Forest TECH Improvement Act

Forest Technology Enhancements for Conservation and Habitat Improvement Act or the Forest TECH Improvement Act

This bill directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to either establish a research and development pilot program or expand an applicable existing program to

• assess new technologies, including unmanned aircraft system, geospatial, or remote sensing technologies, across all reforestation activities;
• accelerate the deployment and integration of such technologies into the operations of USDA and the Department of the Interior;
• collaborate and cooperate with state, tribal, and private geospatial information system organizations with respect to such technologies.

USDA and Interior shall enter into an agreement to develop consistent protocols and plans for the use of unmanned aircraft system technologies for reforestation activities.

Any unmanned aircraft system technology or component of such technology that is used pursuant to this bill shall be made and manufactured in the United States.