,,ii  #aaeth ,,congress  #b;d ,session  
,s4 #cbgb  ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of     
,,the ,,united ,,states  ,july #be1     
#bjah ,mr4 ,durbin 7for himself and ,mr4
 ,nelson7 introduced the following bill2
 which was read twice and referred to   
the ,committee on ,foreign ,relations   
,a ,,bill  ,to authorize the ,president 
to provide assistance to the            
,governments of ,haiti and ,armenia to  
reverse the effects of deforestation1   
and for other purposes4  #a4 ,short     
title  ,this ,act may be cited as the   
,haiti and ,armenia ,reforestation ,act 
of #bjah4  #b4 ,findings2 purpose  7a7  
,findings ,congress finds that-- 7#a7   
the established policy of the ,federal  
,government is to support and seek the  
protection of forests around the world1 
which provide a wide range of benefits  
by--  7,a7 harboring a major portion of 
the biological and terrestrial resources
 of ,earth2  7,b7 providing habitats for
 almost #bc of all species on ,earth1   
including species essential to medical  

research and agricultural productivity2 
7,c7 contributing to the livelihood of  
more than #a1fjj1jjj1jjj people through 
access to food1 fresh water1 clothing1  
traditional medicines1 and shelter2     
7,d7 ensuring environmental services1   
such as biodiversity1 water             
conservation1 soil enrichment1 water    
supply management1 and climate          
regulation2 and  7,e7 absorbing and     
storing carbon dioxide1 as deforestation
 accounts for approximately #ab percent 
of the global anthropogenic greenhouse  
gas emissions that contribute to global 
warming2  7#b7 while forests cover a    
little less than #ac of the land area on
 ,earth1 approximately #he percent of   
,earth's original primary forests have  
been destroyed1 degraded1 or fragmented2
  7#c7 in ,haiti-- 7,a7 the destruction 
of forests began centuries ago1 when    
#agth century colonists cut down trees  
for lumber1 fuel1 and furniture2  7,b7  
the #ahth century plantation economy    
resulted in hillsides near towns being  

stripped of trees2  7,c7 after gaining  
independence1 deforestation continued as
 ,haiti rebuilt its local economy by    
growing coffee and exporting timber2    
7,d7 in #aibc1 more than #fj percent of 
the land was forested1 but by the #aidjs
 and #aiejs deforestation was           
accelerating as an increasing population
 put more pressure on forests2  7,e7 in 
recent years1 urbanization has expanded 
exponentially and growing cities have   
depended on charcoal produced by cutting
 down trees in the countryside2  7,f7   
poor forestry and land use policies by  
the ,government of ,haiti has           
exacerbated deforestation1 and by #bjad1
 forest cover had decreased to          
approximately #i to #aa percent of the  
country2 and  7,g7 between #bjjj and    
#bjaf1 #e1dcj hectares of forest cover  
were lost1 equal to #f4c percent of     
,haiti's tree cover2  7#d7 in ,armenia--
 7,a7 while archeological data indicated
 that approximately #ce percent of the  
country was originally forested--  7i7  

less than #ab percent of the country was
 covered in forest in #aiij2 and  7ii7  
less than #f percent of the country was 
covered in forest by #bjaf2 and  7,b7 in
 ,august1 #bjag1 a fire caused          
significant damage to the ,khosrov      
,forest1 which is among the world's     
oldest protected areas1 engulfing more  
than #b1gcc hectares in flames and      
causing substantial harm to hundreds of 
unique plant species2  7#e7 economic    
pressures1 resulting from more than #fj 
percent of the population of ,haiti     
living below the poverty line and #bi4h 
percent of the population of ,armenia   
living below the poverty line--  7,a7   
are factors contributing to the         
deforestation of ,haiti and ,armenia2   
and  7,b7 are manifested particularly   
through the cutting of areas of forest  
for conversion to agricultural and      
commercial uses1 where wood and charcoal
 produced from cutting down trees       
accounts for a major supply toward      
,haiti's and ,armenia's energy sectors2 

