MRW15G47

S.L.C.

114TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION

S. ll

To strengthen protections for the remaining populations of wild elephants,
rhinoceroses, and other imperiled species through country-specific antipoaching efforts and anti-trafficking strategies, to promote the value
of wildlife and natural resources, to curtail the demand for illegal wildlife
products in consumer countries, and for other purposes.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
llllllllll
Mr. COONS (for himself and Mr. FLAKE) introduced the following bill; which
was read twice and referred to the Committee on llllllllll

A BILL
To strengthen protections for the remaining populations of
wild elephants, rhinoceroses, and other imperiled species
through country-specific anti-poaching efforts and antitrafficking strategies, to promote the value of wildlife
and natural resources, to curtail the demand for illegal
wildlife products in consumer countries, and for other
purposes.
1

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-

2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

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2
1

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the

2

3 ‘‘Eliminate, Neutralize, and Disrupt Wildlife Trafficking
4 Act’’.
(b) TABLE

5

OF

CONTENTS.—The table of contents for

6 this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Definitions.
Sec. 3. Findings.
TITLE I—PURPOSE AND POLICY
Sec. 101. Purpose.
Sec. 102. Statement of United States policy.
TITLE II—FRAMEWORK FOR INTERAGENCY RESPONSE
Sec. 201. Presidential Task Force on Wildlife Trafficking.
TITLE III—PROGRAMS TO ADDRESS THE ESCALATING WILDLIFE
TRAFFICKING CRISIS
Sec.
Sec.
Sec.
Sec.
Sec.
Sec.
Sec.
Sec.

301.
302.
303.
304.
305.
306.
307.
308.

Anti-poaching programs.
Anti-trafficking programs.
Demand reduction agreements.
Engagement of United States diplomatic missions.
International cooperation and global partnerships.
Community-based conservation.
Report on wildlife trafficking measures.
Implementation using amounts previously appropriated.

7

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

8

In this Act:

9

(1) APPROPRIATE

10

TEES.—The

11

mittees’’ means—

CONGRESSIONAL

COMMIT-

term ‘‘appropriate congressional com-

12

(A) the Committee on Foreign Relations

13

and the Committee on Appropriations of the

14

Senate; and

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1

(B) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and

2

the Committee on Appropriations of the House

3

of Representatives.

4

(2) CO-CHAIRS

OF

THE

TASK

FORCE.—The

5

term ‘‘Co-Chairs of the Task Force’’ means the Sec-

6

retary of State, the Secretary of the Interior, and

7

the Attorney General, as established pursuant to Ex-

8

ecutive Order 13648 (78 Fed. Reg. 40621).

9

(3) COMMUNITY-BASED

CONSERVATION.—The

10

term ‘‘community-based conservation’’ is an ap-

11

proach to conservation that recognizes the rights of

12

local people to sustainably own, manage, or benefit

13

directly and indirectly from wildlife and other nat-

14

ural resources and includes—

15

(A) giving a resource a tangible value that

16

can be realized by the community or land own-

17

ers, including through partnerships with the

18

private sector;

19

(B) devolving management and governance

20

to local communities to create positive condi-

21

tions for sustainable resource use; and

22

(C) building the capacity of communities

23

for conservation and natural resource manage-

24

ment.

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1

(4) COUNTRY

OF CONCERN.—The

term ‘‘coun-

2

try of concern’’ means a country the government of

3

which, or persons in which, play a significant role in

4

the supply or poaching of, transit in, or demand for

5

illegal wildlife or wildlife products or their deriva-

6

tives or that obtains substantial revenue from illegal

7

wildlife trafficking.

8

(5) IMPLEMENTATION

PLAN.—The

term ‘‘Im-

9

plementation Plan’’ means the Implementation Plan

10

for the National Strategy for Combating Wildlife

11

Trafficking released on February 11, 2015, a modi-

12

fication of that plan, or a successor plan.

13

(6) NATIONAL

STRATEGY.—The

term ‘‘National

14

Strategy’’ means the National Strategy for Com-

15

bating Wildlife Trafficking published on February

16

11, 2014, a modification of that strategy, or a suc-

17

cessor strategy.

18

(7) NATIONAL

WILDLIFE SERVICES.—The

term

19

‘‘national wildlife services’’ refers to the ministries

20

designated to manage matters pertaining to wildlife

21

management, including poaching, in a country of

22

concern.

