16 U.S.C. § 6704 — Establishment of Institutes

not later than 180 days after October 5, 2004, establish Institutes to promote the use of adaptive ecosystem management^* to reduce the risk of wildfires, and restore the health of forest and woodland ecosystems, in the interior West^*; and

provide assistance to the Institutes to promote the use of collaborative processes and adaptive ecosystem management in accordance with paragraph (1).

The Secretary may designate an institute^* in existence on October 5, 2004, to serve as an Institute established under this chapter.

Of the Institutes established under this chapter, the Secretary shall establish 1 Institute in each of—

develop, conduct research on, transfer, promote, and monitor restoration^*-based hazardous fuel reduction treatments to reduce the risk of severe wildfires and improve the health of dry forest and woodland ecosystems in the interior West;

synthesize and adapt scientific findings from conventional research to implement restoration-based hazardous fuel reduction treatments on a landscape scale using an adaptive ecosystem management framework;

translate for and transfer to affected entities^* any scientific and interdisciplinary knowledge about restoration-based hazardous fuel reduction treatments;

assist affected entities with the design of adaptive management approaches (including monitoring) for the implementation of restoration-based hazardous fuel reduction treatments; and

provide peer-reviewed annual reports.

develop and demonstrate capabilities in the natural, physical, social, and policy sciences; and

explicitly integrate those disciplines in the performance of the duties listed in subsection (c).

researchers and cooperative extension programs at colleges, community colleges, and universities in the States of Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado that have a demonstrated capability to conduct research described in subsection (c); and

other organizations and entities in the interior West (such as the Western Governors’ Association).