The White Oak Resilience Act

Coordinated Restoration Efforts: The creation of the White Oak Restoration Initiative Coalition aims to coordinate the restoration of white oak among Federal, State, Tribal, local, private, and non-governmental groups (Section 3(b)(1)).

Technical Assistance and Outreach: The bill provides for outreach to forest landowners and the development of educational materials to help improve the health and resiliency of white oak (Section 3(b)(2)(C) and Section 3(c)).

Forest Restoration Pilot Projects: The Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior are directed to carry out pilot projects to restore and naturally regenerate white oak in national forests and other lands (Section 4(a) and Section 5(b)).

Financial Support via Grants: The White Oak and Upland Oak Habitat Regeneration Program includes a voluntary grant and technical assistance program to achieve restoration and conservation goals (Section 6(e)(1)).

Addressing Resource Shortages: A national strategy will be implemented to increase the capacity of tree nurseries to address the nationwide shortage of tree seedlings (Section 7(a)(1)).

Scientific Advancement: The bill allows for collaborative research with Indian Tribes or institutions to improve white oak survival, growth, and genetic diversity (Section 8(a)).

Requirement for Advance Appropriations: Certain funding for the White Oak Restoration Initiative Coalition and the grant program is subject to the availability of appropriations made in advance (Section 3(d) and Section 6(e)(2)(B)).

Time-Limited Authorities: Many of the specific authorities granted in this bill, including the Forest Service pilot projects, the Department of the Interior review, and the research and USDA initiatives, are subject to a 7-year sunset period (Section 4(d), Section 5(d), Section 6(f), Section 8(c), and Section 9(b)).