7#f7 forests provide cover to soften the
 effect of heavy rains and reduce       
erosion by anchoring the soil with tree 
roots2  7#g7 a significant effect of the
 deforestation in ,haiti and ,armenia is
 soil erosion1 which has-- 7,a7 lowered 
the productivity on the land due to the 
leaching of nutrients in topsoils2  7,b7
 worsened the severity of droughts and  
the effects of landslides and floods2   
7,c7 led to further deforestation due to
 slash and burn practices when eroded   
areas are no longer productive2  7,d7   
increased the pressure on the remaining 
land and trees in ,haiti and ,armenia2  
and  7,e7 significantly decreased water 
quality and the quantity of freshwater  
and clean drinking water available to   
populations2  7#h7 research strongly    
suggests that deforestation increases   
the risk of infectious diseases1        
including malaria1 dengue fever1 ,,sars1
 ,ebola1 ,hantavirus1 and ,zika--  7,a7 
by depriving insect and animal carriers 
of habitat2 and  7,b7 by directly       

increasing their rate of exposure to    
human populations who are susceptible to
 zoonotic pathogens2  7#i7 both ,haiti  
and ,armenia have faced natural         
disasters in recent years1 the effects  
of which have been exacerbated by       
deforestation1 such as--  7,a7 flooding 
in ,armenia that has swept away or      
damaged thousands of homes1 schools1    
health clinics1 and other institutions1 
partly because of damage to forests     
through illegal logging1 landslides1 and
 soil erosion2  7,b7 hurricanes in      
,haiti that have killed thousands and   
displaced hundreds of thousands more1   
partly because the clearing of large    
hillsides enabled rainwater to run off  
directly into settlements located at the
 bottom of slopes1 causing severe       
flooding2 and  7,c7 the ,january #bjaj  
earthquake in ,haiti1 which destroyed   
much of the infrastructure of           
,port-au-,prince1 reduced hillside      
stability and increased the likelihood  
of mudslides1 soil erosion1 and flooding

 factors1 which negatively impacted the 
water supply and heightened concerns for
 the spread of waterborne diseases2     
7#aj7 economic benefits for local       
communities from sustainable uses of    
forests are critical for the long-term  
sustainable management of forests in    
,haiti and ,armenia2  7#aa7 ,congress   
appropriated funding for fiscal years   
#bjae1 #bjag1 and #bjah to support      
market-based reforestation programs in  
,haiti1 which have resulted in          
successful agroforestry activities that 
have increased crop production1 profits1
 and tree cover2 and  7#ab7             
reforestation efforts would provide new 
sources of jobs1 income1 and investments
 in ,haiti and ,armenia by--  7,a7      
providing employment opportunities in   
tree seedling programs1 contract tree   
planting and management1 sustainable    
agricultural initiatives1 sustainable   
and managed timber harvesting1 and wood 
products milling and finishing services2
 and  7,b7 enhancing community          

enterprises that generate income through
 the trading of sustainable forest      
resources1 many of which exist on small 
scales4  7b7 ,purpose ,the purpose of   
this ,act is to provide assistance to   
the ,government of ,haiti and the       
,government of ,armenia to develop and  
implement1 or improve1 nationally       
appropriate policies and actions--  7#a7
 to reduce deforestation and forest     
degradation1 and improve forest         
management and natural regeneration2    
7#b7 to increase annual rates of        
afforestation and reforestation in a    
sustainable1 measurable1 reportable1 and
 verifiable manner2  7#c7 to restore    
social and economic conditions for the  
environmental recovery of the forest    
cover of ,haiti and ,armenia to at least
 #g percent of total land mass in ,haiti
 and #ab percent of total land mass in  
,armenia 7as determined under section   
#cjb7;a77 not later than #aj years after
 the date of the enactment of this ,act2
 and  7#d7 to improve sustainable       

resource management at the watershed    
level4  #c4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 
7#a7 ,afforestation  ,the term          
afforestation-- 7,a7 means the          
establishment of a new forest through   
the planting of trees on a parcel of    
land not previously forested2 and  7,b7 
includes-- 7i7 the introduction of a    
tree species to a parcel of nonforested 
land in which the species is not a      
native species2 and  7ii7 the increase  
of tree cover through plantations4  7#b7
 ,agroforestry  7,a7 ,in general ,the   
term agroforestry means systems in which
 perennial trees or shrubs--  7i7 are   
integrated with crops or livestock2 and 
7ii7 constitute a minimum #aj percent of
 ground cover4  7,b7 ,inclusion ,actual 
forest cover resulting from agroforestry
 programs may be counted toward the     
total forest cover goal set forth in    
section 7#b77;b77#c74  7#c7 ,appropriate
 committees of congress ,the term       
appropriate committees of ,congress     
means-- 7,a7 the ,committee on ,foreign 

