The White Oak Resilience Act

Key Points

• Congress directs the Agriculture and Interior Departments to coordinate a nationwide effort to restore white oak forests on public and private land.
• Agriculture Department would run 5 white oak pilot projects in national forests, and Interior would do an assessment plus 5 pilot projects on its lands like refuges and abandoned mine sites.
• A new voluntary (non-regulatory) program would offer grants and expert help to landowners and partners to regrow white oak and improve wildlife habitat tied to these forests.
• Agriculture Department must create a national plan to boost tree nursery capacity and address tree seedling shortages, including improving seed diversity and nursery infrastructure.
• The bill supports research with Tribes and colleges on hardier white oak genetics, better replanting methods, and matching seeds to future climate conditions; most authorities end after 7 years.