White Oak Resilience Act

This bill establishes a White Oak Restoration Initiative Coalition as a voluntary group of public, state, private and non-governmental organizations to coordinate white oak restoration in the U.S. and make policy recommendations. It also creates pilot projects, assessments, a fund, and research programs to restore and regenerate white oak forests.

Sec. 2, White Oak Restoration Initiative Coalition: Establishes a coalition to coordinate restoration efforts and recommend policy changes to improve white oak health, resiliency, and regeneration, including addressing federal and state policies, enhancing communication among landowners, identifying research gaps, and improving nursery stock. The Secretaries of Interior and Agriculture provide support, and the coalition is exempt from the Federal Advisory Committee Act.

Sec. 3, Forest Service Pilot Program: Requires the Secretary of Agriculture to create 5 pilot projects in national forests to restore white oak through restoration and natural regeneration, with at least 3 on forests reserved or withdrawn from the public domain. The Secretary may enter cooperative agreements.

Sec. 4, Department of the Interior White Oak Review and Restoration: Directs the Secretary of the Interior to assess Department lands for white oak presence and restoration potential, report to Congress within 90 days, and then establish 5 pilot projects to restore and regenerate white oak on those lands. The Secretary may enter cooperative agreements.

Sec. 5, White Oak Restoration Fund: Amends the National Forest Foundation Act to allow the Foundation to accept gifts for activities on national forests approved by the Forest Service, including re-establishing white oak forests, improving management, expanding nursery stock, and adapting seedlings. The Foundation must report annually on activities and funds.

Sec. 6, Civilian Conservation Centers Reforestation Activities: Amends the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to allow enrollees in Civilian Conservation Centers to assist in reforesting white oak and associated hardwood forests on National Forest System land.

Sec. 7, Tree Nursery Shortages: Requires the Secretary of Agriculture to develop a national strategy within one year to increase tree nursery capacity to address seedling shortages, based on best science, and addressing regional shortages, reforestation opportunities, seedling diversity, and infrastructure barriers.

Sec. 8, White Oak Research: Allows the Secretary of Agriculture to enter a memorandum of understanding with a covered land grant college to research white oak genetics, stress tolerance, seed banks, seedling supply, reforestation methods, and abandoned mine land restoration. The college may consult with other entities.

Sec. 9, USDA Formal Initiative: Directs the Secretary of Agriculture, through the Natural Resources Conservation Service, to establish a formal white oak initiative to re-establish forests, improve management, provide technical assistance to private landowners, expand nursery stock, and adapt seedlings.

Sec. 10, Authorities: Requires the Secretaries of Interior and Agriculture to use authorities under this Act in combination with other authorities, such as good neighbor agreements and stewardship contracting, to carry out projects.