,relations of the ,senate2  7,b7 the    
,committee on ,appropriations of the    
,senate2  7,c7 the ,committee on        
,foreign ,affairs of the ,house of      
,representatives2 and  7,d7 the         
,committee on ,appropriations of the    
,house of ,representatives4  7#d7       
,deforestation ,the term deforestation  
means--  7,a7 the conversion of forest  
to another land use2 or  7,b7 the       
long-term reduction of the tree canopy4 
7#e7 ,forest  ,the term forest-- 7,a7   
except as provided in subparagraph 7,b71
 means a terrestrial ecosystem          
containing native tree species generated
 and maintained primarily through       
natural ecological and evolutionary     
processes1 which spans more than #j4e   
hectares with trees higher than #e      
meters and a canopy cover of more than  
#aj percent or trees able to reach these
 thresholds in situ2 and  7,b7 does not 
include-- 7i7 plantations1 such as crops
 of trees planted primarily by humans   
for the purposes of harvesting2 or  7ii7

 land that is predominantly under       
agricultural or urban land use4  7#f7   
,reforestation ,the term reforestation--
  7,a7 means the establishment of forest
 on lands that were previously          
considered as forest1 but which have    
been deforested2 and  7,b7 includes the 
increase of tree cover through          
plantations4  ,i ,forestation and       
,watershed ,management ,assistance to   
the ,government of ,haiti and the       
,government of ,armenia  #aja4          
,forestation assistance  7a7 ,authority 
7#a7 ,in general ,in accordance with    
section #aah of the ,foreign ,assistance
 ,act of #aifa 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #baeap-#a7
 and consistent with paragraph 7#b71 the
 ,president is authorized to provide    
financial assistance1 technology        
transfers1 or capacity-building         
assistance to the ,government of ,haiti 
and to the ,government of ,armenia for  
activities to develop and implement one 
or more forestation proposals described 
in paragraph 7#b7--  7,a7 to reduce the 

deforestation of ,haiti or ,armenia2 and
  7,b7 to increase the rates of         
afforestation and reforestation in      
,haiti or ,armenia4  7#b7 ,proposals    
7,a7 ,in general ,assistance may be     
provided under this section to the      
,government of ,haiti and to the        
,government of ,armenia to implement one
 or more proposals submitted by either  
country that contain--  7i7 a           
description of each policy and          
initiative to be carried out with such  
assistance2  7ii7 adequate documentation
 to ensure1 as determined by the        
,president1 that--  7,i7 each policy and
 initiative-- 7aa7 will be carried out  
and managed in accordance with widely   
accepted1 environmentally sustainable   
forestry and agricultural practices2 and
  7bb7 will be designed and implemented 
in a manner that improves the governance
 of forests by building local capacity  
to be transparent1 inclusive1           
accountable1 and coordinated in         
decisionmaking processes and the        

implementation of the policy or         
initiative2 and  7,,ii7 the proposals   
will further establish and enforce legal
 regimes1 standards1 and safeguards     
designed to ensure that members of local
 communities in affected areas1 as      
partners and primary stakeholders1 will 
be engaged in the design1 planning1     
implementation1 monitoring1 and         
evaluation of the policies and          
initiatives2 and  7iii7 a description of
 how the proposal supports and aids     
forest restoration efforts in accordance
 with the purpose set forth in section  
#b7;b74  7,b7 ,determination of         
compatibility with certain programs ,in 
evaluating each proposal submitted under
 subparagraph 7,a71 the ,president shall
 ensure that each policy and initiative 
described in such proposal is compatible
 with--  7i7 broader development1       
poverty alleviation1 sustainable energy 
usage1 and natural resource conservation
 objectives and initiatives in ,haiti or
 in ,armenia2  7ii7 the development1    