23
24

(8) TASK

FORCE.—The

term ‘‘Task Force’’

means the Presidential Task Force on Wildlife Traf-

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1

ficking, as established by Executive Order 13648

2

(78 Fed. Reg. 40621) and modified by section 201.
(9) WILDLIFE

3

CRIME.—The

term ‘‘wildlife

4

crime’’ refers to the poaching or trafficking of illegal

5

wildlife or wildlife products.

6

SEC. 3. FINDINGS.

7

(a) FINDINGS.—Congress makes the following find-

8 ings:
9

(1) With a value that may be as high as

10

$10,000,000,000 per year, the illegal trade in wild-

11

life and wildlife products is one of the most lucrative

12

criminal activities globally, dominated by sophisti-

13

cated transnational criminal networks that connect

14

poachers to high-end markets for illegal wildlife

15

products and that are linked to other transnational

16

organized criminal activities, including trafficking in

17

narcotics, weapons, and humans.

18

(2) The poaching of and illegal trade in wildlife,

19

including elephants and rhinoceroses, is rapidly esca-

20

lating in scale, sophistication, and violence, and

21

there is evidence that illegal trade in high-value wild-

22

life parts, including elephant ivory, is being used as

23

a source of financing for criminal organizations and

24

armed groups that pose a threat to United States

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1

economic and security interests in Africa and else-

2

where, including terrorist organizations and militias.

3

(3) Increasing consumer demand for rhinoceros

4

horn and elephant ivory, in Asia and elsewhere, has

5

caused the prices of both to escalate, with the price

6

of rhinoceros horn rivaling that of gold or heroin by

7

weight, further driving the poaching and trafficking

8

of rhinoceroses and elephants.

9

(4) In 2014, 1,215 rhinoceroses were illegally

10

killed in South Africa, which represents an increase

11

of more than 9,000 percent since 2007.

12

(5) Two subspecies of African rhinoceroses and

13

1 subspecies of Asian rhinoceros have gone extinct

14

since 2005, and 2 of 3 Asian rhinoceros species have

15

fallen to critically low population numbers.

16

(6) Data from the Monitoring the Illegal Killing

17

of Elephants program established under the Conven-

18

tion on International Trade in Endangered Species

19

of Wild Fauna and Flora, done at Washington

20

March 3, 1973 (27 UST 1087; TIAS 8249) (com-

21

monly referred to as ‘‘CITES’’) and academic stud-

22

ies indicated that 100,000 elephants were killed ille-

23

gally across the whole of Africa between 2010 and

24

2012.

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1

(7) From 2000 to 2011, 54 large-scale ivory

2

seizures world-wide captured more than 110,000

3

kilograms of ivory. More than half of those large-

4

scale seizures occurred between 2008 and 2011, in-

5

dicating an increasing demand for ivory and expand-

6

ing participation by organized crime in the illegal

7

trade in ivory.

8

(8) Wildlife crime threatens elephants, rhinoc-

9

eros, and tigers greatly, but also has a devastating

10

impact on a number of other species, including

11

sharks, pangolins, great apes, and turtles.

12

(9) In addition to threatening the survival of

13

imperiled species, wildlife poachers and traffickers

14

frequently kill park rangers devoted to protecting

15

their countries’ wildlife, destabilize communities

16

through violence and corruption of local law enforce-

17

ment officials and others, and threaten wildlife tour-

18

ism industries, which contribute significantly to the

19

local and national economies of many countries.

20

(10) Where wildlife is well-managed by commu-

21

nities or in partnership with others, it can provide

22

a significant and sustainable source of economic ac-

23

tivity, particularly in impoverished rural areas, and

24

when communities share in the revenues generated

25

by wildlife-based economic development, it can great-

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1

ly reduce incentives to engage in poaching activities

2

while greatly increasing incentives to protect wildlife.

3

(11) At the 16th meeting of the Conference of

4

the Parties to CITES, held in Bangkok, Thailand,

5

in March 2013, all parties to CITES agreed to work

6

to help eradicate poaching of rhinoceroses, ele-

7

phants, sharks, and other species, and the illegal

8

trade in their parts.

9

(12) The United States can play a pivotal role

10

in ensuring that countries meet their international

11

obligations under CITES and take additional posi-

12

tive steps to address the wildlife trafficking crisis

13

and the global illegal trade in elephants, rhinoc-

14

eroses, and other species, including through sus-

15

tained diplomatic engagement.

