descending order of FY2012 funding.
Forest Health Protection
Purposes
The Forest Health Protection program was created to protect trees, forests, and wood products,
directly on the national forests and in cooperation with others on other lands. The FS is
authorized to:
• enhance the growth and maintenance of trees and forests;
• promote the stability of forest-related industries and employment through the
protection of forest resources;
• aid in forest fire prevention and control;
• conserve forest cover on watersheds, shelterbelts, and windbreaks;
• protect outdoor recreation opportunities and other forest resources; and
• extend timber supplies by protecting wood products, stored wood, and wood in
use.
Activities
The FS is authorized, directly for the national forests and in cooperation with others for other
lands, to:
• conduct surveys of insect infestations, disease conditions, and man-made stresses
affecting trees, and to monitor changes;
• determine measures needed to prevent, retard, control, or suppress insect
infestations and disease epidemics;
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• plan, organize, direct, and perform those measures;
• provide information, advice, and assistance for maintaining healthy forests and
coordinate use of pesticides and other toxic substances;
• develop technologies and test research results prior to full-scale application; and
• promote silvicultural and management techniques to protect or improve forest
health.
Eligibility
The FS can act on its own lands. On other lands, operations “to prevent, retard, control, or
suppress insects or diseases ... shall not be conducted without the consent, cooperation, and
participation [including financial contributions] of the entity having ownership of or jurisdiction
over the affected land.” Appropriations may not be used to pay for cutting or removing dead or
dying trees, unless necessary to prevent the spread of the epidemic, or to compensate for property
injured, damaged, or destroyed. The Secretary may also, by contract or agreement, provide
financial assistance to state foresters or private organizations to monitor forest health and protect
forest lands. Finally, the Secretary, in cooperation with state foresters, may provide 50%-75%
cost shares to cooperators who have established acceptable integrated pest management strategies
for gypsy moths, southern pine beetles, spruce budworms, or other major insect infestations.
Authorization and Appropriations
Forest Health Protection was created as Section 5 of the CFAA, and rewritten and renumbered as
Section 8 in Section 1218 of the 1990 farm bill. It is codified at 16 U.S.C. Section 2104. Annual
appropriations are authorized at “such sums as may be necessary,” except for a $10 million
annual authorization for cost-sharing to cooperators on integrated pest management strategies.
The funding authorization does not expire. Annual appropriations for the forest health protection
program are shown in Table 5. The table distinguishes funds for federal lands from cooperative
(nonfederal) lands, and includes funding through the Wildland Fire Management account as well
as through the S&PF account. Appropriations rose substantially after the severe fire season in the
summer of 2000; during the 1990s, Forest Health Protection funding averaged about $50 million
annually, compared to $127.5 million annually over the past five years.
Table 5. Appropriations for Forest Health Protection, FY2008-FY2012
(in millions)
FY2008
FY2009
FY2010
FY2011
FY2012
Federal lands
$68.140
$71.362
$78.034
$77.447
$63.383
Cooperative lands
54.395
56.220
$60.001
$60.226
$48.352
Total $122.535
$127.582
$138.035
$137.673
$111.735
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Rural Fire Protection
Purpose
Rural Fire Protection (technically, Rural Fire Prevention and Control) was created to assist in
preventing and controlling wildfires, to protect human lives, crops and livestock, property and
other improvements, and natural resources in rural areas. The FS is authorized to coordinate
efforts and to “provide prompt and adequate assistance whenever a rural fire emergency
overwhelms, or threatens to overwhelm, the firefighting capability” of states or local agencies.
The program has two components, with separate funding accounts: state fire assistance and rural
volunteer fire assistance.
Activities
The FS, in cooperation with state foresters, is to develop systems and methods, and assist in their
implementation, for fire prevention, fire control, and prescribed fire use by state foresters, and
through them, by other agencies and organizations, including rural volunteer fire departments.
The FS is also authorized to provide 50% cost-share assistance “to conduct preparedness and
mobilization activities, including training, equipping, and otherwise enabling State and local
firefighting agencies to respond to requests for fire suppression assistance.” Finally, the FS is to
cooperate with the General Services Administration (GSA) to “encourage the use of excess
personal property ... by State and local fire forces receiving assistance.”
Eligibility
The Secretary is authorized to provide financial, technical, and related assistance to state foresters
and to rural volunteer fire departments. The latter are defined as “any organized, not for profit,
fire protection organization that provides service primarily to a community or city” of up to
10,000 people, “whose firefighting personnel is 80 percent or more volunteer, and that is
recognized as a fire department by the laws of the State.”
Authorization and Appropriations
The Rural Fire Protection program was established as Section 7 of the CFAA, and renumbered as
Section 10 by the 1990 farm bill. It is codified at 16 U.S.C. Section 2106. Annual appropriations
are authorized at “such sums as may be needed” for most activities. Up to $70 million annually,
of which half is available only for state foresters and half only for rural volunteer fire
departments, is reserved for cost-share assistance. The funding authorization does not expire.
Annual appropriations rose steadily from $17 million in FY1996 to $24 million in FY2000, then
jumped to $113 million in FY2001. Since FY2004, appropriations have remained relatively high,
generally at $104 or more annually, as shown in Table 6.
Congress also continues to appropriate funds for Volunteer Fire Assistance grants. This program
was authorized as the Rural Community Fire Protection program in Section 27 of the Agriculture
and Consumer Protection Act of 1973 (P.L. 93-86), which added a new Section 816 to the
Agriculture Act of 1970 (P.L. 91-524; the 1970 farm bill), which in turn added a new paragraph
13 to Section 306(a) of the 1961 Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (P.L. 87-128; the
1961 farm bill). It was codified at 7 U.S.C. Section 1926(a)(13). However, the program was
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eliminated, and replaced by an unrelated program, in Section 741(a)(4) and (5) of the 1996 farm
bill (P.L. 104-127). Congress continued to fund the program under the Rural Housing Service in
the annual Agriculture appropriations acts through FY1998. Since FY1999, the program has been
funded under Cooperative Fire Protection in the S&PF branch in the annual Interior
appropriations acts, apparently under the broader authorization for Rural Fire Protection.
Appropriations averaged about $2 million annually in the late 1990s, but have risen substantially
since, averaging over $14 million annually in the past five years. Table 6 shows appropriations
for both state and volunteer fire assistance programs, and includes funding through the Wildland
Fire Management account as well as through the S&PF account.
Table 6. Appropriations for Rural Fire Protection, FY2008-FY2012
(in millions)

