16 U.S.C. § 2103 — Repealed. Pub. L. 113–79, title VIII,

Page 2148 TITLE 16—CONSERVATION § 2103 (4) plant tree seeds and seedlings on non- Federal forest lands that are suitable for the production of timber, recreation, and for other benefits associated with the growing of trees; (5) plan, organize, and implement measures on non-Federal forest lands, including thinning, prescribed burning, and other sil- vicultural activities designed to increase the quantity and improve the quality of trees and other vegetation, fish and wildlife habitat, and water yielded therefrom; and (6) protect or improve soil fertility on non- Federal forest lands and the quality, quantity, and timing of water yields therefrom. (c) Implementation In implementing this section, the Secretary shall cooperate with other Federal, State, and local natural resource management agencies, universities and the private sector. (d) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this sec- tion. (Pub. L. 95–313, § 3, July 1, 1978, 92 Stat. 366; Pub. L. 101–624, title XII, § 1213, Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 3523.) Editorial Notes AMENDMENTS 1990—Pub. L. 101–624 amended section generally, sub- stituting present provisions for provisions which set forth Congressional findings relating to rural forestry assistance, related to financial, technical, and related assistance to State foresters or equivalent State offi- cials, and authorized appropriations. § 2103. Repealed. Pub. L. 113–79, title VIII, § 8001(a), Feb. 7, 2014, 128 Stat. 913 Section, Pub. L. 95–313, § 4, as added Pub. L. 107–171, title VIII, § 8002(b), May 13, 2002, 116 Stat. 468, related to the establishment and implementation of a forest land enhancement program. A prior section 2103, Pub. L. 95–313, § 4, July 1, 1978, 92 Stat. 367; Pub. L. 101–624, title XII, §§ 1214, 1224(1), Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 3525, 3542; Pub. L. 104–127, title III, §§ 336(a)(2)(B), 373, Apr. 4, 1996, 110 Stat. 1005, 1015, re- lated to forestry incentives program, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 107–171, title VIII, § 8001(a), May 13, 2002, 116 Stat. 468. Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries PURPOSES OF FOREST LAND ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM Pub. L. 107–171, title VIII, § 8002(a), May 13, 2002, 116 Stat. 468, which listed purposes for the establishment of a forest land enhancement program, was repealed by Pub. L. 113–79, title VIII, § 8001(b), Feb. 7, 2014, 128 Stat. 913. § 2103a. Forest Stewardship Program (a) Establishment The Secretary, in consultation with State for- esters or equivalent State officials, shall estab- lish a Forest Stewardship Program (hereafter referred to in this section as the ‘‘Program’’) to encourage the long-term stewardship of non- industrial private forest lands by assisting own- ers of such lands to more actively manage their forest and related resources by utilizing existing State, Federal, and private sector resource man- agement expertise and assistance programs. (b) Goal The goal of the Program shall be to enter at least 25,000,000 acres of nonindustrial private for- est lands in the Program by December 31, 1995. (c) ‘‘Nonindustrial private forest lands’’ defined For the purposes of this section, the term ‘‘nonindustrial private forest lands’’ means rural, as determined by the Secretary, 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. (d) Implementation In carrying out the Program the Secretary, in consultation with State foresters or equivalent State officials, shall provide financial, tech- nical, educational, and related assistance to State foresters or equivalent State officials, in- cluding assistance to help such State foresters or equivalent officials to provide financial as- sistance to other State and local natural re- source entities, both public and private, and land-grant universities for the delivery of infor- mation and professional assistance to owners of nonindustrial private forest lands. Such infor- mation and assistance shall be directed to help such owners understand and evaluate alter- native actions they might take, including— (1) managing and enhancing the productivity of timber, fish and wildlife habitat, water quality, wetlands, recreational resources, and the aesthetic value of forest lands; (2) investing in practices to protect, main- tain, and enhance the resources identified in paragraph (1); (3) ensuring that afforestation, reforest- ation, improvement of poorly stocked stands, timber stand improvement, practices nec- essary to improve seedling growth and sur- vival, and growth enhancement practices occur where needed to enhance and sustain the long-term productivity of timber and non- timber forest resources to help meet future public demand for all forest resources and pro- vide the environmental benefits that result; and (4) protecting their forests from damage caused by fire, insects, disease, and damaging weather. (e) Eligibility All nonindustrial private forest lands that are not in management under Federal, State, or pri- vate sector financial and technical assistance programs existing on November 28, 1990, are eli- gible for assistance under the Program. Non- industrial private forest lands that are managed under such existing programs are eligible for as- sistance under the Program if forest manage- ment activities are expanded and enhanced and the landowner agrees to meet the requirements of this chapter. (f) Duties of owners To enter forest land into the Program, land- owners shall— (1) prepare and submit to the State forester or equivalent State official a forest steward- ship plan that meets the requirements of this section and that—