S. 2593 would establish a program at the Forest Service and the Department of the Interior to carry out collaborative ecological restoration treatments for priority forest landscapes on public land.

== Detailed Summary ==

<summary>
Forest Landscape Restoration Act of 2008 - Directs the Secretary of AgricultureAgriculture, through the Chief of the Forest Service, to establish a Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program to select and fund ecological restoration treatments for priority forest landscapes.

Sets forth provisions concerning the eligibility criteria for, and nomination and selection of, collaborative forest landscape restoration proposals for carrying out such treatments.

Requires the Secretary to establish a scientific advisory panel to evaluate, and provide recommendations on, any proposal with respect to: (1) the strength ofproposal. Requires the panel to include experts in ecological case of the proposalrestoration, fire ecology, fire management, rural economic development, strategies for landscape restorationecological adaptation to climate change, fish and the proposed restoration strategies;wildlife ecology, and (2) whether the proposal is likely to achieve reductions in long-term wildfire management costs.woody biomass and small-diameter tree utilization.

AuthorizesEstablishes the SecretaryCollaborative Forest Landscape Fund, to establish a technical advisory panelbe used for paying up to evaluate, and provide recommendations on, any proposal with respect to whether the proposal is likely to reduce50% of the relative costscost of carrying out and monitoring ecological restoration treatments resulting fromon National Forest System land for each proposal selected. Permits, the usecost of woody biomass and small-diameter treescarrying out ecological restoration treatments, as the Secretary determines to be appropriate, to include cancellation and termination costs required to provide local economic benefit.be obligated for contracts to carry out such treatments for each such proposal.

EstablishesSets forth limitations on expenditures made from the Collaborative Forest Landscape Fund, to be used for paying up to 50% of the cost of carrying out ecological restoration treatments on National Forest System land for each proposal selected.Fund.

Requires the:establishment of an accounting and reporting system for the Fund.

Authorizes appropriations for the Fund.

Requires: (1) creation of implementation work plans and budgets to implement proposals; (2) submission of annual reports on the accomplishments of selected proposals; (3) use of a multiparty monitoring, evaluation, and accountability process to assess the ecological, social, and economic effects of projects implementing proposals; and (4) submission of reports every five years on the Program.

Authorizes appropriations to carry out this Act.
</summary>

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== Status of the Legislation ==

<status>
Latest Major Action: 6/16/2008: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 802.
</status>

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== Points in Favor ==

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== Points Against ==

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