FY2008 FY2009 FY2010 FY2011 FY2012
State Fire Assistance
$80.572
$90.000
$110.397
$97.228
$85.963
Volunteer Fire Assistance
13.679
15.000
$16.000
$15.662
$13.025
Total $94.251
$105.000
$126.397
$112.89
$98.988
Forest Legacy
Purposes
The Forest Legacy program was created to protect forests that might soon be cleared for non-
forest uses, such as for agriculture or residences. The FS is to establish a program for
“ascertaining and protecting environmentally important forest areas that are threatened by
conversion to nonforest uses and ... for promoting forest land protection and other conservation
opportunities. Such purposes shall also include the protection of important scenic, cultural, fish,
wildlife, and recreational resources, riparian areas, and other ecological values.”
Activities
The FS is authorized to “acquire from willing landowners lands and interests therein, including
conservation easements and rights of public access.” The FS is also authorized to provide grants
to states to carry out the program.
The FS may delegate management of the lands or interests acquired “only to another
governmental agency.” For easements or other interests acquired, the landowner is required to
manage the property “consistent with purposes for which the land was entered in the Forest
Legacy Program.... Hunting, fishing, hiking, and similar recreational uses shall not be considered
inconsistent with the purposes of this program.” Activities may include “forest management
activities, including timber management, ... insofar as the Secretary deems such activities
consistent with the purposes” of the program.
Eligibility
The law establishes a three-step process for acquiring lands or easements. First, in consultation
with state forest stewardship coordinating committees (established under Section 19(b) of the
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CFAA and described below), the FS establishes criteria for identifying eligible areas in each state,
which “shall have significant environmental values or shall be threatened by present or future
conversion to nonforest uses.” Then, also in consultation with the state committees, the FS selects
appropriate areas giving “priority to lands which can be effectively protected and managed, and
which have important scenic or recreational values; riparian areas; fish and wildlife values,
including threatened and endangered species; or other ecological values.” Finally, private
landowners with lands in eligible areas may submit applications for participation to the FS. In
addition, the FS may, at the request of participating states, provide grants to the states to carry out
the program.
Authorization and Appropriations
The Forest Legacy program was added as a new Section 7 to the CFAA by Section 1217 of the
1990 farm bill. It is codified at 16 U.S.C. Section 2103c. The subsection authorizing optional
state grants was added by Section 374 of the 1996 farm bill. The authorization of appropriations
is for “such sums as may be necessary,” and does not expire. Appropriations averaged $3 million
annually for FY1996-FY1998, rose substantially, and have since declined from the peak of $76
million in FY2010, as shown in Table 7.
Table 7. Appropriations for Forest Legacy, FY2008-FY2012
(in millions)