16
17
18
19
20

TITLE I—PURPOSE AND POLICY
SEC. 101. PURPOSE.

The purposes of this Act are—
(1) to support a collaborative, interagency approach to address the wildlife crime crisis;

21

(2) to protect and conserve the remaining popu-

22

lations of wild elephants, rhinoceroses, and other

23

species threatened by poaching and the illegal wild-

24

life trade;

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1

(3) to disrupt regional and global transnational

2

organized criminal networks and to prevent the ille-

3

gal wildlife trade from being used as a source of fi-

4

nancing for criminal groups that undermine United

5

States and global security interests;

6

(4) to prevent wildlife poaching and trafficking

7

from being a means to make a living in countries of

8

concern;

9
10

(5) to create a conducive environment for wildlife and local populations in countries of concern;

11

(6) to reduce the global demand for ivory, rhi-

12

noceros horn, and other wildlife and wildlife prod-

13

ucts taken and traded illegally;

14

(7) to support the efforts of, and collaborate

15

with individuals, communities, local organizations,

16

and the governments of countries of concern to com-

17

bat poaching and wildlife trafficking; and

18

(8) to assist countries of concern in implemen-

19

tation of national wildlife anti-trafficking and poach-

20

ing laws.

21

SEC. 102. STATEMENT OF UNITED STATES POLICY.

22

It is the policy of the United States to—

23

(1) take immediate actions to stop the illegal

24

global trade in wildlife and wildlife products and as-

25

sociated transnational organized crime;

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1

(2) provide technical and other forms of assist-

2

ance to countries of concern to help them halt the

3

poaching of elephants, rhinoceroses, and other im-

4

periled species and end the illegal trade in wildlife

5

and their parts, including by providing training and

6

assistance in—

7
8
9
10

(A) wildlife protection and management of
wildlife populations;
(B) anti-poaching and protected area management;

11

(C) local engagement of security forces in

12

anti-poaching responsibilities where appropriate;

13

(D) wildlife crime investigative techniques,

14

including forensic tools;

15

(E) transparency and corruption issues;

16

(F) management and tracking of con-

17

fiscated wildlife contraband;

18

(G) demand reduction strategies; and

19

(H) bilateral and multilateral cooperation

20

agreements;

21

(3) employ all appropriate assets and resources

22

of the United States Government in a coordinated

23

manner to curtail poaching and disrupt and dis-

24

mantle illegal wildlife trade networks and the financ-

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1

ing of those networks in a manner appropriate for

2

each country of concern;

3

(4) implement the National Strategy and Imple-

4

mentation Plan to further combat wildlife crimes in

5

a holistic manner and guide and aid in the response

6

of the United States Government to ensure progress

7

in the fight against wildlife crime; and

8

(5) to recognize the ties of wildlife trafficking

9

to broader forms of transitional organized criminal

10

activities, including trafficking, and where applica-

11

ble, to focus on those crimes in a coordinated, cross-

12

cutting manner.

13
14

TITLE II—FRAMEWORK FOR
INTERAGENCY RESPONSE

15

SEC. 201. PRESIDENTIAL TASK FORCE ON WILDLIFE TRAF-

16
17

FICKING.

(a) RESPONSIBILITIES.—In addition to the functions

18 required by Executive Order 13648 (78 Fed. Reg. 40621),
19 the Task Force shall—
20

(1) identify countries of concern and periodi-

21

cally assess such countries, as appropriate, based on

22

criteria, including the role of such countries in the

23

supply, poaching, or transit of, or demand for, wild-

24

life and wildlife products, and use that information

25

to prioritize work under this Act, as appropriate;

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1

(2) collaborate with the national wildlife serv-

2

ices, or other relevant components of the govern-

3

ment, of each country of concern to prepare, not

4

later than 120 days after the date of the enactment

5

of this Act, a situational analysis of the threats to

6

wildlife in that country of concern and an assess-

7

ment of the capacity of that country to address wild-

8

life crime;

9

(3) collaborate with the national wildlife serv-

10

ices, or other relevant components of the govern-

11

ment, of each country of concern to prepare, not

12

later than 210 days after the date of the enactment

13

of this Act, a strategic plan that includes rec-

14

ommendations for addressing wildlife crime, taking

15

into account any regional or national strategies for

16

addressing wildlife crimes in a country of concern

17

developed before such date of enactment;

