The purpose of this chapter is to encourage the collaborative, science-based ecosystem restoration of priority forest landscapes through a process that⁠—

(1)  encourages ecological, economic, and social sustainability;

(2)  leverages local resources with national and private resources;

(3)  facilitates the reduction of wildfire management costs, including through reestablishing natural fire regimes and reducing the risk of uncharacteristic wildfire; and

(4)  demonstrates the degree to which⁠—

(A)  various ecological restoration techniques⁠—

(i)  achieve ecological and watershed health objectives; and

(ii)  affect wildfire activity and management costs; and

(B)  the use of forest restoration byproducts can offset treatment costs while benefitting local rural economies and improving forest health.