CHAPTER 65—INTERNATIONAL FORESTRY COOPERATION

        

§4501. Forestry and related natural resource assistance

(a) Focus of activities

To achieve the maximum impact from activities undertaken under the authority of this chapter, the Secretary shall focus such activities on the key countries which could have a substantial impact on emissions of greenhouse gases related to global warming.

(b) Authority for international forestry activities

In support of forestry and related natural resource activities outside of the United States and its territories and possessions, the Secretary of Agriculture may—

(1) provide assistance that promotes sustainable development and global environmental stability, including assistance for—

(A) conservation and sustainable management of forest land;

(B) forest plantation technology and tree improvement;

(C) rehabilitation of cutover lands, eroded watersheds, and areas damaged by wildfires or other natural disasters;

(D) prevention and control of insects, diseases, and other damaging agents;

(E) preparedness planning, training, and operational assistance to combat natural disasters;

(F) more complete utilization of forest products leading to resource conservation;

(G) range protection and enhancement; and

(H) wildlife and fisheries habitat protection and improvement;

(2) share technical, managerial, extension, and administrative skills related to public and private natural resource administration;

(3) provide education and training opportunities to promote the transfer and utilization of scientific information and technologies;

(4) engage in scientific exchange and cooperative research with foreign governmental, educational, technical and research institutions; and

(5) cooperate with domestic and international organizations that further international programs for the management and protection of forests, rangelands, wildlife and fisheries, and related natural resource activities.

(c) Eligible countries

The Secretary shall undertake the activities described in subsection (b), in countries that receive assistance from the Agency for International Development only at the request, or with the concurrence, of the Administrator of the Agency for International Development.

(Pub. L. 101–513, title VI, §602, Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 2070; Pub. L. 102–574, §2(b)(1), Oct. 29, 1992, 106 Stat. 4596.)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

This chapter, referred to in subsecs. (a) and (b), was in the original "this title", meaning title VI of Pub. L. 101–513, Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 2070, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of title VI to the Code, see Short Title note set out below and Tables.

Amendments

1992—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 102–574 struck out "(hereinafter referred to in this chapter as the Secretary)" after "Agriculture" in introductory provisions.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Short Title of 1992 Amendment

Pub. L. 102–574, §1, Oct. 29, 1992, 106 Stat. 4593, provided that: "This Act [enacting sections 4502a and 4503a to 4503d of this title, amending this section and section 4503 of this title, and enacting provisions set out as notes under sections 4502a and 4503a of this title] may be cited as the 'Hawaii Tropical Forest Recovery Act'."

Short Title

Pub. L. 101–513, title VI, §601, Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 2070, provided that: "This title [enacting this chapter and amending sections 1641, 1643, 2101, and 2109 of this title] may be cited as the 'International Forestry Cooperation Act of 1990'."

§4502. Tropical deforestation assessment and assistance

In support of the Tropical Forestry Action Plan and to specifically address tropical deforestation and degradation, the Secretary may—

(1) support and actively participate in global and regional meetings that seek to reform such Plan;

(2) together with the United States Agency for International Development,¹ and other Federal agencies, provide technical assistance to tropical countries for the formulation of national forestry sector development strategies; and

(3) cooperate with tropical countries on research, training, and technical programs aimed at implementing national forestry sector development strategies.

(Pub. L. 101–513, title VI, §603, Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 2071.)

¹ So in original. The comma probably should not appear.

§4502a. Tropical forestry research and assistance

(a) Assistance

To promote sound management and conservation of tropical forests of the United States and to promote the development and transfer of technical, managerial, educational, and administrative skills to managers of tropical forests within or outside the United States, the Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to provide assistance through the Forest Service to eligible entities in States with tropical forests to—

(1) develop, promote, and demonstrate sustainable harvesting of native woods and other forest products on a sustainable yield basis in balance with natural resource conservation;

(2) promote habitat preservation and species protection or recovery;

(3) protect indigenous plant and animal species and essential watersheds from non-native animals, plants, and pathogens;

(4) establish biological control agents for non-native species that threaten natural ecosystems;

(5) establish a monitoring system in tropical forests to identify baseline conditions and determine detrimental changes or improvements over time;

(6) detect and appraise stresses affecting tropical forests caused by insect infestations, diseases, pollution, fire, and non-native animal and plant species, and by the influence of people;

(7) determine the causes of changes that are detected through experimentation, intensive monitoring, and data collection at affected tropical forest sites; and

(8) engage in research, demonstration, education, training, and outreach that furthers the objectives of this subsection.

