Post-Disaster Reforestation and Restoration Act of 2025

The Post-Disaster Reforestation and Restoration Act of 2025 would create a federal program to help forests recover after major disturbances like wildfires, floods, or other unplanned events. The Department of Interior would identify federal lands administered by agencies including the National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, Forest Service, and others that need replanting and restoration because they are unlikely to recover naturally on their own.

Under this bill, Interior would develop a yearly priority list of reforestation and restoration projects and could fund them through grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements with states, tribes, nonprofits, or private entities. The bill would also allow Interior to support efforts to ensure there are enough seeds and seedlings available to complete these restoration projects. This could involve working with nurseries and seed suppliers to meet the demand created by large-scale replanting efforts.

If enacted, the bill would help accelerate forest recovery on public lands following disasters, potentially reducing erosion, protecting watersheds, and restoring wildlife habitat. Citizens who use public lands for recreation, hunting, or fishing could benefit from faster forest recovery. The bill has passed the House and is currently being reviewed by the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.