[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 4985 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 4985
To establish forestry policies that facilitate reforestation,
conservation, international cooperation, and other ecologically sound
management practices that reduce atmospheric carbon, to support United
States efforts in partnership with the One Trillion Trees Initiative,
to encourage the sustainable management, restoration, and conservation
of global forests, grasslands, wetlands, and coastal habitats, and for
other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
December 9, 2020
Mr. Braun (for himself, Mr. Coons, Mr. Young, and Mr. King) introduced
the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee
on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish forestry policies that facilitate reforestation,
conservation, international cooperation, and other ecologically sound
management practices that reduce atmospheric carbon, to support United
States efforts in partnership with the One Trillion Trees Initiative,
to encourage the sustainable management, restoration, and conservation
of global forests, grasslands, wetlands, and coastal habitats, and for
other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Trillion Trees and
Natural Carbon Storage Act''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as
follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Sense of Congress.
Sec. 3. Definitions.
TITLE I--CARBON SEQUESTRATION THROUGH FOREST CONSERVATION AND LAND
MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES
Sec. 101. Domestic forest carbon stock objectives.
Sec. 102. Renewable resource assessment and survey update.
Sec. 103. Forest nursery revival program.
Sec. 104. Carbon sequestration through wetland and grassland.
Sec. 105. Carbon sequestration through the healthy forest reserve
program.
Sec. 106. National Forest Foundation activities.
Sec. 107. Carbon sequestration on State and private land.
Sec. 108. Carbon sequestration research and monitoring programs.
TITLE II--MARKET INCENTIVES FOR CARBON SEQUESTRATION
Sec. 201. Clarification of research and development program for
cellulosic biochemical and bioplastics.
Sec. 202. Rural Forest Market Investment Program.
TITLE III--ENGAGING AMERICA'S ALLIES IN CONSERVATION AND STRONGER LAND
MANAGEMENT
Sec. 301. Statement of policy.
Sec. 302. International support for conservation.
Sec. 303. Establishment of foundation.
Sec. 304. International sustainable land-use management plans.
Sec. 305. Blue carbon monitoring.
Sec. 306. Report to Congress.
Sec. 307. International forestry cooperation.
Sec. 308. Modifications to authorities relating to tropical forests.
SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS.
It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) forests and other ecosystems, including grasslands and
coastal wetlands, sequester and store atmospheric carbon on
climatologically relevant timescales;
(2) conserving, protecting, and restoring forest,
grassland, and wetland ecosystems globally would sequester a
substantial amount of atmospheric carbon and constitute a
pragmatic step towards addressing global carbon emissions and
the degradation of biodiversity;
(3) blue carbon habitat can also store a substantial amount
of atmospheric carbon and provide numerous other environmental,
cultural, and economic benefits;
(4) as methods to address the changing climate, restore
ecosystems, and benefit human health, the United States
Government should take a leadership role, both domestically and
abroad, in--
(A) ending deforestation;
(B) supporting tree planting, natural regeneration,
forest landscape restoration, wildfire risk reduction,
and sustainable forest management; and
(C) conserving and restoring grasslands, wetlands,
blue carbon habitats, and other lands and waters at
scale; and
(5) the 1t.org trillion trees platform established by the
World Economic Forum, the Global Environment Facility, and
other domestic and international efforts to conserve and expand
healthy forest and tree cover, grasslands, wetlands, and blue
carbon habitats globally should be supported.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the
Administrator of the United States Agency for International
Development.
(2) Blue carbon habitat.--The term ``blue carbon habitat''
means a coastal habitat in the soils and vegetation of which
carbon is stored, including a tidal wetland, a mangrove forest,
a seagrass bed, a kelp forest, and other saltwater and
estuarine coastal systems.
(3) Carbon sequestration.--The term ``carbon
sequestration'' means the processes of capturing and storing
atmospheric carbon dioxide for a climatologically relevant
period of time.
(4) Forest landscape restoration.--The term ``forest
landscape restoration'' means a process that aims to regain
ecological functionality and enhance human well-being in
deforested or degraded landscapes.
(5) National forest system.--The term ``National Forest
System'' has the meaning given the term in section 11(a) of the
Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974
(16 U.S.C. 1609(a)).
(6) Naturally regenerate.--The term ``naturally
regenerate'' means the regeneration of natural tree growth
from--
(A) available seed sources native to the specific
forest area; or
(B) any other natural process that does not
primarily involve planting.
(7) Net carbon stock.--The term ``net carbon stock'' means
the absolute quantity of carbon held within a discrete portion
of the biosphere (including carbon held within a discrete
portion of aboveground forest biomass and forest soil) at a
specified time.
(8) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Agriculture.