18

(4) coordinate efforts to implement the stra-

19

tegic plans required by paragraph (3) and other

20

goals to combat wildlife crime in each country of

21

concern among Federal agencies and non-Federal

22

partners, including missions, domestic and inter-

23

national organizations, the private sector, and other

24

global partners;

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1

(5) not less frequently than annually, consult

2

and coordinate with stakeholders qualified to provide

3

advice, assistance, and information regarding effec-

4

tive support for anti-poaching activities, coordinating

5

regional law enforcement efforts, developing and

6

supporting effective legal enforcement mechanisms,

7

and developing strategies to reduce illicit trade and

8

reduce consumer demand for illegally traded wildlife

9

and wildlife products, and other relevant topics

10
11

under this Act; and
(6) carry out other functions as are necessary

12

to implement this Act.

13

(b) DUPLICATION

AND

EFFICIENCY.—The Task

14 Force shall—
15

(1) ensure that the activities of the Federal

16

agencies involved in carrying out efforts under this

17

Act are coordinated and not duplicated; and

18

(2) encourage efficiencies and coordination

19

among the efforts of Federal agencies and inter-

20

agency initiatives ongoing as of the date of the en-

21

actment of this Act to address trafficking activities,

22

including trafficking of wildlife, humans, weapons,

23

and narcotics, illegal trade, transnational organized

24

crime, or other illegal activities.

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1
2

(c) CONSISTENCY WITH AGENCY RESPONSIBILITIES.—The

Task Force shall carry out its responsibilities

3 and prepare the reports required under this Act in a man4 ner consistent with the authorities and responsibilities of
5 agencies represented on the Task Force.
6

(d) TERMINATION

OF

TASK FORCE.—The Task

7 Force shall terminate on the date that is 5 years after
8 the date of the enactment of this Act.

12

TITLE III—PROGRAMS TO ADDRESS
THE
ESCALATING
WILDLIFE TRAFFICKING CRISIS

13

SEC. 301. ANTI-POACHING PROGRAMS.

9
10
11

14

(a) WILDLIFE LAW ENFORCEMENT PROFESSIONAL

15 TRAINING

AND

COORDINATION ACTIVITIES.—The Sec-

16 retary of State and the Administrator of the United States
17 Agency for International Development, in collaboration
18 with the heads of other relevant United States agencies
19 and nongovernmental partners where appropriate, may
20 provide assistance to countries of concern to carry out the
21 recommendations made in the strategic plan required by
22 section 201(a)(3), among other goals, to improve the effec23 tiveness of wildlife law enforcement in regions and coun24 tries of concern, with clear and measurable targets and
25 indicators of success, including—

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1

(1) assessing and utilizing existing resources,

2

enforcement tools, and legal authorities to coordi-

3

nate the efforts of combating wildlife trafficking

4

with other illegal trade, such as illegal weapons, nar-

5

cotics, and human trafficking;

6

(2) expanding existing wildlife crime law en-

7

forcement training at international law enforcement

8

academies;

9
10

(3) providing targeted country-specific trainings
on wildlife crime law enforcement;

11

(4) supporting the professionalization of the

12

wildlife law enforcement sector, which may include—

13

(A) creating and adopting standards for

14

professional ranger training and qualifications;

15

(B) training and accreditation systems

16

based on the standards described in subpara-

17

graph (A) that produce professionally trained

18

and qualified rangers and promote the overall

19

professionalization of ranger forces, including

20

appropriate participation within the criminal

21

justice system;

22

(C) developing and institutionalizing re-

23

ward and promotion systems for rangers based

24

on performance and set competencies;

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1

(D) developing and institutionalizing na-

2

tional systems to provide insurance to rangers

3

and their families and compensation for those

4

rangers killed in the line of duty; and

5

(E) cooperating and coordinating between

6

law enforcement tasked with wildlife or park

7

protection and defense forces, where appro-

8

priate,

9

logistical support, or provision of equipment;

including

training

opportunities,

10

(5) providing training and technical support on

11

joint operations between wildlife law enforcement

12

and anti-poaching professionals and other law en-

13

forcement agencies to combat threats from poaching;

14

(6) training and assistance in gathering, shar-

15

ing, analyzing, managing, and applying intelligence

16

related to wildlife trafficking, including the use of

17

data gathered from weapons seizures and ballistics

18

testing;

19

(7) assisting in the creation or enhancement of

20

transboundary patrols and regional law enforcement

21

operations under joint command, particularly in cen-

22

tral, eastern, and southern Africa;

23

(8) assessing technology needs in countries of

24

concern and promoting the use of technology to im-

25

prove wildlife protection, while taking into account

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1

the limitations of technology and the appropriateness

2

of using technology in each country of concern; and

3

(9) utilizing pre-existing national or regional

4

strategies that countries already have in place to

5

combat wildlife trafficking as a basis for incor-

6

porating applicable parts of the National Strategy.