FY2008 FY2009 FY2010 FY2011 FY2012
Forest
Legacy $52.317 $57.445 $75.96 $52.894 $53.303

Community Forest and Open Space Conservation
Purpose
The Community Forest and Open Space Conservation program was established to provide
financial assistance to local governments, tribes, and nonprofit organizations for preventing the
conversion of forestland to non-forest uses, such as crop production or residential construction.
Activities
The FS is authorized to award grants to eligible entities to purchase fee simple title to private
forestlands that (1) are threatened by conversion to non-forest uses, and (2) provide public
economic, recreational, environmental, or educational benefits to communities or serve as models
of effective private forest stewardship. Grant recipients must provide at least 50% of the
appraised cost, and are to manage the lands consistent with the purposes of the acquisition and for
public access.
Eligibility
Eligible entities apply to state foresters (or equivalent tribal officials) for grants with a description
of the lands to be acquired and a plan that describes the benefits and management of the lands.
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State foresters submit a list of projects to the FS. The FS may allocate up to 10% of appropriated
funds to state foresters for program administration.
Authorization and Appropriations
The Community Forest and Open Space Conservation program was established as a new Section
7A of the CFAA in Section 8003 of the 2008 farm bill. It is codified at 16 U.S.C. Section 2103d.
The authorization of appropriations is “such sums as are necessary,” and does not expire. Annual
appropriations are shown in Table 8.
Table 8. Appropriations for Community Forest and Open Space Conservation,
FY2008-FY2012
(in millions)
FY2008
FY2009
FY2010
FY2011
FY2012
Community Forest and Open Space
Conservation $0
$0
$0.5
$1
$1.997
Community Fire Protection
Purpose
Community Fire Protection was created to assist communities in reducing threats from wildfires.
The FS is to establish a program to focus federal efforts on promoting firefighting efficiency, to
augment federal fire protection efforts, to expand homeowner and community outreach and
education, and to establish defensible space around private homes and property.
Activities
The FS, cooperating with and implemented through state foresters, may act on nonfederal lands,
with the landowner’s consent, in:
• fuel hazard mitigation and prevention;
• invasive species management;
• wildfire and community protection planning;
• community and landowner education;
• market development and expansion;
• improved wood utilization; and
• special restoration projects.
Eligibility
The FS may act, through state foresters, on nonfederal lands with the landowner’s consent. It is
unclear whether or when a community might be eligible for assistance or federal action.
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Authorization and Appropriations
The Community Fire Protection program was established as Section 10A of the CFAA in Section
8003 of the 2002 farm bill. It is codified at 16 U.S.C. Section 2106c. Appropriations were
authorized at $35 million annually for FY2002-FY2007, and “such sums as are necessary”
thereafter. The authorization does not expire. To date, Congress has not appropriated funds for
this program, although states can use Rural Fire Protection funds to fulfill the purposes of the
program.
Assistance for Forest Recovery or Restoration
Two programs—one new and one long-standing—are authorized to provide financial assistance
to landowners whose private lands have been damaged by natural disasters.9 Neither program has
provided funding for landowners in recent years—the long-standing program has not received
any appropriations in 15 years, while the new program was created in the 2008 farm bill.
Emergency Reforestation Assistance
Purpose
The Emergency Reforestation Assistance program was created to reforest stands damaged by
natural disasters. The FS can provide seedlings or reimburse some reforestation costs to eligible
landowners.
Activities
The FS has the discretion to provide either tree seedlings or reimbursement of up to 65% of
reforestation costs for tree stands with at least 35% mortality from wildfire; damaging weather,
defined as “drought, hail, excessive moisture, freeze, tornado, hurricane, excessive wind, or any
combination thereof;” or a related condition, defined as “insect infestations, disease, or other
deterioration of a tree stand that is accelerated or exacerbated by damaging weather.”
Eligibility
Eligible landowners include (a) persons who produce annual commercial crops from up to 500
acres of trees; (b) persons who own up to 1,000 acres of forestland; and (c) persons who own