(9) Sustainable.--The term ``sustainable'' means the manner
in which a land-use activity will, over the long-term--
(A) satisfy the human and ecological needs
associated with the use of land;
(B) conserve critical habitat and conserve and
enhance the environmental quality of the land; and
(C) optimize current and future land uses to ensure
any enhancements in productivity are at a rate and in a
manner that does not threaten decline.
TITLE I--CARBON SEQUESTRATION THROUGH FOREST CONSERVATION AND LAND
MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES
SEC. 101. DOMESTIC FOREST CARBON STOCK OBJECTIVES.
(a) In General.--Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment
of this Act, the Secretary, in collaboration with the Administrator of
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, shall establish--
(1) objectives for increased net carbon stock for the
forest, grassland, wetland, and coastal blue carbon habitat
ecosystems of the United States that are owned or managed by
the Federal Government; and
(2) objectives that shall be developed collaboratively
between 1 or more non-Federal entities and 1 or more Federal
partners for increased net carbon stock for the forest,
grassland, wetland, and coastal blue carbon habitat ecosystems
of the United States that are owned or managed by a State or
local government, an Indian Tribe, or a private person.
(b) Requirements.--Objectives established under subsection (a)--
(1) shall be based on the best available scientific and
commercial information, including current and reference net
carbon stock conditions for each ecosystem;
(2) shall be based on information relating to the
maintenance or restoration of the ecological integrity of the
ecosystems described in subsection (a), including maintaining
or restoring ecologically appropriate forest, grassland,
wetland, and blue carbon habitat structure, function,
composition, and connectivity;
(3) shall consider naturally regenerated plant growth and
planted growth;
(4) shall be established at levels that assist in
achieving--
(A) the optimally feasible and ecologically
appropriate increase in the total net carbon stock that
private domestic, State, and Tribal landowners and the
Federal Government can achieve by January 1, 2030, and
every 10 years thereafter through January 1, 2100; and
(B) the maximum practicable retention, recruitment,
and restoration of critical habitats, as appropriate
for the forest type, to the extent that the trees
promote increased net carbon stock;
(5) shall be informed by data collected through the Forest
Inventory and Analysis program of the Forest Service and other
relevant data;
(6) shall not negatively impact forest ecological
integrity, forest function, forest composition, forest
connectivity, and sustained yield and multiple uses;
(7) shall be published in the Federal Register, after
notice and an opportunity for public comment, together with a
statement of the basis and justification for the objectives;
(8) shall consider input from and the interests of local
stakeholders; and
(9) shall consider--
(A) the conservation of existing ecosystems that
sequester carbon; and
(B) the impact that a changing climate may have
on--
(i) existing net carbon stocks in forest,
grassland, wetland, and coastal blue carbon
habitat ecosystems; and
(ii) the carbon sequestration potential of
the ecosystems described in clause (i).
SEC. 102. RENEWABLE RESOURCE ASSESSMENT AND SURVEY UPDATE.
(a) Renewable Resource Assessment.--Section 3 of the Forest and
Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 1601) is
amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) in each of paragraphs (4) and (5), by striking
``and'' at the end;
(B) in paragraph (6), by striking the comma at the
end and inserting a semicolon; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(7) an analysis of the total carbon storage capacity of
the National Forest System based on the lifecycle analysis
established under section 102(b) of the Trillion Trees and
Natural Carbon Storage Act; and
``(8) an analysis of the opportunities to enhance and
optimize total net carbon stock (as defined in section 3 of
that Act and taking into consideration the requirements
described in section 101(b) of that Act) in the National Forest
System.''; and
(2) in subsection (c)--
(A) in paragraph (2), by striking ``and'' at the
end;
(B) in paragraph (3), by striking the period at the
end and inserting ``; and''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(4) the potential for increased utilization of forest and
wood products and byproducts that are sustainable (as defined
in section 3 of the Trillion Trees and Natural Carbon Storage
Act), including recommendations to Congress for actions
relating to those products and byproducts that would lead to
increased net carbon sequestration (as defined in that
section).''.
(b) Lifecycle Analysis.--
(1) Lifecycle storage model.--As a part of the assessment
required under section 3 of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable
Resources Planning Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 1601), the Secretary
shall develop, using the best available science, including data
collected through the Forest Inventory and Analysis program of
the Forest Service, computational models to analyze the
lifecycle forest and grassland carbon sequestration potential
associated with the National Forest System.