7

(b) AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE SECURITY ASSIST-

8
9

ANCE.—

(1) IN

GENERAL.—The

Secretary of State may

10

provide defense articles, defense services, and related

11

training to security forces of countries of concern for

12

the purpose of countering wildlife trafficking and

13

poaching.

14

(2) CERTIFICATION.—The Secretary of State

15

shall certify to the Committee on Foreign Relations

16

of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs

17

of the House of Representatives that any assistance

18

provided pursuant to this subsection is necessary for

19

the purposes of combating wildlife crime.

20

(3) NOTIFICATION.—Consistent with the re-

21

quirements of the Arms Export Control Act (22

22

U.S.C. 2751 et seq.) and the Foreign Assistance Act

23

of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151 et seq.), the Secretary of

24

State shall notify the Committee on Foreign Rela-

25

tions of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign

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1

Affairs of the House of Representatives regarding

2

defense articles, defense services, and related train-

3

ing provided under paragraph (1).

4

(4) FUNDING.—Assistance provided under this

5

subsection shall be provided using amounts available

6

to the Secretary of State for foreign military financ-

7

ing.

8

(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section:

9

(1) DEFENSE

ARTICLE; DEFENSE SERVICE; SIG-

10

NIFICANT MILITARY EQUIPMENT; TRAINING.—The

11

terms ‘‘defense article’’, ‘‘defense service’’, ‘‘signifi-

12

cant military equipment’’, and ‘‘training’’ have the

13

meanings given those terms in section 47 of the

14

Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2794).

15

(2) SECURITY

FORCE.—The

term ‘‘security

16

force’’ means a military, law enforcement, gendar-

17

merie, park ranger, or any other security force.

18
19

SEC. 302. ANTI-TRAFFICKING PROGRAMS.

(a) INVESTIGATIVE CAPACITY BUILDING.—The Sec-

20 retary of State and the Administrator of the United States
21 Agency for International Development, in collaboration
22 with the heads of other relevant United States agencies
23 and communities, regions, and governments in countries
24 of concern, may design and implement programs in coun25 tries of concern to carry out the recommendations made

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1 in the strategic plan required by section 201(a)(3), among
2 other goals, with clear and measurable targets and indica3 tors of success, to increase the capacity of wildlife law en4 forcement and customs and border security officers in
5 countries of concern to improve their ability to conduct—
6

(1) professional investigations, including using

7

law enforcement techniques such as controlled deliv-

8

eries, undercover investigations, and the development

9

of informer networks and actionable intelligence;

10
11

(2) market inspections and associated enforcement actions;

12

(3) border inspections, including the use of

13

sniffer dogs and other detection equipment to iden-

14

tify elephant ivory, rhinoceros horn, and products

15

made from such ivory or horn, as well as other ille-

16

gal wildlife and wildlife products;

17
18

(4) shipment and trafficking risk analyses and
associated targeting of high-risk shipments;

19

(5) assessments of technology needs in coun-

20

tries of concern and promotion of the use of tech-

21

nology to improve investigation and prosecution of

22

wildlife crimes, while taking into account the limita-

23

tions of technology and appropriateness of using

24

technology in each country of concern;

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1

(6) DNA-based and forensic identification of

2

wildlife products in trade, including assistance with

3

advanced techniques for determining the age and or-

4

igin of ivory and ivory products and rhinoceros horn;

5

and

6

(7) training for law enforcement personnel in

7

complex investigations that have not traditionally in-

8

cluded wildlife crime, but could in the future, includ-

9

ing with respect to international matters, financial

10

issues, government corruption, electronic evidence,

11

and computer forensics.