poverty alleviation1 disaster risk      
management1 and climate resilience      
programs of the ,united ,states ,agency 
for ,international ,development1        
including program involving technical   
support from the ,united ,states ,forest
 ,service2 and  7iii7 activities of     
international organizations and         
multilateral development banks4  7b7    
,eligible activities ,any assistance    
received by the ,government of ,haiti or
 by the ,government of ,armenia under   
subsection 7a77#a7 shall be conditional 
upon the development and implementation 
of a proposal submitted under subsection
 7a77#b71 which may include--  7#a7 the 
provision of technologies and associated
 support for activities to reduce       
deforestation or increase afforestation 
and reforestation rates1 including--    
7,a7 fire reduction initiatives2  7,b7  
sustainable land use management         
initiatives2  7,c7 initiatives to       
increase agricultural productivity2     
7,d7 forest law enforcement initiatives2

  7,e7 the development of timber        
tracking systems2  7,f7 the development 
of cooking fuel substitutes2  7,g7      
tree-planting initiatives2 and  7,h7    
programs that are designed to focus on  
market-based solutions to reduce        
deforestation and increase reforestation
 and afforestation1 including programs  
that leverage the international         
carbon-offset market2  7#b7 the         
enhancement and expansion of            
governmental and nongovernmental        
institutional capacity to effectively   
design and implement a proposal         
developed under subsection 7a77#b7      
through initiatives1 including--  7,a7  
the establishment of transparent1       
accountable1 and inclusive              
decisionmaking processes relating to all
 stakeholders 7including affected local 
communities72  7,b7 the promotion of    
enhanced coordination among ministries  
and agencies responsible for            
agro-ecological zoning1 mapping1 land   
planning and permitting1 sustainable    

agriculture1 forestry1 mining1 and law  
enforcement2 and  7,c7 the clarification
 of land tenure and resource rights of  
affected communities1 including local   
communities2  7#c7 the development and  
support of institutional capacity to    
measure1 verify1 and report the         
activities carried out by the           
,government of ,haiti and by the        
,government of ,armenia to reduce       
deforestation and increase afforestation
 and reforestation rates through the use
 of appropriate methods1 including--    
7,a7 the use of best practices and      
technologies to monitor land use change 
in ,haiti and in ,armenia1 and changes  
in the extent of natural forest cover1  
protected areas1 mangroves1             
agroforestry1 and agriculture2  7,b7 the
 monitoring of the impacts of policies  
and initiatives on-- 7i7 affected       
communities2  7ii7 the biodiversity of  
the environment of ,haiti and ,armenia2 
and  7iii7 the health of the forests of 
,haiti and ,armenia2 and  7,c7          

independent and participatory forest    
monitoring2 and  7#d7 the development of
 and coordination with watershed        
restoration programs in ,haiti and      
,armenia1 including--  7,a7 agreements  
between the ,government of ,haiti or the
 ,government of ,armenia and            
nongovernmental organizations or private
 sector partners to provide technical   
assistance1 capacity building1 or       
technology transfers which support the  
environmental recovery of ,haiti's and  
,armenia's watersheds through forest    
restoration activities if such          
assistance will--  7i7 strengthen       
economic drivers of sustainable resource
 inventory mapping and management2  7ii7
 reduce environmental vulnerability2 or 
7iii7 improve governance1 planning1 and 
community action of watersheds in ,haiti
 and ,armenia2  7,b7 actions to support 
economic incentives for sustainable     
resource management1 including enhanced 
incentives for the replacement of annual
 hillside cropping with perennial and   

non-erosive production systems2  7,c7   
enhanced extension services supporting  
the sustainable intensification of      
agriculture to increase farmer incomes  
and reduce pressure on degraded land2   
and  7,d7 investments in watershed      
infrastructure to reduce environmental  
vulnerability1 including the            
establishment of appropriate erosion    
control measures through reforestation  
activities in targeted watersheds or    
sub-watersheds4  7c7 ,development of    
performance metrics  7#a7 ,in general   
,if the ,president provides assistance  
to the ,government of ,haiti or the     
,government of ,armenia under subsection
 7a77#a71 the ,president1 in cooperation
 with such government1 shall develop    
appropriate performance metrics to      
measure1 verify1 and report--  7,a7 the 
implementation of each policy and       
initiative to be carried out by the     
,government of ,haiti or the ,government
 of ,armenia1 as the case may be2  7,b7 
the progress of each policy and         