(2) Considerations.--In developing the model under
paragraph (1), the Secretary shall consider--
(A) the net carbon stock in forests, grasslands,
and wetlands, including in wood and forest soils;
(B) the rate of carbon sequestration in new trees
and young forests;
(C) the rate of carbon sequestration in old trees
and older forests;
(D) the carbon impacts from tree mortality;
(E) the carbon impacts from logging, milling, and
other forest management activities;
(F) the carbon impacts from wildfire, pests, and
other natural disturbances;
(G) the full lifecycle of carbon impacts from the
manufacture of wood-based products, including storage
benefits and substitution benefits from the use of
wood-based products as compared to the use of more
greenhouse-gas-intensive materials, including impacts
on forest ecosystem net carbon stocks;
(H) the net carbon impact of a cycle of--
(i) harvest and regeneration; or
(ii) harvest and replanting;
(I) the carbon impacts from ecologically sound
active forest management;
(J) the carbon impacts from retention, forest
conservation, improved management, and restoration of
other landscapes, including grasslands, sagebrush,
steppe, wetlands, abandoned mine land, brownfields, and
other degraded lands that were historically forested;
and
(K) other factors, as determined by the Secretary.
(3) Validation program.--
(A) In general.--The Secretary shall carry out a
program for validation and independent testing of the
lifecycle models developed under paragraph (1).
(B) Requirements.--In carrying out the validation
program under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall--
(i) regularly perform retrospective
assessments comparing model predictions to
field data on the carbon stored on the National
Forest System; and
(ii) require third-party evaluation and
comparison of lifecycle models developed under
paragraph (1) against existing models,
including enabling empirical testing of
hypotheses regarding the net effects on land
and atmospheric carbon stocks and other
greenhouse gas impacts.
(4) Report.--Not later than 3 years after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the
Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and
the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the
Senate a report on the findings of the analysis conducted using
the lifecycle models developed under paragraph (1).
SEC. 103. FOREST NURSERY REVIVAL PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--Section 2 of the Act of June 9, 1930 (commonly
known as the ``Knutson-Vandenberg Act'') (16 U.S.C. 576a), is amended--
(1) by striking the section designation and all that
follows through ``the Secretary of Agriculture'' and inserting
the following:
``SEC. 2. FOREST NURSERY REVIVAL PROGRAM.
``(a) In General.--The Secretary of Agriculture shall use amounts
made available under subsection (b)''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out subsection
(a) $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2030.''.
(b) Report.--Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of
this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture,
Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate and the Committee on Agriculture
of the House of Representatives a report describing the shortcomings
of, and barriers to, reforestation activities under section 2 of the
Act of June 9, 1930 (commonly known as the ``Knutson-Vandenberg Act'')
(16 U.S.C. 576a).
SEC. 104. CARBON SEQUESTRATION THROUGH WETLAND AND GRASSLAND.
(a) In General.--The Administrator of the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration and the Secretary of the Interior, in
consultation with the Secretary and the heads of other relevant
agencies, are encouraged to identify and pursue opportunities for the
restoration or conservation of grasslands, wetlands, and coastal blue
carbon habitats of the United States that are owned or managed by the
Federal Government, State or local governments, Indian Tribes, or
private persons that will--
(1) increase the net carbon stock of the United States,
allowing the United States to reach the objectives established
under section 101(a); and
(2) provide other environmental, cultural, and economic
benefits to the region in which the restoration or conservation
is carried out.
(b) Blue Carbon Monitoring.--In carrying out subsection (a), the
Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,
in collaboration with the Secretary of the Interior and the heads of
other relevant agencies, shall monitor the net carbon stock in blue
carbon habitats.
(c) Grassland Carbon Monitoring.--In carrying out subsection (a),
the Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary, and the heads of other
relevant agencies shall collaborate to monitor the net carbon stock in
grassland.
SEC. 105. CARBON SEQUESTRATION THROUGH THE HEALTHY FOREST RESERVE
PROGRAM.
(a) Establishment.--Section 501(a) of the Healthy Forests
Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6571(a)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (3), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(2) in paragraph (4), by striking the period at the end and
inserting ``; and''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(5) to promote, in pursuit of the objectives for
increasing net carbon stock established under section 101(a) of
the Trillion Trees and Natural Carbon Storage Act--
``(A) first in priority, the conservation and
management of existing forests; and
``(B) second in priority, the planting or
regeneration of additional trees in an ecologically
appropriate manner.''.
(b) Enrollment Priority.--Section 502(f) of the Healthy Forests
Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6572) is amended by striking
paragraph (1) and inserting the following:
``(1) In general.--The Secretary of Agriculture shall give
priority to the enrollment in the healthy forests reserve
program of land that--
``(A) provides the greatest conservation benefit
to--
``(i) species listed as endangered or
threatened under section 4 of the Endangered
Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1533); and
``(ii) species that--
``(I) are not listed as endangered
or threatened under section 4 of the
Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16
U.S.C. 1533); but
``(II)(aa) are candidates for such
listing, State-listed species, or
special concern species; or
``(bb) are deemed a species of
greatest conservation need under a
State wildlife action plan;
``(B) promotes the restoration of marginal farmland
or degraded forestland into healthy forest ecosystems;
or
``(C) promotes the continuation of an ecologically
appropriate ecosystem.''.