12

(b) TRANSNATIONAL PROGRAMS.—The Secretary of

13 State and the Administrator of the United States Agency
14 for International Development, in collaboration with other
15 relevant United States agencies, nongovernmental part16 ners, and international bodies, and in collaboration with
17 communities, regions, and governments in countries of
18 concern, may design and implement programs in countries
19 of concern to carry out the recommendations made in the
20 strategic plan required by section 201(a)(3), among other
21 goals, to better understand and combat the transnational
22 trade in illegal wildlife, including programs that—
23

(1) improve understanding of the status of and

24

trends in transnational wildlife trafficking, poaching

25

locations, ports of entry and exit, and trade routes;

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1

(2) increase and institutionalize the capacity,

2

coordination, and technical expertise of governments

3

and regional law enforcement bodies to disrupt ille-

4

gal wildlife trafficking routes and cartels, including

5

through enhanced investigation techniques and in-

6

formant networks;

7

(3) identify linkages to other transnational

8

criminal activities and organizations and other forms

9

of illegal trade and utilize existing resources, en-

10

forcement tools, and legal authorities to coordinate

11

efforts;

12

(4) identify and make transparent the role of

13

money laundering, shell companies, and other illegal

14

financial practices in international organized wildlife

15

crime that help link source, transit, and demand

16

countries;

17

(5) help to elevate and sustain the priority and

18

importance placed on wildlife trafficking issues by

19

community, national, regional and international law

20

enforcement and security bodies; and

21

(6) may place, as feasible and appropriate,

22

United States wildlife law enforcement officers in

23

countries of concern.

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22
1
2

SEC. 303. DEMAND REDUCTION AGREEMENTS.

(a) SENSE

OF

CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-

3 gress that the United States should continue to work with
4 foreign countries, including the People’s Republic of
5 China, the Kingdom of Thailand, and the Socialist Repub6 lic of Vietnam, to build on positive efforts to combat global
7 wildlife trafficking, including by reducing demand for ille8 gal wildlife and illegal wildlife products.
9
10

(b) UNITED STATES–CHINA BILATERAL AGREEMENTS ON ILLEGAL

WILDLIFE TRADE.—The Secretary of

11 State should, in consultation with the Secretary of the In12 terior—
13

(1) implement agreements with the People’s Re-

14

public of China aimed at reducing demand for ivory

15

and continue negotiations on bilateral efforts to

16

eliminate illegal trade in wildlife and wildlife prod-

17

ucts within the United States and China; and

18

(2) collaborate to combat the global illegal wild-

19

life trade, identify and monitor international crimi-

20

nal syndicates involved in wildlife trafficking, pro-

21

mote successful enforcement actions and prosecu-

22

tions, minimize the illegal wildlife trade on the Inter-

23

net, and phase out domestic stocks of captive ani-

24

mals that could end up in the illegal trade or serve

25

to stimulate or mask illegal trade in critically endan-

26

gered species within the United States and China

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1

(other than captive animals maintained by organiza-

2

tions whose accreditation programs heed rigorous

3

and publicly available standards, utilize notable ex-

4

perts in the field to conduct comprehensive inspec-

5

tion and review, and provide opportunity for public

6

comment).

7

(c) UNITED STATES-THAILAND BILATERAL DIA-

8

LOGUE ON ILLEGAL

WILDLIFE TRADE.—The Secretary of

9 State should, in consultation with the Secretary of the In10 terior—
11

(1) initiate negotiations with the Kingdom of

12

Thailand on a bilateral agreement aimed at reducing

13

demand for ivory and illegal wildlife and wildlife

14

products in Thailand through support for anti-traf-

15

ficking and demand reduction efforts, legislative and

16

regulatory reform, effective implementation of Thai-

17

land’s National Ivory Action Plan; and

18

(2) collaborate to combat the global illegal wild-

19

life trade, identify and monitor international crimi-

20

nal syndicates involved in wildlife trafficking, pro-

21

mote successful enforcement actions and prosecu-

22

tions and any other beneficial measures, and use

23

clear measures of success.

24

(d) UNITED STATES–VIETNAM BILATERAL DIA-

25

LOGUE ON ILLEGAL

WILDLIFE TRADE.—The Secretary of

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1 State should, in consultation with the Secretary of the In2 terior—
3

(1) initiate negotiations with the Socialist Re-

4

public of Vietnam on a bilateral agreement aimed at

5

eliminating illegal trade in ivory, rhinoceros horn,

6

and other wildlife and wildlife products in Vietnam

7

through support for anti-trafficking and demand re-

8

duction efforts, comprehensive legislative and regu-

9

latory reform, effective rhinoceros trophy manage-

10

ment and registration, effective enforcement, inves-

11

tigations, and prosecutions, and effective rhinoceros

12

horn stockpile management and registration; and

13

(2) collaborate with Vietnam to combat the

14

global illegal wildlife trade, identify and monitor

15

international criminal syndicates involved in wildlife

16

trafficking, promote successful enforcement actions

17

and prosecutions and any other beneficial measures,

18

and use clear measures of success.