9 In addition to these two programs, a temporary Emergency Forestry Conservation Reserve Program was created to
provide assistance to nonindustrial private forest landowners who experienced a loss of 35% or more in merchantable
timber from the 2005 hurricanes (Hurricane Katrina et al.). The program (as amended) provided $404.1 million from
the Commodity Credit Corporation through the Farm Service Agency for 10-year contracts to establish temporary
vegetative cover and to restore the land. Although the program was added to the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP;
16 U.S.C. §3831) created in the 1985 farm bill, it was exempted from the county acreage and maximum enrollment
limitations of the CRP. The program was created in Section 107 of the Department of Defense, Emergency
Supplemental Appropriations to Address Hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico, and Pandemic Influenza Act, 2006 (P.L.
109-148). The 2008 farm bill (§2106(b)) renumbered the provision as Section 1231A, instead of Section 1231(k), of the
1985 farm bill.
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1,000-5,000 acres of forestland, if the Secretary determines the person to be eligible. To be
eligible, the landowner must not have “qualifying gross revenues” of more than $2 million;
“qualifying gross revenues” generally include gross revenues from farming, ranching, and
forestry operations.10 The FS is prohibited from making payments of more than $25,000 (or
equivalent value in tree seedlings) to a landowner in any fiscal year, and from providing
payments to persons who receive other payments or assistance for forestry practices.
Authorization and Appropriations
Emergency reforestation assistance was established by Section 1271 of the 1990 farm bill, and is
codified at 16 U.S.C. Section 2106a. The authorization includes no reference to funding level or
expiration date. It was enacted to allow compensation to landowners who suffered substantial
damage when Hurricane Hugo hit South Carolina in late 1989. Congress has not appropriated any
funds for the program since FY1993; the last appropriations were for assistance related to
Hurricanes Andrew and Iniki.
Emergency Forest Restoration
Purpose
The Emergency Forest Restoration program was created to assist private forestland owners “to
address damage caused by a natural disaster ... on nonindustrial private forest land.” The program
is administered by USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA).
Activities
The FSA may provide up to 75% of the cost of emergency measures that “would restore forest
health and forest-related resources.” Individual or cumulative requests for financial assistance of
$50,000 or less per person or legal entity, per disaster, are approved by the FSA county
committee. Financial assistance requests from $50,001 to $100,000 are approved by the FSA state
committee. Financial assistance over $100,000 must be approved at the FSA national office. A
payment limitation of $500,000 per person or legal entity applies per disaster. Natural disasters
include “wildfires, hurricanes or excessive winds, drought, ice storms or blizzards, floods, or
other resource-impacting events, as determined by the Secretary.”
Eligibility
Eligible recipients include owners of “nonindustrial private forest land,” defined as rural land that
“(A) has existing tree cover (or had tree cover immediately before the natural disaster and is
suitable for growing trees); and (B) is owned by any nonindustrial private individual, group,
association, corporation, or other private legal entity, that has definitive decision-making
authority over the land.”