(c) Restoration Plans.--Section 503(b) of the Healthy Forests
Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6573(b)) is amended by striking
paragraph (4) and inserting the following:
``(4) Practices, including reforestation and other forestry
practices, to increase net carbon stock (as defined in section
3 of the Trillion Trees and Natural Carbon Storage Act).''.
SEC. 106. NATIONAL FOREST FOUNDATION ACTIVITIES.
(a) Purposes of Foundation.--Section 402(b) of the National Forest
Foundation Act (16 U.S.C. 583j(b)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (2), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(2) in paragraph (3), by striking the period at the end and
inserting a semicolon; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(4) encourage, accept, and administer private gifts of
money and of real and personal property for the benefit of, or
in connection with, the objectives for optimizing total
domestic carbon stocks established under section 101(a) of the
Trillion Trees and Natural Carbon Storage Act; and
``(5) carry out the Theodore Roosevelt Jr. Prize for Forest
Restoration under section 410.''.
(b) Theodore Roosevelt Jr. Prize for Forest Restoration.--The
National Forest Foundation Act (16 U.S.C. 583j et seq.) is amended--
(1) in section 405, by striking ``410'' both places it
appears and inserting ``411'';
(2) by redesignating section 410 as section 411; and
(3) by inserting after section 409 the following:
``SEC. 410. THEODORE ROOSEVELT JR. PRIZE FOR FOREST RESTORATION.
``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Secretary.--The term `Secretary' means the Secretary
of Agriculture.
``(2) Theodore roosevelt jr. prize.--The term `Theodore
Roosevelt Jr. Prize' means the Theodore Roosevelt Jr. Prize for
Forest Restoration established under subsection (b).
``(b) Establishment.--The Foundation shall, in consultation with
the Secretary, establish a program to award an incentive prize, to be
known as the `Theodore Roosevelt Jr. Prize for Forest Restoration', to
support domestic reforestation activities carried out by individuals,
communities, nonprofit organizations, and corporations.
``(c) Eligible Recipients.--The following entities are eligible to
receive the Theodore Roosevelt Jr. Prize:
``(1) A State agency.
``(2) A nonprofit entity that the Secretary determines has
a demonstrated expertise in tree planting activity and
reforestation.
``(3) Other entities that the Secretary determines to be
appropriate, such as a local government or a private owner of
land covered by a forest management plan.
``(d) Coordination.--In carrying out this section, the Secretary
may coordinate on an ongoing basis with appropriate Federal, State,
Tribal, and local resource management departments, local nonprofit
organizations, private landowners, and corporations--
``(1) to identify land suitable for reforestation;
``(2) to encourage, accept, and administer private gifts of
money, technical expertise, and real and personal property for
the benefit of the program under this section; and
``(3) to manage and maintain reforested land.''.
SEC. 107. CARBON SEQUESTRATION ON STATE AND PRIVATE LAND.
(a) Adding Net Carbon Stock as a Purpose.--Section 2(b) of the
Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2101(b)) is
amended--
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (6) through (10) as
paragraphs (7) through (11), respectively; and
(2) by inserting after paragraph (5) the following:
``(6) the encouragement of reforestation, conservation, and
related optimization of net carbon stock (as defined in section
3 of the Trillion Trees and Natural Carbon Storage Act and
taking into consideration the requirements described in section
101(b) of that Act);''.
(b) Support for State Assessments and Strategies for Forest
Resources When Considering Carbon Emissions.--Section 2A(a)(1) of the
Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2101a(a)(1)) is
amended--
(1) by redesignating subparagraphs (C) and (D) as
subparagraphs (D) and (E), respectively; and
(2) by inserting after subparagraph (B) the following:
``(C)(i) the net carbon stock (as defined in
section 3 of the Trillion Trees and Natural Carbon
Storage Act and taking into consideration the
requirements described in section 101(b) of that Act)
on State land and private land in the State; and
``(ii) opportunities to increase that net carbon
stock, taking into consideration the requirements
described in section 101(b) of that Act;''.
(c) Carbon Storage Through the Forest Stewardship Program.--Section
5(d)(1) of the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C.
2103a(d)(1)) is amended by inserting ``carbon sequestration (as defined
in section 3 of the Trillion Trees and Natural Carbon Storage Act),''
before ``and the aesthetic''.