19
20
21

SEC. 304. ENGAGEMENT OF UNITED STATES DIPLOMATIC
MISSIONS.

Not later than 210 days after the date of the enact-

22 ment of this Act, each chief of mission to a country of
23 concern should—

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1

(1) begin to implement the recommendations

2

contained in the strategic plan required by section

3

201(a)(3), among other goals, for the country;

4

(2) convene a working group of United States

5

agency officials operating in the country to focus on

6

wildlife crime, including experts in wildlife conserva-

7

tion, law enforcement, criminal justice, transnational

8

organized crime, defense, intelligence, and develop-

9

ment; and

10

(3) where appropriate, designate a Wildlife

11

Anti-Trafficking Coordinator, from among existing

12

personnel at the mission, whose role it is—

13

(A) to provide leadership and coordination

14

across United States agency officials operating

15

within that country involved in the working

16

group and with technical, political, and other

17

stakeholders in the government of the country

18

and other community leaders and stakeholders

19

in order to support the recommendations of the

20

strategic plan required by section 201(a)(3),

21

among other goals, to prevent wildlife crime in

22

the country of concern;

23

(B) to share all relevant information about

24

wildlife crime from the country of concern with

25

other Wildlife Anti-Trafficking Coordinators in

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1

other missions as well as to the Task Force;

2

and

3

(C) to identify and engage with nongovern-

4

mental partners working in the country on

5

these issues to support efforts described in sub-

6

paragraphs (A) and (B), including donor part-

7

ners, conservation organizations, and the pri-

8

vate sector.

9
10
11

SEC. 305. INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION AND GLOBAL
PARTNERSHIPS.

The Secretary of State and the Administrator for the

12 United States Agency for International Development, in
13 collaboration with the heads of other relevant United
14 States agencies, may take action to strengthen inter15 national cooperation and partnerships to combat the glob16 al wildlife crime crisis, including through—
17

(1) strengthening and advancing the implemen-

18

tation of international agreements and other ar-

19

rangements that protect wildlife;

20

(2) leveraging United States diplomacy to mobi-

21

lize global support for action against wildlife crime;

22

(3) promoting organization of and participation

23

by United States agencies in wildlife crime enforce-

24

ment operations;

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1

(4) building partnerships with governments,

2

intergovernmental organizations, nongovernmental

3

organizations, communities, and the private sector to

4

combat wildlife crime, including leveraging new and

5

existing technologies;

6

(5) considering the development of vetted units

7

of local law enforcement to be screened, trained, and

8

supported by appropriate United States law enforce-

9

ment officials; and

10

(6) encouraging countries, where appropriate,

11

to transparently audit their holdings of contraband

12

wildlife and wildlife products.

13
14

SEC. 306. COMMUNITY-BASED CONSERVATION.

The Secretary of State, in collaboration with the

15 heads of other relevant United States agencies, the private
16 sector, nongovernmental organizations, and other develop17 ment partners, may provide support in countries of con18 cern to carry out the recommendations made in the stra19 tegic plan required by section 201(a)(3) as such rec20 ommendations relate to the development, scaling, and rep21 lication of community-owned wildlife conservancies and
22 community-based conservation programs in countries of
23 concern to assist with rural stability and greater security
24 for people and wildlife, empower and support communities
25 to own, manage, or benefit from their wildlife resources

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1 sustainably, and reduce the threat of poaching and traf2 ficking, including through—
3

(1) promoting conservation-based enterprises

4

and incentives, such as eco-tourism and agricultural

5

production, that empower communities to own or

6

manage their wildlife, natural resources, and com-

7

munity ventures where appropriate, by ensuring they

8

benefit from well-managed wildlife populations;

9

(2) helping create alternative livelihoods to

10

poaching by helping support rural stability, greater

11

security for people and wildlife, sustainable economic

12

development and economic incentives to conserve

13

wildlife populations;

14

(3) engaging regional businesses and the pri-

15

vate sector to develop goods and services to aide in

16

anti-poaching and anti-trafficking measures;

17

(4) working with communities to develop secure

18

and safe methods of sharing information with en-

19

forcement officials;

