A bill to require the Secretary of Agriculture to convene a blue ribbon panel to review the forest inventory and analysis program of the Forest Service, and for other purposes.

This bill directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to convene a blue ribbon panel to review the forest inventory and analysis program (a program that accounts for public and private forests and their resources in the United States).

The panel shall conduct a review of the past progress, current priorities, and future needs of such program with respect to national monitoring of forest carbon, climate change, forest health, and sustainable wood products.

The review shall include consideration of

• the modernization of the program broadly and specifically relating to the integration of advanced remote sensing technologies and methods such as small area estimation; and
• the possibility of more public-private-academic partnerships under the program to help meet the goals of the program and external needs, particularly relating to research priorities, operational implementation of current or ongoing science, and decision support.

The panel shall report to USDA, the Department of the Interior, and Congress describing the review by March 31, 2024.

Bill 118 s 433, also known as the Forest Inventory and Analysis Program Review Act, is a proposed piece of legislation that aims to improve the forest inventory and analysis program of the Forest Service. The bill requires the Secretary of Agriculture to convene a blue ribbon panel to conduct a comprehensive review of the program.

The purpose of this review is to assess the effectiveness and efficiency of the current forest inventory and analysis program and to make recommendations for potential improvements. The panel will be composed of experts in forestry, data analysis, and other relevant fields.

The bill also includes provisions for the panel to consider the use of new technologies and methodologies to enhance the accuracy and timeliness of forest inventory data. Additionally, the panel will evaluate the program's ability to meet the needs of various stakeholders, including policymakers, researchers, and the public. Overall, the Forest Inventory and Analysis Program Review Act seeks to ensure that the Forest Service's forest inventory and analysis program is operating at its highest potential and providing valuable and reliable data for informed decision-making regarding forest management and conservation.