16 U.S.C. § 2103b — Repealed.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

Page 2149 TITLE 16—CONSERVATION § 2103c (A) is prepared by a professional resource manager; (B) identifies and describes actions to be taken by the landowner to protect soil, water, range, aesthetic quality, recreation, timber, water, and fish and wildlife re- sources on such land in a manner that is compatible with the objectives of the land- owner; and (C) is approved by the State forester, or equivalent State official; and (2) agree that all activities conducted on such land shall be consistent with the steward- ship plan. (g) Stewardship recognition The Secretary, in consultation with State for- esters or equivalent State officials, is encour- aged to develop an appropriate recognition pro- gram for landowners who practice stewardship management on their lands, with an appro- priate, special recognition symbol and title. (h) Authorization of appropriations There are hereby authorized to be appro- priated $25,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 1991 through 1995, and such sums as may be nec- essary thereafter, to carry out this section. (Pub. L. 95–313, § 5, as added Pub. L. 101–624, title XII, § 1215(2), Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 3525; amend- ed Pub. L. 102–237, title X, § 1018(a)(1), Dec. 13, 1991, 105 Stat. 1905.) Editorial Notes PRIOR PROVISIONS A prior section 5 of Pub. L. 95–313 was renumbered section 8 and is classified to section 2104 of this title. AMENDMENTS 1991—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 102–237 substituted ‘‘State foresters’’ for ‘‘State Foresters’’ wherever appearing in introductory provisions. § 2103b. Repealed. Pub. L. 113–79, title VIII, § 8002, Feb. 7, 2014, 128 Stat. 913 Section, Pub. L. 95–313, § 6, as added Pub. L. 108–148, title III, § 302, Dec. 3, 2003, 117 Stat. 1903; amended Pub. L. 110–234, title VII, § 7511(c)(35), May 22, 2008, 122 Stat. 1270; Pub. L. 110–246, § 4(a), title VII, § 7511(c)(35), June 18, 2008, 122 Stat. 1664, 2032, related to the establishment and implementation of watershed forestry assistance programs. A prior section 2103b, Pub. L. 95–313, § 6, as added Pub. L. 101–624, title XII, § 1216, Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 3526, established the Stewardship Incentive Program, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 107–171, title VIII, § 8001(a), May 13, 2002, 116 Stat. 468. A prior section 6 of Pub. L. 95–313 was renumbered section 9 and is classified to section 2105 of this title. § 2103c. Forest Legacy Program (a) Establishment and purpose The Secretary shall establish a program, to be known as the Forest Legacy Program, in co- operation with appropriate State, regional, and other units of government for the purposes of ascertaining and protecting environmentally important forest areas that are threatened by conversion to nonforest uses and, through the use of conservation easements and other mecha- nisms, 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. (b) State and regional forest legacy programs The Secretary shall exercise the authority under subsection (a) in conjunction with State or regional programs that the Secretary deems consistent with this section. (c) Interests in land In addition to the authorities granted under section 515 of this title and section 2268a(a) of title 7, the Secretary may acquire from willing landowners lands and interests therein, includ- ing conservation easements and rights of public access, for Forest Legacy Program purposes. The Secretary shall not acquire conservation easements with title held in common ownership with any other entity. (d) Implementation (1) In general Lands and interests therein acquired under subsection (c) may be held in perpetuity for program and easement administration pur- poses as the Secretary may provide. In admin- istering lands and interests therein under the program, the Secretary shall identify the envi- ronmental values to be protected by entry of the lands into the program, management ac- tivities which are planned and the manner in which they may affect the values identified, and obtain from the landowner other informa- tion determined appropriate for administra- tion and management purposes. (2) Initial programs Not later than November 28, 1991, the Sec- retary shall establish a regional program in furtherance of the Northern Forest Lands Study in the States of New York, New Hamp- shire, Vermont, and Maine under Public Law 100–446. The Secretary shall establish addi- tional programs in each of the Northeast, Mid- west, South, and Western regions of the United States, and the Pacific Northwest (in- cluding the State of Washington), on the prep- aration of an assessment of the need for such programs. (e) Eligibility Not later than November 28, 1991, and in con- sultation with State Forest Stewardship Coordi- nating Committees established under section 2113(b) of this title and similar regional organi- zations, the Secretary shall establish eligibility criteria for the designation of forest areas from which lands may be entered into the Forest Leg- acy Program and subsequently select such ap- propriate areas. To be eligible, such areas shall have significant environmental values or shall be threatened by present or future conversion to nonforest uses. Of land proposed to be included in the Forest Legacy Program, the Secretary shall give priority to lands which can be effec- tively protected and managed, and which have important scenic or recreational values; ripar- ian areas; fish and wildlife values, including threatened and endangered species; or other eco- logical values.