20

(5) providing technical assistance to support

21

sustainable land use plans to improve the economic,

22

environmental, and social outcomes in community-

23

owned or -managed lands;

24
25

(6) supporting community anti-poaching efforts
including policing and informant networks;

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1

(7) working with community and national gov-

2

ernments to develop relevant policy and regulatory

3

frameworks to enable and promote community-

4

owned or -managed conservation programs, includ-

5

ing supporting law enforcement engagement with

6

wildlife protection authorities to promote informa-

7

tion-sharing; and

8

(8) working with national governments to en-

9

sure that communities have timely and effective sup-

10

port from national authorities to minimize physical

11

or mortal risks that communities may face when en-

12

gaging in anti-poaching and anti-trafficking activi-

13

ties.

14

SEC. 307. REPORT ON WILDLIFE TRAFFICKING MEASURES.

15

(a) REPORT REQUIRED.—Not later than one year

16 after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually
17 thereafter, the Co-Chairs of the Task Force, in collabora18 tion with the Director of National Intelligence and the
19 heads of other relevant United States agencies, shall sub20 mit to the appropriate congressional committees a report
21 on wildlife crimes.
22

(b) MATTERS TO BE INCLUDED.—The report re-

23 quired by subsection (a) shall include the following:

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1

(1) A summary of the situational analysis of

2

threats to wildlife for each country of concern re-

3

quired by section 201(a)(2).

4

(2) A summary of the strategic plan for each

5

country of concern required by section 201(a)(3)

6

and an assessment of any progress made on the im-

7

plementation of the plan in that country, including

8

a description of measurable goals and a framework

9

with clear timelines and benchmarks for monitoring

10

such progress.

11

(3) A detailed description of actions that each

12

agency represented on the Task Force has or will

13

implement to carry out the requirements of section

14

201 and the other provisions of this Act.

15

(4) A description of the capacity of the authori-

16

ties of governments of countries of concern to sus-

17

tain the programs for which the United States has

18

provided assistance pursuant to this Act.

19

(5) An identification of the countries of concern

20

that play the most significant role in the supply or

21

poaching of, transit in, or demand for illegal wildlife

22

or wildlife products or their derivatives and a de-

23

scription of how such products or derivatives are

24

trafficked.

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1

(6) An identification of relevant supply routes,

2

methods of transportation, use and identification of

3

freight forwarders, financial institutions used in

4

each country of concern, and red flag indicators of

5

wildlife smuggling related money laundering.

6

(7) A description of the efforts of the countries

7

identified under paragraph (5) to counter wildlife

8

trafficking and to adhere to their international trea-

9

ty obligations relating to endangered or threatened

10

species.

11

(8) An assessment of the extent of involvement

12

of organizations designated as foreign terrorist orga-

13

nizations under section 219 of the Immigration and

14

Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1189).

15

(9) Any security assistance provided under sec-

16

tion 301(b), or security assistance provided during

17

the most recent fiscal year ending before the date of

18

the report using funds or authorities available in the

19

Act authorizing appropriations for that fiscal year

20

for military activities of the Department of Defense,

21

to each country of concern under section 301(b).

22

(c) FORM.—The report required by subsection (a)

23 shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include
24 a classified annex.

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1

(d) TERMINATION DATE.—The requirement to con-

2 duct reports under subsection (a) shall terminate on the
3 date on which the Task Force terminates under section
4 201(d).
5

SEC. 308. IMPLEMENTATION USING AMOUNTS PREVIOUSLY

6
7

APPROPRIATED.

(a) IN GENERAL.—The provisions of this Act shall

8 be carried out using amounts previously appropriated and
9 available for obligation as of the date of the enactment
10 of this Act. No additional amounts are authorized to be
11 appropriated to carry out this Act.
12
13

(b) PROHIBITION
GENCY

ON

USE

OF

OVERSEAS CONTIN-

OPERATIONS FUNDS.—No amounts authorized to

14 be appropriated for a fiscal year and designated as being
15 in support of overseas contingency operations may be obli16 gated or expended to carry out this Act.
17

(c) SENSE

OF

CONGRESS THAT OVERSEAS CONTIN-

OPERATIONS FUNDS SHOULD NOT BE IN-

18

GENCY

19

CREASED.—It

is the sense of Congress that efforts to find

20 available amounts to carry out this Act should not result
21 in an increase in amounts authorized to be appropriated
22 for a fiscal year to provide additional funds for overseas
23 contingency operations.