Nursery and seed orchard support

(a)

Partnerships, collaboration, and other assistance in support of nurseries and seed orchards

The Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, shall—(1)partner with Federal and State agencies, Indian Tribes, and private nurseries to provide training, technical assistance, and research to nursery and tree establishment programs that support natural regeneration, reforestation, agroforestry, and afforestation;(2)promote information sharing to improve technical knowledge and practices and understand demands, climate change impacts, and other issues as necessary to address all facets of the reforestation pipeline;(3)provide technical and financial assistance to international nursery and tree establishment programs through the Forest Service International Programs, the Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry, and the International Institute of Tropical Forestry;(4)collaborate with other relevant Federal departments and agencies, including the Foreign Agricultural Service of the Department of Agriculture, the United States Agency for International Development, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service of the Department of the Interior, and international organizations, including the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, to provide technical and financial assistance related to nurseries and reforestation;(5)coordinate the efforts of the Department of Agriculture to—(A)address the challenges associated with the reforestation pipeline; and(B)leverage economic development assistance for work with private nurseries; and(6)expand climate-informed reforestation supply chains through science and research, seed collection and storage, and nursery infrastructure and operations.(b)

Nursery and seed orchard grants

(1)

In general

Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary of Agriculture shall establish a program to provide grants to eligible recipients to support nurseries and seed orchards.(2)

Eligible projects

The Secretary may make a grant under this section to an eligible recipient for a project to do at least one of the following:(A)Develop, expand, enhance, or improve nursery production capacity or other infrastructure to—(i)improve seed collection and storage;(ii)increase seedling production, storage, and distribution; or(iii)enhance seedling survival and properly manage tree genetic resources.(B)Establish or expand a nursery or seed orchard, including by acquiring equipment for such nursery or seed orchard.(C)Develop or implement quality control measures at nurseries or seed orchards.(D)Promote workforce development within any facet of the reforestation pipeline.(E)Carry out such other activity as the Secretary determines appropriate.(c)

Definitions

In this section:(1)

Eligible recipient

The term eligible recipient means— (A)a State forestry agency;(B)an Indian Tribe; and(C)a private nursery that has experience growing high-quality native trees of appropriate genetic sources in bareroot or container stocktypes specific for reforestation, restoration, or conservation, including native plants and seeds that are of cultural significance to Indian Tribes.(2)

Nursery

The term nursery means a tree or native plant nursery.(3)

Seed orchard

The term seed orchard means a tree or native plant seed orchard. (4)

State

The term State means each of the several States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and any territory or possession of the United States.(d)

Authorization of appropriations

There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $25,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2028.