initiative with respect to the forests  
of ,haiti and ,armenia2 and  7,c7       
impacts of reforestation policies and   
initiatives on the local communities of 
,haiti and ,armenia4  7#b7 ,requirements
 ,performance metrics developed under   
paragraph 7#a7 shall include1 to the    
maximum extent practicable1 short-term  
and long-term metrics to evaluate the   
implementation of each policy and       
initiative contained in each proposal   
developed under subsection 7a77#b74  7d7
 ,reports  7#a7 ,initial report ,not    
later than #ah months after the date of 
the enactment of this ,act1 the         
,president shall submit a report to the 
appropriate committees of ,congress that
 describes the actions the ,president   
has taken1 or plans to take--  7,a7 to  
engage with the ,government of ,haiti   
and the ,government of ,armenia1        
nongovernmental stakeholders1 civil     
society1 and public and private         
nonprofit organizations to implement    
this section2 and  7,b7 to enter into   

agreements with the ,government of      
,haiti and with the ,government of      
,armenia under subsection 7a77#a74  7#b7
 ,biennial reports ,not later than #b   
years after the date on which the       
,president first provides assistance to 
the ,government of ,haiti or the        
,government of ,armenia under subsection
 7a77#a71 and biennially thereafter1 the
 ,president shall submit a report to the
 appropriate committees of ,congress    
that describes the progress made by the 
,government of ,haiti and by the        
,government of ,armenia in implementing 
each policy and initiative contained in 
the proposal submitted by each such     
government under subsection 7a77#b74    
7e7 ,additional assistance  7#a7 ,in    
general ,the ,president is authorized to
 provide financial and other assistance 
to the ,government of ,haiti1 the       
,government of ,armenia1 local          
government bodies1 or nongovernmental   
organizations--  7,a7 to provide        
information to local communities        

relating to each policy and initiative  
to be carried out by the ,government of 
,haiti or by the ,government of ,armenia
 with assistance made available under   
subsection 7a77#a72  7,b7 to promote    
effective participation by local        
communities in the design1              
implementation1 and independent         
monitoring of each policy and           
initiative2  7,c7 to promote1 in support
 of sustainable forestation activities1 
enhanced watershed governance1 national 
planning1 and community action programs 
that increase--  7i7 the development of 
national watershed management policies  
for ,haiti and for ,armenia by the      
appropriate government ministries and   
agencies2  7ii7 the establishment of an 
effective forum for donor coordination  
related to management and reforestation 
in ,haiti and ,armenia2  7iii7 support  
for the ,centre ,national de            
l',information ,go-,spatiale 7,,cnigs71 
the ,center for ,ecological-,noosphere  
,studies 7,,cens71 and the ,united      

,states ,forest ,service to provide     
technology1 data1 and monitoring support
 for improved watershed and forest      
resource management at a national scale 
in ,haiti and in ,armenia2 and  7iv7    
development of effective governance     
structures in ,haiti and in ,armenia for
 stakeholder engagement1 coordination of
 approaches1 land use planning1 and     
disaster mitigation at the watershed    
scale2 and  7,d7 to meet the goals of   
this ,act4  7#b7 ,termination of direct 
funding ,if the ,president determines   
that the goals of this ,act are not     
being appropriately and efficiently met 
with the assistance provided under this 
section1 the ,president may terminate   
such assistance to either the           
,government of ,haiti or the ,government
 of ,armenia1 as appropriate4  7f7      
,minimum country reforestation fund     
percentage ,not less than #he percent of
 amounts provided for programs under    
this section shall be spent on actual   
reforestation activities in ,haiti and  