10 Qualifying gross revenues defined at 16 U.S.C. Section 2106a(d)(3) as “(A) if a majority of the person’s annual
income is received from farming, ranching, and forestry operations, the gross revenue from the person’s from farming,
ranching, and forestry operations; and (B) if less than a majority of the person’s annual income is received from
farming, ranching, and forestry operations, the person’s gross revenue from all sources.”
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In addition, the natural disaster must have resulted in damage that “if untreated would (i) impair
or endanger the natural resources on the land; and (ii) materially affect future use of the land.”
Authorization and Appropriations
The Emergency Forest Restoration program was created by Section 8203 of the 2008 farm bill,
adding a new Section 407 to Title IV (Emergency Conservation Program) of the Agricultural
Credit Act of 1978 (P.L. 95-334). It is codified at 16 U.S.C. Section 2207. Authorized funding is
at “such funds as may be necessary” and does not terminate. Funding is typically provided
through supplemental appropriations. Congress initially appropriated $18 million in FY2010 (P.L.
111-212) to remain available until expended. Funds were not obligated, however, until FY2011,
when final regulations were published. Annual appropriations are shown in Table 9
Table 9. Appropriations for Emergency Forest Restoration, FY2008-FY2012
(in millions)

FY2008 FY2009 FY2010 FY2011 FY2012
Emergency Forest
Restoration
NA $0 $18 $0
$28.4
Economic Assistance
Two programs are currently authorized to provide economic assistance for communities that have
traditionally depended on federal forests (especially federal timber harvests), although both have
been funded under a single expanded budget line item.
Economic Action
Purpose
The Economic Action Program (EAP) was created to assist communities and their leaders in
improving the efficiency and marketing of natural resource-based industries and in diversifying
rural community economic bases. The FS is authorized to assist rural communities “that are
located in or near National Forest System land and that are economically dependent upon natural
resources or are likely to be economically disadvantaged by Federal or private sector land
management practices.”
Activities
The FS may establish “rural forestry and economic diversification action teams to prepare an
action plan to provide technical assistance to economically disadvantaged communities.” The
teams are to be designed “to meet the unique needs of the requesting rural community.” They are
to be directed by a FS employee, and may include personnel from other federal and state agencies
and from the private sector. The program can include training and education for businesses,
officials, and individuals, and loans to expand or improve existing infrastructure and facilities and
to support “new industries or commercial ventures unrelated to National Forest System
resources.”
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Eligibility
“Economically disadvantaged rural communities” may request assistance. A rural community is
defined as “any town, township, municipality, or other similar unit of general purpose local
government, or any area represented by a not-for-profit corporation or institution organized ... to
promote broad based economic development ... as approved by the Secretary” that:
• has a population of no more than 10,000 people;
• is in a county in which at least 15% of total primary and secondary income is
derived from forestry, wood products, or other forest-related industry (such as
recreation, livestock grazing, or tourism); and
• is within the boundary, or within 100 miles of the boundary, of a national forest.
A rural community can also be “any county that is not contained within a Metropolitan Statistical
Area” that meets the income and location requirements identified above. An economically
disadvantaged area is defined as an area suffering “economic hardship due to the loss of jobs or
income” derived from forestry or forest-related enterprises.
Authorization and Appropriations
The EAP was established by the National Forest-Dependent Rural Communities Economic
Diversification Act of 1990, in Sections 2372-2379 of the 1990 farm bill. It is codified at 7 U.S.C.
Sections 6611-6617. Annual appropriations are authorized at “an amount not to exceed 5% of” FS
user fees and resource sale receipts, plus “such additional sums as may be necessary.” The
authorization does not expire.11
Annual appropriations for the EAP (including Pacific Northwest Assistance) have fluctuated
widely over time. Funding reached nearly $40 million in FY1991, fell below $23 million in
FY1993, then averaged about $32 million annually in the mid-1990s. It fell to about $27 million
annually in the late 1990s, then jumped to $63.6 million in FY2001 to provide additional
compensation for communities affected by severe wildfires during the summer of 2000.
Subsequent appropriations have declined to $0 in FY2011 and FY2012, as shown in Table 10.
Table 10. Appropriations for Economic Action, FY2008-FY2012
(in millions)