(b) Form of assistance

Assistance provided to eligible entities under this section may be in the form of grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements.

(c) Definitions

As used in this section:

(1) Eligible entity

The term "eligible entity" means a State forester or equivalent State official, State, political subdivision of a State, Federal agency, private organization, corporation, or other private person.

(2) State

The term "State" means each of the 50 States, Guam, American Samoa, the Republic of Palau (until the Compact of Free Association enters into effect), Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

(Pub. L. 102–574, §3, Oct. 29, 1992, 106 Stat. 4596.)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

For Oct. 1, 1994, as the date the Compact of Free Association with the Republic of Palau enters into effect, referred to in subsec. (c)(2), see Proc. No. 6726, Sept. 27, 1994, 59 F.R. 49777, set out as a note under section 1931 of Title 48, Territories and Insular Possessions.

Codification

Section was enacted as part of the Hawaii Tropical Forest Recovery Act, and not as part of the International Forestry Cooperation Act of 1990 which comprises this chapter.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Authorization of Appropriations

Pub. L. 102–574, §5, Oct. 29, 1992, 106 Stat. 4599, provided that: "There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out sections 3 and 4 [enacting this section and provisions set out as a note under 4503a of this title]."

§4503. Institute of Tropical Forestry in Puerto Rico

(a) Expansion

The Secretary shall expand the capabilities of and construct additional facilities at the Caribbean National Forest and Institute of Tropical Forestry in Puerto Rico, as the Secretary determines necessary to support the purpose of this chapter, and as funds are appropriated for such expansion and construction.

(b) Tropical forestry plans

Not later than 1 year after November 5, 1990, the Secretary shall prepare and submit to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate, the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives, and to the Committees on Appropriations of the Senate and House of Representatives, a tropical forestry plan for the expansion and construction of additional facilities under subsection (a). Such plan shall include provisions for—

(1) the construction or acquisition of a major center for education, interpretation, and appreciation of the benefits and methods of the intelligent management of tropical forests;

(2) the acquisition or construction of facilities for housing and classroom instruction near the Caribbean National Forest/Luguillo Experimental Forest; and

(3) the acquisition or construction of facilities for the study and recovery of endangered tropical wildlife, fish and plant species.

(Pub. L. 101–513, title VI, §604, Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 2071; Pub. L. 102–574, §2(b)(2), Oct. 29, 1992, 106 Stat. 4596.)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1992—Pub. L. 102–574 inserted "in Puerto Rico" in section catchline.

Executive Documents

Change of Name

Ex. Ord. No. 13428, Apr. 2, 2007, 72 F.R. 16693, provided that the Caribbean National Forest in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, referred to in subsecs. (a) and (b)(2), is renamed the "El Yunque National Forest".

§4503a. Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry

(a) Expansion

The Secretary shall expand the capabilities of and construct additional facilities, as funds are appropriated for the expansion and construction, at—

(1) the Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry; and

(2) tropical forests in the State of Hawaii.

(b) Tropical forestry plan

(1) In general

Not later than 1 year after the date of receipt by the Secretary of the action plan required by section 5(b) ¹ of the Hawaii Tropical Forest Recovery Act, the Secretary shall prepare and submit to the Committee on Agriculture and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate, and to the Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and Senate, a tropical forestry plan to expand the capabilities of and construct additional facilities under subsection (a).

