The White Oak Resilience Act (H.R. 2405)

Summary

The White Oak Resilience Act aims to restore and conserve white oak forests in the United States through a collaborative federal, state, tribal, and local initiative. The key provisions of the bill include:

White Oak Restoration Initiative Coalition

• Establishes a voluntary coalition of government, private, and non-profit organizations to coordinate white oak restoration efforts nationwide.
• Tasks the coalition with making policy recommendations to address barriers and increase the pace and scale of white oak regeneration.
• Requires administrative and technical support from the Departments of Agriculture and Interior.

Forest Service Pilot Program

• Directs the Forest Service to establish 5 pilot projects in national forests to restore white oak through sustainable management practices.
• Requires at least 3 pilot projects to be conducted on national forests reserved or withdrawn from the public domain.

Department of Interior White Oak Review and Restoration

• Requires the Department of Interior to assess the presence and restoration potential of white oak on lands under its jurisdiction.
• Authorizes the Department to establish 5 pilot projects to restore and regenerate white oak on these lands.

White Oak Regeneration and Upland Oak Habitat Program

• Directs the Department of Agriculture to establish a voluntary program to support science-based white oak restoration and conservation activities.
• Instructs the Department to collaborate with the White Oak Restoration Initiative Coalition and develop a white oak restoration strategy.
• Creates grant and technical assistance programs to help private landowners regenerate white oak.

Impact

The White Oak Resilience Act aims to address the decline of white oak forests by facilitating a coordinated, multi-stakeholder approach to restoration. If enacted, it could lead to increased pace and scale of white oak regeneration on federal, state, tribal, and private lands, helping to improve the health, resilience, and long-term sustainability of this important tree species.