,armenia1 which may include the         
protection of reforested areas4  7g7    
,sunset  7#a7 ,in general ,the authority
 under this section shall terminate on  
the date that is #aj years after the    
date of the enactment of this ,act1 or  
the date that is #aj years after an     
extension under paragraph 7#b71 unless  
the ,president certifies to the         
appropriate committees of ,congress     
that--  7,a7 effective and sustainable  
programs are in place through the       
,government of ,haiti1 the ,government  
of ,armenia1 or local governments in    
,haiti or in ,armenia1 in potential     
partnership with international donors1  
nongovernmental organizations1 or civil 
society groups1 to protect and manage   
areas reforested with assistance        
provided under this ,act2 and  7,b7     
additional time is necessary to         
accomplish the goals of this ,act4  7#b7
 ,extensions ,if a certification is made
 under paragraph 7#a71 the authority    
under this section shall be extended for

 an additional #aj-year term4 ,not more 
than #b extensions are permitted under  
this paragraph4  ,,ii ,grants for       
,reforestation  #bja4 ,reforestation    
grant program  7a7 ,establishment ,the  
,president is authorized to establish a 
grant program to carry out the purpose  
described in section #b7;b71 including  
reversing deforestation and improving   
reforestation and afforestation in      
,haiti and in ,armenia4  7b7 ,grants    
authorized  7#a7 ,in general ,the       
,president is authorized to award grants
 and contracts1 for a period not to     
exceed #c years1 to carry out projects  
that1 in the aggregate1 reverse         
deforestation and improve reforestation 
and afforestation in ,haiti or in       
,armenia4  7#b7 ,maximum amount  7,a7   
,in general ,except as provided in      
subparagraph 7,b71 the ,president may   
not award a grant under this section in 
an amount greater than #ejj1jjj per     
year4  7,b7 ,exception ,the ,president  
may award a grant under this section in 

an amount greater than #ejj1jjj per year
 if the ,president determines that the  
recipient of the grant has demonstrated 
success with respect to a project that  
was funded under this section4  7c7 ,use
 of funds  7#a7 ,in general ,grants     
awarded pursuant to subsection 7b7 may  
be used-- 7,a7 to provide a financial   
incentive to protect forests2  7,b7 to  
provide hands-on management and         
oversight of replanting efforts2  7,c7  
to support sustainable1                 
income-generating1 forest-related       
economic growth2  7,d7 to provide-- 7i7 
seed money to start cooperative         
reforestation and afforestation efforts2
 and  7ii7 subsequent conditional       
funding for such efforts contingent upon
 required tree care and maintenance     
activities2  7,e7 to promote the        
widespread use of-- 7i7 improved cooking
 stove technologies that do not involve 
the harvesting of forest growth2 and    
7ii7 other renewable fuel technologies  
that reduce deforestation and improve   

human health2 and  7,f7 securing the    
involvement and commitment of local     
communities-- 7i7 to protect forests in 
existence as of the date of the         
enactment of this ,act2 and  7ii7 to    
partner in and carry out afforestation  
and reforestation activities4  7#b7     
,local community participation          
,activities to secure the participation 
of local communities under paragraph    
7#a77;,f7 should include one or more of 
the following activities3  7,a7         
,creation of local jobs involving       
establishing1 protecting1 and managing  
reforested areas4  7,b7 ,collaboration  
to analyze biodiversity and ecosystem   
services integral to sustainability and 
business decisions4  7,c7 ,cooperative  
conservation programs1 including-- 7i7  
working with local water sources to     
ensure clean water through improved     
forestland and watershed2 or  7ii7      
working with food suppliers to ensure   
sustainable agroforestry products4  7#c7
 ,consistency with proposals ,to the    

maximum extent practicable1 projects    
using grant funds shall support1 and be 
consistent with1 the proposal developed 
under section #aja7;a77#b7 that is the  
subject of the project4  7d7            
,application  7#a7 ,in general ,an      
entity desiring a grant under this      
section shall submit an application at  
such time1 in such manner1 and          
containing such information as the      
,president may reasonably require4  7#b7
 ,content ,each application submitted   
under paragraph 7#a7-- 7,a7 should be   
consistent with the findings1           
recommendations1 and ongoing work       
relating to--  7i7 the ,united ,states  
,agency for ,international ,development 
,haiti ,reforestation ,project for      
,haiti2 or  7ii7 the #bjji ,united      
,states ,agency for ,international      
,development report entitled            
,biodiversity ,analysis ,update for     
,armenia ,final ,report3 ,prosperity1   
,livelihoods1 and ,conserving           
,ecosystems 7,,place7 ,,iqc ,task ,order

