(A) treating acres with restoration-based 
applications; and 
(B) using new management technologies 
(including the transfer of understandable infor-
mation, assistance with environmental review, 
and field and classroom training and collabora-
tion) to accomplish the goals identified in—
(i) the National Fire Plan; 
(ii) the report entitled ‘‘Protecting Peo-
ple and Sustaining Resources in Fire-
Adapted Ecosystems—A Cohesive Strategy’’ 
(65 Fed. Reg. 67480); and 
(iii) the report entitled ‘‘10-Year Com-
prehensive Strategy: A Collaborative Ap-
proach for Reducing Wildland Fire Risks to 
Communities and the Environment’’ of the 
Western Governors’ Association; 
(6) to provide technical assistance to collabo-
rative efforts by affected entities to develop, imple-
ment, and monitor adaptive ecosystem management 
restoration treatments that are ecologically sound, 
economically viable, and socially responsible; and 
(7) to assist Federal and non-Federal land man-
agers in providing information to the public on the
role of fire and fire management in dry forest and 
woodland ecosystems in the interior West. 
SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) ADAPTIVE
ECOSYSTEM
MANAGEMENT.—The 
term ‘‘adaptive ecosystem management’’ means a nat-
ural resource management process under which plan-
ning, implementation, monitoring, research, evalua-
tion, and incorporation of new knowledge are com-
bined into a management approach that is—
(A) based on scientific findings and the 
needs of society; 
(B) treats management actions as experi-
ments; 
(C) acknowledges the complexity of these 
systems and scientific uncertainty; and 
(D) uses the resulting new knowledge to 
modify future management methods and policy. 
(2) AFFECTED
ENTITIES.—The term ‘‘affected 
entities’’ includes—
(A) land managers; 
(B) stakeholders; 
(C) concerned citizens; and 
(D) the States of the interior West, includ-
ing political subdivisions of the States.
(3) DRY FOREST AND WOODLAND ECOSYSTEM.—
The term ‘‘dry forest and woodland ecosystem’’ means 
an ecosystem that is dominated by ponderosa pines 
and associated dry forest and woodland types. 
(4) INSTITUTE.—The term ‘‘Institute’’ means an 
Institute established under section 5(a). 
(5) INTERIOR WEST.—The term ‘‘interior West’’ 
means the States of Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Ne-
vada, New Mexico, and Utah. 
(6) LAND MANAGER.—
(A) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘‘land man-
ager’’ means a person or entity that practices or 
guides natural resource management. 
(B) INCLUSIONS.—The term ‘‘land man-
ager’’ includes a Federal, State, local, or tribal 
land management agency. 
(7) 
RESTORATION.—The 
term 
‘‘restoration’’ 
means a process undertaken to return an ecosystem or 
habitat toward—
(A) the original structure of the ecosystem 
or habitat; or 
(B) a condition that supports a natural 
complement of species, natural function, or eco-
logical process (such as a low intensity fire).
(8) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief 
of the Forest Service. 
(9) 
SECRETARIES.—The 
term 
‘‘Secretaries’’ 
means—
(A) the Secretary of Agriculture, acting 
through the Chief of the Forest Service; and 
(B) the Secretary of the Interior. 
(10) STAKEHOLDER.—The term ‘‘stakeholder’’ 
means any person interested in or affected by man-
agement of forest or woodland ecosystems. 
(11) SUBDOMINANT TREES.—Are trees that occur 
underneath the canopy or extend into the canopy but 
are smaller and less vigorous than dominant trees. 
(12) OVERSTOCKED STANDS.—Where the number 
of trees per acre exceeds the natural carrying capacity 
of the site. 
(13) RESILIENCE.—The ability of a system to 
absorb disturbance without being pushed into a dif-
ferent, possibly less desirable stable state. 
SEC. 5. ESTABLISHMENT OF INSTITUTES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, in consultation with 
the Secretary of the Interior, shall—
(1) not later than 180 days after the date of en-
actment of this Act, establish 3 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 
(2) provide assistance to the Institutes to pro-
mote the use of collaborative processes and adaptive 
ecosystem management in accordance with paragraph 
(1).
(b) LOCATION.—
(1) EXISTING INSTITUTES.—The Secretary may 
designate an institute in existence on the date of en-
actment of this Act to serve as an Institute established 
under this Act. 
(2) STATES.—Of the Institutes established under 
this Act, the Secretary shall establish 1 Institute in 
each of—
(A) the State of Arizona, to be located at 
Northern Arizona University; 
(B) the State of New Mexico; and 
(C) the State of Colorado. 
(c) DUTIES.—Each Institute shall—
(1) develop, conduct research on, transfer, pro-
mote, 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;
(2) 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; 
(3) translate for and transfer to affected entities 
any scientific and interdisciplinary knowledge about 
restoration-based hazardous fuel reduction treatments; 
(4) assist affected entities with the design of 
adaptive management approaches (including moni-
toring) for the implementation of restoration-based 
hazardous fuel reduction treatments; and 
(5) provide peer-reviewed annual reports. 
(d) QUALIFICATIONS.—Each Institute shall—
(1) develop and demonstrate capabilities in the 
natural, physical, social, and policy sciences; and 
(2) explicitly integrate those disciplines in the 
performance of the duties listed in subsection (c). 
(e) COOPERATION.—Each Institute may cooperate 
with—
(1) researchers and cooperative extension pro-
grams at colleges, community colleges, and univer-
sities in the States of Arizona, New Mexico, and Colo-
rado that have a demonstrated capability to conduct 
research described in subsection (c); and