(2) Elements

The plan shall provide for—

(A) the establishment of a model center for research, demonstration, education, training, and outreach activities suitable for transferring scientific, technical, managerial, and administrative assistance to governmental and non-governmental organizations seeking to address problems associated with tropical forests within and outside the United States;

(B) the acquisition or construction of facilities for research, classroom instruction, and housing near an experimental tropical forest in the State of Hawaii;

(C) the acquisition or construction of facilities for the study and recovery of endangered tropical wildlife, fish, and plant species and the restoration of their habitats;

(D) the study of biological control of non-native species that degrade or destroy native forest ecosystems;

(E) achieving a better understanding of global climate change and the significance of achieving a reduction of greenhouse gases through research associated with the unique atmospheric conditions found in Hawaii and the Pacific Ocean;

(F) a review of the extent to which existing Federal forestry programs can be utilized to achieve the purposes of the plan; and

(G) the establishment of experimental tropical forests in the State of Hawaii as authorized by section 4503b of this title.

(3) Capability

In preparing elements of the plan that address paragraph (2)(F), the Secretary shall identify the capability of the plan—

(A) to promote a greater understanding of tropical forest ecosystem processes, conservation biology, and biodiversity management;

(B) to demonstrate the various benefits of maintaining a tropical forest reserve system;

(C) to promote sound watershed and forest management;

(D) to develop compatible land uses adjacent to protected natural areas; and

(E) to develop new methods of reclaiming and restoring degraded lands.

(Pub. L. 101–513, title VI, §605, as added Pub. L. 102–574, §2(a)(2), Oct. 29, 1992, 106 Stat. 4593; amended Pub. L. 103–437, §6(d)(42), Nov. 2, 1994, 108 Stat. 4585.)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Section 5(b) of the Hawaii Tropical Forest Recovery Act, referred to in subsec. (b)(1), probably means section 4(b) of that Act, Pub. L. 102–574, which contains provisions regarding an action plan, and which is set out as a note below. Section 5 of that Act, which is set out as a note under section 4502a of this title, does not contain a subsec. (b).

Prior Provisions

A prior section 605 of Pub. L. 101–513 was renumbered section 609 and is classified to section 4504 of this title.

Amendments

1994—Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 103–437 substituted "Natural Resources" for "Interior and Insular Affairs" after "Committee on".

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Hawaii Tropical Forest Recovery Task Force

Pub. L. 102–574, §4, Oct. 29, 1992, 106 Stat. 4597, established the Hawaii Tropical Forest Recovery Task Force to study Hawaii's tropical forests, required the Task Force to submit an action plan for rejuvenating the forests one year after its first meeting, and terminated the Task Force 180 days after submission of the action plan.

¹ See References in Text note below.

§4503b. Hawaii Experimental Tropical Forest

(a) Definitions

As used in this section:

(1) Forest

The term "Forest" means the Hawaii Experimental Tropical Forest.

(2) Governor

The term "Governor" means the Governor of Hawaii.

(3) Lands

The term "lands" means lands, waters, and interests in lands and waters.

(4) State

The term "State" means the State of Hawaii.

(b) Establishment and management

At the request of the Governor, the Secretary shall establish and administer within the State a Hawaii Experimental Tropical Forest. The Forest shall be managed as—

(1) a model of quality tropical forest management where harvesting on a sustainable yield basis can be demonstrated in balance with natural resource conservation;

(2) a site for research on tropical forestry, conservation biology, and natural resource management; and

(3) a center for demonstration, education, training, and outreach on tropical forestry, conservation biology, and natural resources research and management.

(c) Delineation of location of Forest

(1) Identification of lands

The Governor and the Secretary shall identify one or more suitable sites for the Forest in lands within the State. The identification of each site shall be based on scientific, ecological, administrative, and such other factors as the Governor and Secretary consider to be necessary or desirable to achieve the purposes of this section. Each site identified pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be of sufficient size and located so that the site can be effectively managed for Forest purposes.

(2) Exterior boundaries

The exterior boundaries of the Forest, including the boundaries of all sites identified for Forest purposes, shall be delineated on an official map. The map shall be available for public inspection in the office of the Administrator of the Division of Forestry and Wildlife of the Department of Land and Natural Resources of the State. The Governor and the Secretary may from time to time, by mutual agreement, amend the official map to modify the boundaries of the Forest.