(d) Carbon Storage Through the Community Forest and Open Space
Conservation Program.--Section 7A(c)(1)(B)(ii) of the Cooperative
Forestry Assistance Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2103d(c)(1)(B)(ii)) is
amended by inserting ``, net carbon stock (as defined in section 3 of
the Trillion Trees and Natural Carbon Storage Act and taking into
consideration the requirements described in section 101(b) of that
Act),'' before ``and wildlife''.
(e) Carbon Storage Through the Promotion of Forest Health.--Section
8(a) of the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C.
2104(a)) is amended--
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (4) through (6) as
paragraphs (5) through (7), respectively; and
(2) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following:
``(4) protect or enhance net carbon stock (as defined in
section 3 of the Trillion Trees and Natural Carbon Storage Act
and taking into consideration the requirements described in
section 101(b) of that Act) on healthy forestland;''.
(f) Carbon Storage Through Urban and Community Forestry.--Section
9(d)(3) of the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C.
2105(d)(3)) is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(2) in subparagraph (D), by inserting ``and'' at the end;
and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(E) identifying opportunities to increase carbon
stored through tree planting and scientific urban
forestry management;''.
(g) Carbon Storage Through the State and Private Forest Landscape-
Scale Restoration.--Section 13A of the Cooperative Forestry Assistance
Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2109a) is amended--
(1) in subsection (e)--
(A) in paragraph (6), by striking ``and'' at the
end;
(B) by redesignating paragraph (7) as paragraph
(8); and
(C) by inserting after paragraph (6) the following:
``(7) to improve the potential to increase the net carbon
stock (as defined in section 3 of the Trillion Trees and
Natural Carbon Storage Act and taking into consideration the
requirements described in section 101(b) of that Act) of forest
ecosystems through methods that result in real, measurable, and
verifiable changes in that net carbon stock; and''; and
(2) in subsection (l), by striking paragraph (3) and
inserting the following:
``(3) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated to the Fund $25,000,000 for the first full
fiscal year after the date of enactment of the Trillion Trees
and Natural Carbon Storage Act and each fiscal year thereafter
through fiscal year 2025, to remain available until
expended.''.
SEC. 108. CARBON SEQUESTRATION RESEARCH AND MONITORING PROGRAMS.
(a) In General.--Section 3 of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable
Resources Research Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 1642) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), in the
second sentence, by striking ``include,'' and all that
follows through ``subsection.'' and inserting ``include
the following 6 major areas of renewable resource
research:'';
(B) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``further
expanding the understanding of wood product carbon
sequestration (as defined in section 3 of the Trillion
Trees and Natural Carbon Storage Act), including by
developing and improving carbon accounting strategies
for specific, ecologically sound forest management
practices;'' before ``and developing''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(6) Renewable resource assessment research shall include,
as appropriate, research activities relating to the
sequestration of carbon, including--
``(A) accounting strategies for specific,
ecologically sound forest management practices in
specific forest types;
``(B) increased carbon storage through
reforestation, natural regeneration (as defined in
section 3 of the Trillion Trees and Natural Carbon
Storage Act) or conservation, and forest and rangeland
management; and
``(C) the utilization of wood and other materials
derived from forest and rangeland renewable resources
to store carbon in building materials and industrial or
consumer products.'';
(2) in subsection (c)--
(A) in paragraph (1)--
(i) in the matter preceding subparagraph
(A), by striking ``United States'' and all that
follows through ``referred to'' and inserting
``Chief of the Forest Service, shall carry out
a program (referred to in this subsection'';
(ii) in subparagraph (G), by striking
``and'' at the end;
(iii) in subparagraph (H), by striking the
period at the end and inserting a semicolon;
and
(iv) by adding at the end the following:
``(I) accelerate and expand existing research
efforts to improve forest carbon measurement and
monitoring technologies--
``(i) to better predict changes in forest
carbon due to a changing climate; and
``(ii) to reduce costs of participation,
and increase participation, by private forest
landowners in carbon markets; and
``(J) conduct a study to monitor impacts from
carbon-enhancing activities.''; and
(B) in paragraph (4)--
(i) by striking subparagraphs (A) and (C);
(ii) by striking ``the following reports:''
and all that follows through ``shall submit''
in the matter preceding clause (i) of
subparagraph (B) and inserting ``, not later
than January 15 of each year,''; and
(iii) by redesignating clauses (i) through
(iv) as subparagraphs (A) through (D),
respectively, and indenting appropriately; and
(3) in subsection (d)(2), by adding at the end the
following:
``(F) Carbon sequestration (as defined in section 3
of the Trillion Trees and Natural Carbon Storage
Act).''.
(b) Technical Amendment.--Section 2(c) of the Forest and Rangeland
Renewable Resources Research Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 1641(c)) is amended
by inserting ``of Agriculture (referred to in this Act as the
`Secretary')'' after ``Secretary''.
