Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 104 Part 5.djvu/201

 PUBLIC LAW 101-624—NOV. 28, 1990 104 STAT. 3523 ment that contribute to the economic health and diversity of rural communities; and "(16) sustainable agroforestry systems and tree planting in semiarid lands can improve environmental quality and maintain farm yields and income. '*Qa) PURPOSE.—It is the purpose of this Act to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture (hereaiter in this Act referred to as the 'Secretary'), with respect to non-Federal forest lands of the United States, to assist in— "(1) the establishment of a coordinated and cooperative Federal, State, and local forest stewardship program for msmagement of the non-Federal forest lands; "(2) the encouragement of the production of timber; "(3) the prevention and control of insects and diseases affecting trees and forests; "(4) the prevention and control of rural fires; "(5) the efficient utilization of wood and wood residues, including the recycling of wood fiber; "(6) the improvement and maintenance of fish and wildlife habitat; "(7) the planning and conduct of urban forestry programs; "(8) broadening existing forest management, fire protection, and insect and disease protection programs on non-Federal forest lands to meet the multiple use objectives of landowners in an environmentally sensitive manner; "(9) providing opportunities to private landowners to protect ecologically valuable and threatened non-Federal forest lands; and "(10) strengthening educational, technical, and financial assistance programs that provide assistance to owners of non- Federal forest lands. "(c) PoucY. —It is the policy of Congress that it is in the national interest for the Secretary to work through and in cooperation with State foresters, or equivalent State officials, nongovernmental organizations, and the private sector in implementing Federal programs affecting non-Federal forest lands. "(d) CONSTRUCTION. — This Act shall be construed to complement the policies and direction under the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 1600 et seq.).". SEC. 1213. RURAL FORESTRY ASSISTANCE. Section 3 of the Act (16 U.S.C. 2102) is amended to read as follows: "SEC. 3. RURAL FORESTRY ASSISTANCE. "(a) ASSISTANCE TO FOREST LANDOWNERS AND OTHERS.— The Secretary may provide financial, technical, educational, and related assistance to State foresters or equivalent State officials, and State extension directors, to enable such officials to provide technical information, advice, and related assistance to private forest land owners and managers, vendors, forest resource operators, forest resource professionals, public agencies, and individuals to enable such persons to carry out activities that are consistent with the purposes of this Act, including— "(1) protecting, maintaining, enhancing, restoring, and preserving forest lands and the multiple values and uses that depend on such lands;

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