Order Code RS21157
Updated February 22, 2006
CRS Report for Congress
Received through the CRS Web
Multinational Species Conservation Fund
Pervaze A. Sheikh
Analyst in Natural Resources Policy
Resources, Science, and Industry Division
M. Lynne Corn
Specialist in Natural Resources Policy
Resources, Science, and Industry Division
Summary
The Multinational Species Conservation Fund is a relatively small program within
the Fish and Wildlife Service which has generated enormous constituent interest, chiefly
concerning its funding levels. This report describes the Fund briefly, and summarizes
recent and proposed appropriations levels. It will be updated as events warrant.
The Multinational Species Conservation Fund (MSCF), which currently benefits
tigers, the six species of rhinoceroses, Asian and African elephants, and great apes
(gorillas, chimpanzees, bonobos, orangutans, and the various species of gibbons), has
generated a tremendous amount of constituent interest. The Fund supports conservation
efforts benefitting these species, often in conjunction with efforts under the Convention
on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) to which the United States is a
Party.1
The FY2007 request for the MSCF is $8.2 million, which includes the Neotropical
Migratory Bird Conservation Fund (NMBCF). This represents a 20% decrease from the
FY2006 enacted level of $10.3 million for the MSCF and NMBCF, which were funded
at $6.4 million and $3.9 million, respectively; and a 33% decrease in the MSCF alone.
While all programs proposed under the Fund have lower requests based on their FY2006
appropriations, the Marine Turtle Conservation Fund has the largest percentage decrease
(57% decrease). The NMBCF was funded as a separate program for FY2006. The
President proposes to bring the NMBCF under the MSCF and to allocate $4.0 million of
1 For more information, see CRS Report RL31654, Endangered Species Act: A Primer, by
Pamela Baldwin, Eugene H. Buck, and M. Lynne Corn, and CRS Report RL32751, The
Convention on the International Trade of Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora:
Background and Issues, by Pervaze A. Sheikh and M. Lynne Corn.
Congressional Research Service ˜ The Library of Congress

---

CRS-2
the requested $8.2 million for the MSCF to the NMBCF for FY2007. Congress rejected
the proposed transfer in FY2006, as it had done in the four previous fiscal years.
Table 1 shows funding levels for the MSCF and the NMBCF for FY2004-FY2006,
and the requested funding level for FY2007. The MSCF is authorized under five acts,
described below.
The African Elephant Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 4201) authorizes matching grants
for conservation, research, management, and protection of this species. Projects are
carried out in cooperation with African nations and non-governmental organizations
(NGOs).
The Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Fund (16 U.S.C. 5301) assists in conserving
tigers and the 6 species of rhinos. Matching grants support governments and NGOs in
projects to conserve habitat, survey populations, improve law enforcement, and educate
the public.
The Asian Elephant Fund (16 U.S.C. 4261) is similar to the above programs in
purposes and scope. An additional emphasis, where the elephants are draft animals, is
to promote their humane treatment and encourage captive breeding.
The Great Ape Conservation Fund (16 U.S.C. 1603) is similar to the above programs
in purposes and scope. Species of interest are lowland and mountain gorillas,
chimpanzees, bonobos (a species very closely related to chimpanzees), orangutans, and
the species of gibbons (Genus Hylobates — about 8-10 species, according to
anthropologists).
The Marine Turtle Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 6601) was passed on July 2, 2004.
This law provides grants for the conservation of marine turtle populations and their
nesting habitats in the wild. This law authorizes $5 million in annual appropriations from
FY2005 to FY2009 for conservation efforts and establishes a marine turtle conservation
fund within the MSCF.
The Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 6101-6109) provides
grants for the conservation of hundreds of bird species that migrate among North and
South America and the Caribbean. The act requires spending 75% of the funds on
projects outside of the United States. The NMBCF is separate from the MSCF, but the
Administration has proposed to make it part of the MSCF for the past four fiscal years.

---

CRS-3
Table 1. Funding for Multinational Species Conservation Fund,
FY2004-FY2006 and FY2007 Request
(in U.S. $, thousands)
Multinational Species
FY2004
FY2005
FY2006
FY2007
Conservation Fund
Enacted
Enacted
Enacted
Requested
African elephant
$1,383
$1,380
$1,379
$990
Tiger and Rhinos
1,383
1,478
1,576
990
Asian elephant
1,383
1,381
1,379
990
Great Apes
1,383
1,381
1,379
990
Marine Turtle
0
99
691
297
Neotropical Migratory Bird
Conservation Funda
[3,951]
[3,944]
[3,941]
[3,960]
Total
5,532b
5,719
6,404
4,257
a. This program was first authorized in FY2002, and is not part of the MSCF, although the transfer was
proposed in the President’s budgets for FY2002 - FY2007. However, because Congress has rejected
the transfer four times, the program is not included in the column totals for FY2004-FY2006; and for
the FY2007 request.
b. Due to rounding, columns sum to slightly less than this total.

---