Order Code RS21157
Updated April 21, 2008
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 that has generated enormous constituent interest, chiefly
concerning its funding levels. This report describes the fund briefly, and summarizes
recent and proposed appropriations levels.
The Multinational Species Conservation Fund (MSCF), which currently benefits
tigers, the six species of rhinoceroses, Asian and African elephants, marine turtles, 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
For FY2008, $7.9 million was provided for the MSCF and $4.4 million was provided
for the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Fund (NMBCF). This is over $3.5
million more than was requested for the MSCF and nearly $0.5 million more than was
requested for the NMBCF. The FY2009 funding request for the MSCF represents
approximately a 45% decrease from the FY2008 enacted level, and is the same as the
FY2008 requested level. The NMBCF was funded as a separate program for FY2008.
For FY2009, the NMBCF is requested to have $4.0 million. For FY2009, the
Administration had proposed to fund the MSCF and the NMBCF separately.
1 For more information, see CRS Report RL31654, Endangered Species Act: A Primer, by M.
Lynne Corn, Eugene H. Buck, and Pamela Baldwin, 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.

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Table 1 shows funding levels for the MSCF and the NMBCF for FY2004-FY2008.
The MSCF is authorized under five acts, described below. In the 110th Congress, the
African Elephant Conservation Act, Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Fund, and Asian
Elephant Fund were reauthorized for funding until 2012.
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 authorization for appropriations expires in 2012.
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 authorization for appropriations expires in 2012.
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 authorization
for appropriations expires in 2012.
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 authorization for appropriations expires in 2010.
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 act was reauthorized in 2006. The legislation
expands the program to include Canada, authorizes appropriations until 2009, and creates
a separate fund for the NMBCF. The NMBCF is no longer included in the
Administration’s request under the MSCF.

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Table 1. Funding for Multinational Species Conservation Fund,
FY2004-FY2008 and FY2009 Request
(in U.S. $, thousands)
Multinational Species FY2004 FY2005 FY2006 FY2007 FY2008 FY2009
Conservation Fund
Enacted Enacted Enacted Enacted Enacted Request
African elephant
$1,383
$1,380
$1,379
$1,379
$1,477
990
Tiger and Rhinos
1,383
1,478
1,576
1,576
1,969
990
Asian elephant
1,383
1,381
1,379
1,379
1,477
990
Great Apes
1,383
1,381
1,379
1,379
1,969
990
Marine Turtle
0
99
691
691
984
297
Total MSCF
5,532
5,719
6,404
6,404
7,876
4,300
Neotropical Migratory
Bird Conservation
3,951
3,944
3,941
3,941
4,430
4,000
Funda
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, or for
the FY2007 request. The FY2009 request did not include the NMBCF in the MSCF.