 #d2 and  7,b7 shall include-- 7i7 a    
description of the objectives to be     
attained2  7ii7 a description of the    
manner in which grant funds will be     
used2  7iii7 a plan for evaluating the  
success of the project based on         
verifiable evidence2 and  7iv7 to the   
extent that the applicant intends to use
 nonnative species in afforestation     
efforts-- 7,i7 an explanation of the    
benefit of using nonnative species      
rather than native species2 and  7,,ii7 
verification that the species to be used
 are not invasive4  7#c7 ,preference for
 certain projects ,in awarding grants   
under this section1 preference shall be 
given to applicants that propose--  7,a7
 to develop market-based solutions to   
the challenges of reforestation in      
,haiti and ,armenia1 including the use  
of conditional cash transfers and       
similar financial incentives to protect 
reforestation efforts2  7,b7 to partner 
with local communities and cooperatives2
 and  7,c7 to focus on efforts that     

build local capacity to sustain growth  
after the completion of the underlying  
grant project4  7e7 ,dissemination of   
information ,the ,president shall       
collect and widely disseminate          
information about the effectiveness of  
the demonstration projects assisted     
under this section4  #bjb4 ,forest      
protection programs ,chapter #g of part 
,i of the ,foreign ,assistance ,act of  
#aifa 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #bbha et seq47 is  
amended-- 7#a7 by redesignating sections
 #dfa through #dff as sections #dga     
through #dgf1 respectively2 and  7#b7 by
 adding at the end the following3  #dgg4
 ,pilot program for ,haiti  7a7         
,submission of list of areas of severely
 degraded natural resources ,the        
,president1 in cooperation with         
nongovernmental conservation            
organizations1 shall invite the         
,government of ,haiti to submit a list  
of areas within ,haiti in which forests 
are seriously degraded or threatened4   
7b7 ,review of list ,the ,president     

shall-- 7#a7 analyze the areas on the   
list submitted by the ,government of    
,haiti under subsection 7a72 and  7#b7  
seek to reach an agreement with the     
,government of ,haiti to assist with the
 restoration and future sustainable use 
of such areas4  7c7 ,grant program  7#a7
 ,grants authorized ,the ,president is  
authorized to award grants to           
nongovernmental organizations1 on such  
terms and conditions as may be          
necessary1 for the purchase on the open 
market of discounted debt of the        
,government of ,haiti1 if a market is   
determined to be viable1 in exchange for
 commitments by the ,government of      
,haiti--  7,a7 to restore forests       
identified pursuant to subsection 7a72  
or  7,b7 to develop plans for           
sustainable use of such forests4  7#b7  
,management of protected areas ,each    
recipient of a grant under this         
subsection shall participate in the     
ongoing management of the area or areas 
protected pursuant to such grant4  7#c7 

,matching of grant funds ,any ,united   
,states funding provided to a           
nongovernmental organization under this 
subsection should be matched by an equal
 or greater amount of funding from the  
nongovernmental organization4 ,such     
matching funds may include funding      
provided by other international donors1 
nongovernmental organizations1          
philanthropic bodies1 corporations or   
other private entities1 institutions of 
higher learning1 the ,government of     
,haiti1 or other non-,united ,states    
,government sources4  7#d7 ,minimum     
country reforestation fund percentage   
,not less than #he percent of grant     
funds provided under this subsection    
shall be spent on actual reforestation  
activities in ,haiti1 which may include 
the protection of reforested areas4     
7#e7 ,retention of proceeds             
,notwithstanding any other provision of 
law1 a grantee 7or any subgrantee7 under
 this subsection may retain1 without    
deposit in the ,treasury of the ,united 

