Competitive forestry, natural resources, and environmental grants program

The Secretary of Agriculture (hereafter referred to in this section as the “Secretary”) shall establish a competitive forestry, natural resources, and environmental grant program to award grants for the conduct of research or forest restoration as described in subsection (c). To be eligible to receive a grant under subsection (a), an entity shall— In awarding the initial grants under subsection (a) the Secretary shall give priority to applicants who will use such grants for research concerning— Grants may be used to support programs that restore forest tree species native to American forests that may have suffered severe levels of mortality caused by non-native insects, plant pathogens, or others pests. To receive a grant under this subsection, an eligible institution shall demonstrate that it offers a program with a forest restoration strategy that incorporates not less than one of the following components: The Secretary shall award competitive grants under this subsection based on the degree to which the applicant addresses the following criteria: Grants made under this section may be used to update research facilities and equipment available to facilitate the conduct of state-of-the-art research in forestry, natural resources, and the environment. The Secretary, in consultation with the Cooperative Forestry Research Council appointed under section 582a–4(b) of this title, may develop criteria and priorities for the awarding of grants for use under paragraph (1). The Secretary shall request the Cooperative Forestry Research Council referred to in subsection (d)(2) to provide recommendations regarding grant priorities. The Secretary may make grants under this section for periods of not to exceed 5 years. There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.