FY2008 FY2009 FY2010 FY2011
FY2012
Economic Action
$4.206
$4.973
$5
$0
$0


11 For many years, a similar Pacific Northwest Assistance program was funded in support of President Clinton’s Forest
Plan for a Sustainable Economy and a Sustainable Environment. Congress enacted funds to support this program in the
FY1994 Interior appropriations act, and continued funding the program through FY2002. Beginning in FY2003, the
House and Senate Appropriations Committees recommended that such efforts be continued within the Economic
Action program.
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Cooperative National Forest Products Marketing Program
Purpose
The Cooperative National Forest Products Marketing Program was created to authorize the FS to
provide assistance to improve the marketing of forest products, especially for small- and medium-
sized producers.
Activities
The program includes two components. Technical assistance can be provided directly to states,
landowners, and small- to medium-sized firms on ways to improve domestic and export
marketing. Also, states can apply for matching grants to support state and regional marketing
efforts targeted at assisting small- to medium-sized firms and nonindustrial private landowners.
Eligibility
For technical assistance, no criteria for eligibility are specified in law. Apparently, any state,
landowner, or “small-sized to medium-sized forest products firms” can apply for assistance. For
financial assistance, eligible states must have a targeted forest products marketing effort, or be
participating in a targeted regional effort.
Authorization and Appropriations
The Cooperative National Forest Products Marketing Program was added as a new Section 15 in
the CFAA by Section 4403 of the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988 (P.L. 100-
418). It was renumbered as Section 18 by the 1990 farm bill, and is codified at 16 U.S.C. Section
2112. The authorization of appropriations was $5 million annually for FY1988-FY1991. It has
not been reauthorized. However, since FY1993, Congress has continued to fund this program as
part of the EAP. (See above.)
International Forestry
Purpose
The International Forestry Program was created for the FS to provide technical assistance to other
nations, especially in the tropics, on forest management for “sustainable development and global
environmental stability.”
Activities
The FS may provide help to other nations for conserving forests; managing forest plantations;
rehabilitating damaged forestlands; preventing and controlling insects, diseases, and other
damaging agents; using wood; conserving rangelands; and protecting wildlife and fish habitat.
Assistance can include sharing technical and managerial skills, providing education and training
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opportunities, cooperating on and exchanging scientific research, and cooperating with domestic
and international organizations for these purposes.
Eligibility
Assistance is provided to countries “that receive assistance from the U.S. Agency for
International Development [AID] only at the request, or with the concurrence, of the
Administrator” of AID. Also, the FS is directed to focus efforts “on key countries which could
have a substantial impact on emissions of greenhouse gases related to global warming.”
Authorization and Appropriations
The International Forestry Program was established in the International Forestry Cooperation Act
of 1990, Title VI of the Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs
Appropriations Act of FY1991 (P.L. 101-513), as amended by the Hawaii Tropical Forest
Recovery Act (P.L. 102-574).12 It is codified at 16 U.S.C. Sections 4501-4505. The authorization
of appropriations is “such sums as may be necessary,” and does not expire. In addition, the FS’s
Office of International Forestry and Institutes of Tropical Forestry were authorized in Section
2405 and Section 2407 of the 1990 farm bill, and are codified at 7 U.S.C. Section 6704 and
Section 6706, respectively. The 1990 farm bill also directed a separate budget line for FS
international cooperation and assistance. Appropriations were transferred from other FS programs
for FY1992 and FY1993, then enacted at nearly $7 million for FY1994 and FY1995. For
FY1996-FY2000, the FS was directed to use funds from other S&PF accounts for international
programs. Since FY2001, Congress has enacted a separate appropriation for International
Forestry. Annual appropriations are shown in Table 11.
Table 11. Appropriations for International Forestry, FY2008-FY2012
(in millions)

