The purpose of this chapter is to encourage the collaborative, science-based ecosystem restoration of priority forest landscapes through a process that—
(1) encourages ecological, economic, and social sustainability;
(2) leverages local resources with national and private resources;
(3) facilitates the reduction of wildfire management costs, including through reestablishing natural fire regimes and reducing the risk of uncharacteristic wildfire; and
(4) demonstrates the degree to which—
(A) various ecological restoration techniques—
(i) achieve ecological and watershed health objectives; and
(ii) affect wildfire activity and management costs; and
(B) the use of forest restoration byproducts can offset treatment costs while benefitting local rural economies and improving forest health.
(Pub. L. 111–11, title IV, §4001, Mar. 30, 2009, 123 Stat. 1141.)