TITLE II--MARKET INCENTIVES FOR CARBON SEQUESTRATION
SEC. 201. CLARIFICATION OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOR
CELLULOSIC BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPLASTICS.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Cellulosic biochemical product.--The term ``cellulosic
biochemical product'' means any biochemical, including
bioethanol and its derivatives, that is derived from wood or
plant cellulose fiber.
(2) Cellulosic bioplastics product.--The term ``cellulosic
bioplastics product'' means any bioplastic that is derived from
wood or plant cellulose fiber.
(3) Institution of higher education.--The term
``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given the
term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 1001).
(4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary,
acting through the Research and Development deputy area and the
State and Private Forestry deputy area of the Forest Service.
(b) Authorization.--The Secretary shall conduct performance-driven
research and development and provide for education and technical
assistance for the purpose of facilitating the use of cellulosic
biochemical and bioplastics products in the United States.
(c) Activities.--In carrying out subsection (b), the Secretary
shall, after collaboration with the wood products and chemical
industries, conservation organizations, and institutions of higher
education--
(1) conduct research and development, and provide for
education and technical assistance, at the Forest Products
Laboratory or through the State and Private Forestry deputy
area that meets measurable performance goals for the
achievement of the priorities described in paragraphs (1)
through (4) of subsection (d); and
(2) make competitive grants to institutions of higher
education for those institutions to conduct research and
development, carry out educational programs, and provide
technical assistance.
(d) Priorities.--In awarding grants under subsection (c)(2), the
Secretary shall give priority to applications from institutions of
higher education proposing projects--
(1) to address ways to improve the commercialization of
cellulosic biochemical products and biodegradable cellulosic
bioplastics products that, based on the best available science
and analyses conducted using the lifecycle models developed
under section 102(b), will allow for an increase in net carbon
stock;
(2) to develop advanced biofuels (as defined in section
211(o)(1) of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7545(o)(1))) that--
(A) are cellulosic biofuels suitable for use in
aviation, shipping, and heavy-duty vehicles; and
(B) based on the best available science and
analyses conducted using the lifecycle models developed
under section 102(b), will allow for an increase in net
carbon stock;
(3) for the conduct of applied research, including projects
designed to bring products from benchtop to production scale;
or
(4) to address one or more other research areas identified
by the Secretary, in consultation with conservation
organizations, institutions of higher education, and the wood
products industry.
(e) Timeframe.--To the maximum extent practicable, the measurable
performance goals for the research and development, education, and
technical assistance under subsection (b) shall be achievable within 5
years.
SEC. 202. RURAL FOREST MARKET INVESTMENT PROGRAM.
(a) Definition of Rural.--In this section, the term ``rural'' has
the meaning given the term in section 343 of the Consolidated Farm and
Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1991).
(b) Establishment of Program.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish a program,
to be known as the ``Rural Forest Market Investment Program'',
to guarantee an environmental impact bond, loan, or other
investment vehicle, as determined by the Secretary, issued for
the sole purpose of financing eligible projects described in
subsection (c), to enable rural private forest landowners to
participate in an innovative market for forest carbon or other
products.
(2) Consideration.--In establishing the program under
paragraph (1), the Secretary may consider ways to ensure that
the program minimizes, to the extent practicable, disruptions
to traditional forest products markets.
(c) Eligible Projects.--An eligible project referred to in
subsection (b)(1) is a project developed by private entity, or a
publicly supported, charitable nonprofit organization, engaged in the
aggregation of sustainable forestry practices implemented by rural
private forest landowners to facilitate the sale of credits in the
voluntary carbon market or other recognized environmental market, using
a methodology approved by a credible, third-party entity, as determined
by the Secretary.
(d) Requirements.--A project described in subsection (c) that
includes the practice of tree planting may only be carried out, as
determined by the Secretary--
(1) on land that was historically forested;
(2) using tree species that are native to the region and at
ecologically appropriate densities; and
(3) in a manner that does not create other negative impacts
to biodiversity or the environment.
(e) Guarantee Amount.--The Secretary may guarantee not more than
$150,000,000 with respect to each bond, loan, or other investment
vehicle under subsection (b)(1).
(f) Regulations.--Not later than 30 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall issue regulations to
implement the program established under subsection (b)(1).
(g) Termination of Authority.--The authority provided by this
section terminates on September 30, 2023.
TITLE III--ENGAGING AMERICA'S ALLIES IN CONSERVATION AND STRONGER LAND
MANAGEMENT
SEC. 301. STATEMENT OF POLICY.