FY2008 FY2009 FY2010 FY2011 FY2012
International
Forestry $7.383 $8.500 $9.818 $7.987 $3.912

Related Provisions
In addition to these several cooperative forestry assistance programs, the CFAA authorizes
consolidated payments to the states (i.e., a single payment for all the programs) and establishes

12 In addition to these two programs, a temporary Emergency Forestry Conservation Reserve Program was created to
provide assistance to nonindustrial private forest landowners who experienced a loss of 35% or more in merchantable
timber from the 2005 hurricanes (Hurricane Katrina et al.). The program (as amended) provided $504.1 million from
the Commodity Credit Corporation through the Farm Service Agency for 10-year contracts to establish temporary
vegetative cover and to restore the land. Although the program was added to the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP;
16 U.S.C. §3831) created in the 1985 farm bill, it was exempted from the county acreage and maximum enrollment
limitations of the CRP. The program was created in Section 107 of the Department of Defense, Emergency
Supplemental Appropriations to Address Hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico, and Pandemic Influenza Act, 2006 (P.L.
109-148). The 2008 farm bill (§2106(b)) renumbered the provision as Section 1231A, instead of Section 1231(k), of the
1985 farm bill.
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three groups to oversee certain programs. The 2008 farm bill replaced an existing oversight
committee with a new structure and purposes. These are described below.
Consolidation of Payments
Consolidated payments are authorized in Section 9 of the CFAA, renumbered as Section 12 and
amended by the 1990 farm bill, and codified at 16 U.S.C. Section 2108. To provide flexibility in
implementing programs, states may request consolidated payments for all the authorized
cooperative forestry assistance programs.
The National Urban and Community Forestry Advisory Council
The National Urban and Community Forestry Advisory Council was created under the CFAA, as
rewritten in Section 1219 of the 1990 farm bill; it is codified at 16 U.S.C. Section 2105(g). The
Council is to evaluate implementation of the national urban and community forestry action plan
and to develop criteria and submit recommendations for the urban and community forestry
challenge cost-share program. The Council is composed of 15 members, appointed by the
Secretary, representing:
• national nonprofit forestry and conservation citizen organizations (2);
• state, county, and city or town governments (1 each);
• forest products, nursery, or related industry (1);
• urban forestry, landscape, or design consultant (1);
• academic institutions, with relevant expertise (2);
• state forestry (or equivalent) agencies (1);
• professional renewable natural resource or arboricultural society (1);
• USDA Extension Service (1);
• USDA Forest Service (1); and
• others with expertise and experience in urban and community forestry and who
are not governmental officers or employees, at least one of whom is a resident of
a community of fewer than 50,000 people (2).
Forest Resource Coordinating Committee
The Forest Resource Coordinating Committee was created in Section 8005 of the 2008 farm bill,
replacing the USDA Coordinating Committee established in Section 19 of the CFAA; it is
codified at 16 U.S.C. Section 2113(a). This committee is to assist in coordinating forestry
assistance programs within USDA and with states and the private sector, to clarify individual
agency responsibilities, and to advise on funding allocations (including competitive allocations).
The Committee is chaired by the FS Chief. It is composed of:
• the Chief of the Forest Service;
• the Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service;
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• the Director of the Farm Service Agency;
• the Director of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture;
• at least three state foresters from geographically diverse regions;
• a representative of a state fish and wildlife agency;
• an owner of nonindustrial forest land;
• a forest industry representative;
• a conservation organization representative;
• a land-grant university or college representative;
• a private forestry consultant;
• a representative from a State Technical Committee established under Section
1261 of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. §3861); and
• such other persons as determined by the Secretary to be appropriate.
State Forest Stewardship Coordinating Committees
State Forest Stewardship Coordinating Committees were directed to be created by the Secretary