(d) Authorities of Secretary

(1) In general

To carry out the purposes of this section, the Secretary is authorized—

(A) to administer the Forest in cooperation with the Governor and affected State agencies;

(B) to make grants and enter into contracts and cooperative agreements with the Federal Government, the government of the State, local governments, corporations, nonprofit organizations and individuals;

(C) to exercise existing authority with respect to cooperative forestry and research for Forest purposes; and

(D) to issue necessary rules and regulations or apply existing rules and regulations applicable to areas administered by the Forest Service that are necessary or desirable to administer the Forest—

(i) for the purposes described in subsection (b);

(ii) to protect persons within the Forest; and

(iii) to preserve and protect the resources in the Forest.

(2) Land acquisition

The authority in section 1643 of this title shall be available to the Secretary to carry out this section.

(3) Statutory construction

Nothing in this section is intended to affect the jurisdiction of the State, both civil and criminal, over any person within the Forest by reason of the establishment of the Forest under this section, except in the case of a penalty for an offense against the United States.

(Pub. L. 101–513, title VI, §606, as added Pub. L. 102–574, §2(a)(2), Oct. 29, 1992, 106 Stat. 4594.)

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

A prior section 606 of Pub. L. 101–513 was renumbered section 610 and is classified to section 4505 of this title.

§4503c. Omitted

Editorial Notes

Codification

Section, Pub. L. 101–513, title VI, §607, as added Pub. L. 102–574, §2(a)(2), Oct. 29, 1992, 106 Stat. 4595, which required the Secretary of Agriculture to make annual reports to Congress, submitting the reports pursuant to section 1606(c) of this title, on the progress, needs, and long-range plans of the Institutes of Tropical Forestry in meeting the requirements of section 6706 of Title 7, Agriculture, terminated, effective May 15, 2000, pursuant to section 3003 of Pub. L. 104–66, as amended, set out as a note under section 1113 of Title 31, Money and Finance. See, also, page 45 of House Document No. 103–7.

A prior section 607 of Pub. L. 101–513, which amended sections 1641, 1643, 2101, and 2109 of this title, was renumbered section 611.

§4503d. Definitions

As used in this chapter (unless the context otherwise requires):

(1) Institutes of Tropical Forestry

The term "Institutes of Tropical Forestry" means the Institute of Tropical Forestry in Puerto Rico and the Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry established under section 6706 of title 7.

(2) Secretary

The term "Secretary" means the Secretary of Agriculture.

(3) State

The term "State" means each of the 50 States, Guam, American Samoa, the Republic of Palau (until the Compact of Free Association enters into effect), Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

(Pub. L. 101–513, title VI, §608, as added Pub. L. 102–574, §2(a)(2), Oct. 29, 1992, 106 Stat. 4595.)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

For Oct. 1, 1994, as the date the Compact of Free Association with the Republic of Palau enters into effect, referred to in par. (3), see Proc. No. 6726, Sept. 27, 1994, 59 F.R. 49777, set out as a note under section 1931 of Title 48, Territories and Insular Possessions.

§4504. Administrative provisions

(a) Coordination of activities

The Secretary shall coordinate all activities outside of the United States under this chapter with other Federal officials, departments, agencies, and international organizations, as the President may require.

(b) Assistance

The Secretary may provide assistance, as determined appropriate by the Secretary to carry out this chapter, including technical and financial assistance, equipment, and facilities without reimbursement.

(Pub. L. 101–513, title VI, §609, formerly §605, Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 2072; renumbered §609, Pub. L. 102–574, §2(a)(1), Oct. 29, 1992, 106 Stat. 4593.)

§4505. Authorization of appropriations

There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this chapter.

(Pub. L. 101–513, title VI, §610, formerly §606, Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 2072; renumbered §610, Pub. L. 102–574, §2(a)(1), Oct. 29, 1992, 106 Stat. 4593.)