It shall be the policy of the United States to--
(1) lead the world in creating incentives and investments
to protect intact forests, reduce deforestation and support
tree planting and forest landscape restoration, conservation,
and sustainable management in support of the goal to plant and
conserve one trillion trees globally;
(2) support carbon sequestration through sustainable
management and restoration of coastal and inland aquatic
ecosystems, including wetlands and blue carbon habitats; and
(3) utilize the vast natural assets and technical expertise
of the United States to assist with sustainable management and
utilization, conservation, and restoration of forests,
grasslands, wetlands, blue carbon habitats, and agricultural
lands for sequestering carbon globally.
SEC. 302. INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT FOR CONSERVATION.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of State (referred to in this title
as the ``Secretary''), in coordination with the Administrator, the
Secretary of Agriculture, the Administrator of the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration, the Director of the United States Fish and
Wildlife Service, the Secretary of the Treasury, and the heads of other
relevant agencies and international organizations, shall prioritize
programs to support forest landscape restoration, end deforestation,
and conserve and restore grasslands, wetlands, and blue carbon habitats
at landscape scale, including incorporating these activities into other
programs or forms of assistance.
(b) Prioritization and Types of Assistance.--In providing the
support outlined in subsection (a), the Secretary, in coordination with
the Administrator, the Secretary of Agriculture, the Administrator of
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Director
of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, shall--
(1) prioritize partnerships with developing countries and
regions that have experienced significant levels of
deforestation, grassland conversion, wetland loss, or blue
carbon habitat degradation or whose biodiversity, local
economy, and stability has been or could be significantly
impacted by loss of forest and tree cover, grasslands,
wetlands, or blue carbon habitat;
(2) prioritize partnerships that have been determined by
agencies and partners with relevant expertise to sequester or
have the potential to sequester significant amounts of
atmospheric carbon and that will provide other benefits to the
region, as determined by the Secretary;
(3) encourage countries receiving relevant aid, as
determined by the Secretary, to report transparently
information about this aid, including local ownership and
benefit sharing of programs;
(4) encourage countries receiving relevant aid, as
determined by the Secretary, to adopt legislation or other
measures domestically to protect, restore, and sustainably
manage forests (both existing and newly planted), grasslands,
wetlands, blue carbon habitats, and other ecologically
important lands and waters; and
(5) take a leadership role in ending deforestation and
habitat conversion and encouraging the sustainable management,
conservation, and restoration of forests, grasslands, wetlands,
blue carbon habitats, and other lands and waters at landscape
scale.
(c) Coordination.--In carrying out the programs authorized by this
section, the Secretary and the Administrator shall, to the maximum
extent practicable, make use of public-private partnerships to
facilitate engagement by nonprofit organizations and industry partners.
SEC. 303. ESTABLISHMENT OF FOUNDATION.
(a) Establishment of Foundation.--The Secretary may enter into an
agreement, or expand on existing partnerships, with a nonprofit
organization to establish an ``International Forest Foundation'' (in
this section referred to as the ``Foundation''), which shall not be an
agency or instrumentality of the United States Government.
(b) Purposes of Foundation.--The purposes of the Foundation shall
be to--
(1) encourage, accept, and administer private gifts of
money and of real and personal property for the benefit of, or
in connection with, the activities and services carried out by
the United States to support forest landscape restoration, end
deforestation, and conserve and restore grasslands, wetlands,
and blue carbon habitats around the world;
(2) use private funds to support, undertake, and conduct
activities that further the goals set forth in section 301; and
(3) undertake, conduct, and encourage educational,
technical, and other assistance, and other activities, that
support international goals to increase global carbon
sequestration and ecosystem health through the conservation and
restoration of healthy forests, grasslands, wetlands, blue
carbon habitats, and sustainably managed agricultural land.
(c) Transfer of Funds; Liability.--
(1) Transfer of funds.--The Secretary may authorize,
pursuant to an agreement entered into in accordance with
section 302(c), the transfer of funds of the United States to a
nonprofit organization for the purpose of offsetting any
administrative costs of the Foundation.
(2) Liability.--The United States shall not be liable for
any debts, defaults, acts, or omissions of the Foundation. The
full faith and credit of the United States shall not extend to
any obligations of the Foundation.
SEC. 304. INTERNATIONAL SUSTAINABLE LAND-USE MANAGEMENT PLANS.
(a) In General.--The Secretary, in coordination with the
Administrator, the Secretary of Agriculture, the heads of other
relevant Federal agencies, and international organizations, shall
encourage countries receiving funding or other forms of assistance
related to agriculture that is funded or partially funded by the United
States to produce, make publicly available, and adhere to detailed
land-use management plans that identify and preserve areas important to
ecosystem health and carbon sequestration and prioritize landscape
restoration.