of Agriculture, in consultation with each state forester, in Section 1222 of the 1990 farm bill,
which added a new Section 19 to the CFAA; the direction is codified at 16 U.S.C. Section
2113(b). Each state coordinating committee is to consult with other USDA and state committees
on cooperative forestry programs and to make recommendations on priorities and responsibilities
and on priorities for the forest legacy program. Each state coordinating committee is chaired by
the state forester, and composed of federal representatives from “the Forest Service, Soil
Conservation Service [Natural Resources Conservation Service], Agricultural Stabilization and
Conservation Service [Farm Service Agency], and Extension Service [National Institute of Food
and Agriculture],” and of others appointed by the state forester to represent:
• local government;
• consulting foresters;
• environmental organizations;
• the forest products industry;
• forest landowners;
• land trust organizations (if applicable);
• conservation organizations;
• the state’s fish and wildlife agency; and
• the State Technical Committee established under Section 1261 of the Food
Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. §3861).
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Summary and Conclusions
The U.S. Department of Agriculture administers numerous programs to support the management
of state and private forestlands. Several programs provide financial and/or technical assistance
through the states for planning and implementing forest management practices (e.g., tree planting,
site preparation for reforestation, thinning, pruning, fertilizing, prescribed burning, and other
activities) and sometimes practices to enhance other resources (e.g., restoring watersheds,
improving wildlife habitat, and other activities). Some programs have been combined through the
appropriations process.
Additional programs provide financial and technical support for protecting nonfederal forests
from wildfire, insects, diseases, and clearing for non-forest uses. These programs cover many
continuing threats to forests, although global climate change could exacerbate the effects of these
threats. Furthermore, for the Forest Health program, more funds are used to protect federal lands
than cooperative lands. Forest Legacy can help prevent forest clearing. The Community Fire
Protection program can assist communities to prepare for wildfires, while the two emergency
programs can help landowners restore forests after the disaster. These programs, as well as many
of the forest management programs noted above, can help to protect and restore state and private
forestlands from catastrophic wildfires and other damaging agents.
Other forestry assistance programs address rural economic development for communities in or
near federal forests. Each program appears to authorize some unique activities, but some
responsibilities appear to overlap. It is unclear the extent to which these activities duplicate
efforts of other USDA agencies which emphasize rural economic development, and which agency
might be most efficient and effective at providing such economic assistance.
Appropriations for forestry assistance programs have fluctuated greatly over the past decade. All
forestry assistance programs, with the exception of the Forest Legacy program, were reduced in
FY2012 appropriations. In response to the severe wildfires in the summer of 2000, funding more
than doubled, from $213.3 million in FY2000 to a peak of $493.8 million in FY2001. Funding
has generally been constant—$285.6 million in FY2008, $302.6 million in FY2009, $357.5
million in FY2010, $325.6 million in FY2011, and $309.2 million in FY2012. The largest
sustained levels of funding have been for the forest protection programs—forest health (for insect
and disease identification and control), wildfire assistance, and forest legacy (for easements to
prevent forest clearing). Forest management assistance funding has seen less change—forest
stewardship funding (for state forestry programs) has declined slowly (from its peak in FY2007),
while urban and community forestry has remained relatively constant (averaging $30 million
annually). After peaking in FY2001, economic assistance funding has been eliminated in the most
recent appropriations. In contrast, funding for international forestry has remained relatively
constant over the past five years.


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Author Contact Information

Megan Stubbs

Analyst in Agricultural Conservation and Natural
Resources Policy
mstubbs@crs.loc.gov, 7-8707


Acknowledgments
This report was originally authored by Ross Gorte, retired CRS Specialist in Natural Resources Policy.

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