,states and without further             
appropriation by ,congress--  7,a7      
interest earned on the proceeds of any  
resulting debt-for-nature exchange      
pending the disbursements of such       
proceeds2 and  7,b7 interest for        
approved program purposes1 which may    
include the establishment of an         
endowment1 the income of which is used  
for such purposes4  7#f7 ,sunset  7,a7  
,in general ,the authority to award     
grants under this subsection shall      
terminate on the date that is #e years  
after the date of the enactment of this 
,act unless the ,president determines   
and certifies to ,congress that--  7i7  
the grant program under this subsection 
has been effective in meeting the goals 
of the ,haiti and ,armenia              
,reforestation ,act of #bjah2 and  7ii7 
the ,government of ,haiti has committed 
to returning land in ,haiti to long-term
 sustainable forests4  7,b7 ,renewal ,if
 the ,president makes a certification   
under subparagraph 7,a71 the authority  

to award grants under this subsection   
may be renewed for #a additional #e-year
 period4  #dgh4 ,pilot program for      
,armenia  7a7 ,submission of list of    
areas of severely degraded natural      
resources ,the ,president1 in           
cooperation with nongovernmental        
conservation organizations1 shall invite
 the ,government of ,armenia to submit a
 list of areas within the territory of  
,armenia in which forests are seriously 
degraded or threatened4  7b7 ,review of 
list ,the ,president shall-- 7#a7       
analyze the areas on the list submitted 
by the ,government of ,armenia under    
subsection 7a72 and  7#b7 seek to reach 
an agreement with the ,government of    
,armenia for the restoration and future 
sustainable use of such areas4  7c7     
,debt forgiveness agreement  7#a7 ,debt 
forgiveness ,the ,president is          
authorized to forgive debt owed to the  
,united ,states by the ,government of   
,armenia in exchange for commitments by 
the ,government of ,armenia--  7,a7 to  

restore forests identified by the       
,government under subsection 7a72 or    
7,b7 to develop plans for sustainable   
use of such forests4  7#b7 ,management  
of protected areas ,the ,government of  
,armenia shall participate in the       
ongoing management of the area or areas 
protected pursuant to such debt relief4 
7#c7 ,minimum country reforestation fund
 percentage ,not less than #he percent  
of funds that qualify under a debt      
relief agreement under this section     
shall be spent on actual reforestation  
activities in ,armenia1 which may       
include the protection of reforested    
areas or of existing forests4  7#d7     
,termination of program  7,a7 ,in       
general ,the authority to offer debt    
relief under this subsection shall      
terminate on the date that is #e years  
after the date of the enactment of this 
,act unless the ,president determines   
and certifies to ,congress that--  7i7  
the debt forgiveness pilot program under
 this subsection has been effective in  

meeting the goals of the ,haiti and     
,armenia ,reforestation ,act of #bjah2  
and  7ii7 the ,government of ,armenia   
has committed to returning land in      
,armenia to long-term sustainable       
forests4  7,b7 ,renewal ,if the         
,president makes a certification under  
subparagraph 7,a71 the authority to     
forgive debt under this subsection may  
be renewed for #a additional #e-year    
period4  4  ,,iii ,administrative       
,provision  #cja4 ,delegation ,the      
,president1 or the ,administrator of the
 ,united ,states ,agency for            
,international ,development or the      
,secretary of ,state1 acting as the     
,president's delegate1 may draw on the  
expertise of the ,united ,states ,forest
 ,service and the ,united ,states       
,agency for ,international ,development 
in designing and implementing programs  
under this ,act relating to             
reforestation1 watershed restoration1   
and monitoring of land use change4      
#cjb4 ,determination and monitoring of  

forest levels  7a7 ,in general ,not     
later than #f months after the date of  
the enactment of this ,act1 the ,chief  
of the ,united ,states ,forest ,service1
 in consultation with the ,administrator
 of the ,united ,states ,agency for     
,international ,development1 using the  
latest available ,landsat data1 shall-- 
7#a7 determine the current level of     
forest cover in ,haiti and the current  
level of forest cover in ,armenia1      
expressed as a percentage of each       
country's total land mass2 and  7#b7    
submit this information to the          
appropriate committees of ,congress4    
7b7 ,updates ,the ,chief of the ,united 
,states ,forest ,service1 in            
consultation with the ,administrator of 
the ,united ,states ,agency for         
,international ,development1 shall      
submit an annual report to the          
appropriate committees of ,congress that
 contains an updated determination1     
using the latest available ,landsat     
data1 of the level of forest cover in   

,haiti and the level of forest cover in 
,armenia4  7c7 ,use of determinations   
,each determination under subsection    
7a77#a7 and each updated determination  
under subsection 7b7 shall be used for  
the purposes of setting and achieving   
the goals described in section          
#b7;b77#c74