(b) Land-Use Management Plan Criteria.--The Secretary shall work
with the Administrator, the Secretary of Agriculture, the heads of
other relevant Federal agencies, international and nongovernmental
organizations, and other relevant experts to work with recipient
countries to develop and make publicly available, not later than one
year after the date of the enactment of this Act, science-based
criteria for land-use management plans that support conservation of
critical ecosystems, which may take material or ideas from existing
land-use management criteria. The criteria shall prioritize--
(1) identifying and preserving areas important to ecosystem
health and carbon sequestration;
(2) conserving critical habitat and other significant
areas;
(3) prioritizing conservation and preservation where
possible;
(4) restoring forests, grasslands, wetlands, blue carbon
habitats, and other lands and waters important for carbon
sequestration and ecosystem health; and
(5) stakeholder engagement with local communities,
including indigenous communities and marginalized groups,
including women.
(c) Identification of Countries.--The Secretary shall work with the
Administrator, the Secretary of Agriculture, the heads of other
relevant United States agencies, international organizations, and other
relevant experts to identify and publish on a preexisting website the
countries receiving direct funding or benefits derived from United
States international aid related to agricultural development,
agricultural education, or agricultural trade.
(d) Encouraging Use of Land-Use Management Plans.--The Secretary,
in coordination with the Administrator, the Secretary of Agriculture,
and the heads of other relevant agencies shall--
(1) encourage identified countries to develop and publish
on a preexisting website land-use management plans, or to
improve existing land-use management plans, following criteria
that include clear annual objectives for achieving the
priorities set forth in subsection (b);
(2) consider the progress that countries have made in
developing conservation and land-use management plans and the
progress these countries have made in adhering to these plans
when determining future aid related to agricultural
development;
(3) encourage international organizations that the United
States supports and other governments with which it cooperates
to support land-use management plans and planning; and
(4) integrate United States financial assistance and
support for such plans with the assistance of others to the
extent doing so advances their effectiveness.
SEC. 305. BLUE CARBON MONITORING.
The Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration shall--
(1) collaborate with and provide technical assistance to
the Secretary and the Administrator in order to implement best
practices for monitoring blue carbon inventory in programs and
projects established under this title; and
(2) work in collaboration with the Smithsonian
Environmental Research Center to develop a global blue carbon
database and ensure data collection and reporting are
consistent with the Center's Coastal Carbon Data Clearinghouse.
SEC. 306. REPORT TO CONGRESS.
Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act,
and annually thereafter, the Secretary, in consultation with the
Administrator, the Secretary of Agriculture, the Administrator of the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Director of the
United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and the heads of other
relevant United States agencies, shall submit a report to Congress
that--
(1) outlines funding, activities, and other support
provided to advance the priorities outlined in sections 302,
303, 304, and 305 on a country-by-country basis, including work
to develop land-use management plan criteria and efforts to
encourage identified countries to develop and adhere to land-
use management plans consistent with the developed criteria;
and
(2) makes use of modern satellite imagery techniques to
monitor grassland, forest, and tree canopy cover and track the
effectiveness of the programs of the United States Government
and its partners.
SEC. 307. INTERNATIONAL FORESTRY COOPERATION.
Section 602(b)(1) of the International Forestry Cooperation Act of
1990 (16 U.S.C. 4501(b)(1)) is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (G), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(2) in subparagraph (H), by inserting ``and'' at the end;
and
(3) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
``(I) carbon sequestration (as
defined in section 3 of the Trillion
Trees and Natural Carbon Storage Act)
activities, including forest landscape
restoration (as defined in that
section) programs, conducted in an
ecologically appropriate manner;''.
SEC. 308. MODIFICATIONS TO AUTHORITIES RELATING TO TROPICAL FORESTS.
Section 118 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151p-
1) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)(2), by inserting ``, and an increase
in global carbon sequestration'' before the period at the end;
(2) in subsection (c)--
(A) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``,
restoration,'' after ``conservation'';
(B) in paragraph (2)(A), by inserting ``and impact
on global carbon emissions'' after ``irreversible
losses'';
(C) in paragraph (6), by inserting ``(including
partnerships to increase and retain carbon
sequestration, as defined in section 3 of the Trillion
Trees and Natural Carbon Storage Act)'' after
``sustainable forestry projects and practices''; and
(D) in paragraph (8), by inserting ``increase
carbon sequestration (as defined in section 3 of the
Trillion Trees and Natural Carbon Storage Act) and,''
after ``other activities to''; and
(3) in subsection (f), by inserting ``and a study on the
total carbon sequestered through increases in and retention of
tropical forest stocks globally as a result of programs,
projects, and activities carried out under this section''
before the period at the end.
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