International Species Conservation Funds
Pervaze A. Sheikh
Specialist in Natural Resources Policy
M. Lynne Corn
Specialist in Natural Resources Policy
March 5, 2010
Congressional Research Service
7-5700
www.crs.gov
RS21157
CRS Report for Congress
P
repared for Members and Committees of Congress
International Species Conservation Funds
Summary
International species conservation is addressed by several funds, including those under the
Multinational Species Conservation Fund and the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Fund.
These funds are implemented by relatively small programs within the Fish and Wildlife Service,
yet generate enormous constituent interest, chiefly concerning their funding levels. This report
describes the funds briefly, and summarizes recent and proposed appropriations levels.
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International Species Conservation Funds
Contents
Multinational Species Conservation Fund.................................................................................... 1
Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Fund........................................................................... 2
Legislative Activity..................................................................................................................... 2
Tables
Table 1. Appropriations for Multinational Species Conservation Fund and Neotropical
Migratory Bird Conservation Fund, FY2006-FY2010............................................................... 3
Contacts
Author Contact Information ........................................................................................................ 4
Congressional Research Service
International Species Conservation Funds
nternational species conservation is addressed by several funds, including those under the
Multinational Species Conservation Fund (MSCF) and the Neotropical Migratory Bird
I Conservation Fund (NMBCF). This report provides a brief overview of MSCF and NMBCF
and their funding and legislative status.
Multinational Species Conservation Fund
The Multinational Species Conservation Fund, 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
MSCF provides funding in the form of technical and cost-sharing grants to range countries for the
conservation of African and Asian elephants, rhinoceroses, tigers, great apes, and marine turtles
and their habitats. The grants target species and address habitat conservation, law enforcement,
and technical assistance for conserving species under the MSCF. Efforts to conserve species
under the MSCF benefit from funding and in-kind support provided by partners and collaborators.
According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which runs the program,2 $75.0 million was
provided by partners and collaborators for efforts under the MSCF from FY2004 to FY2009. This
is nearly double the amount appropriated for these efforts during the same period.
For FY2011, the Administration has requested $10.0 million, which is $1.5 million less than the
FY2010 enacted level of $11.5 million.3
Table 1 shows funding levels for the MSCF and the NMBCF for FY2005-FY2010 and the
FY2011 request. 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 111th Congress might consider
reauthorizing the Great Ape Conservation Fund, which is authorized through 2010, and the
Marine Turtle Conservation Fund, which is authorized through 2009.
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.
1 For more information, see CRS Report RL31654, The Endangered Species Act: A Primer, by M. Lynne Corn,
Kristina Alexander, and Eugene H. Buck, and CRS Report RL32751, The Convention on International Trade in
Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES): Background and Issues, by Pervaze A. Sheikh and M. Lynne
Corn.
2 CRS Report R40776, Fish and Wildlife Service: Appropriations and Policy , by M. Lynne Corn.
3 P.L. 111-88.
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International Species Conservation Funds
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 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.
Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Fund
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.
The FY2011 request for this program is $4.0 million, $1.0 million less than its FY2010 enacted
level of $5.0 million. (See Table 1.)
Legislative Activity
In the 111th Congress, 10 bills address the MSCF. Four would expand the MSCF, two would
reauthorize existing programs; two would address administration of the MSCF; and two would
provide an added stream of revenue for MSCF. The proposed bills are described below:
• The Great Ape Conservation Reauthorization Amendments Act of 2010 (H.R.
4416) would reauthorize funding for Great Ape conservation through 2015 and
multi-year grants.
• The Crane Conservation Act of 2009 (H.R. 388 and S. 197) would authorize
funding for conserving cranes with ranges in Africa, Asia, Europe, and North
America, and a Crane Conservation Fund.4 Under this bill, $5 million would be
authorized to be appropriated to the fund from FY2010 to FY2014.
• The Great Cats and Rare Canids Act of 2009 (H.R. 411 and S. 529) would
provide funding and foster international cooperation to restore and conserve rare
4 Not more than 20% of the funds are to be used for the conservation of cranes in North America under the bill.
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International Species Conservation Funds
felids5 and rare canids6 in the wild. Under this bill, $5 million would be
authorized to be appropriated to the fund from FY2010 to FY2014.
• The Marine Turtle Conservation Reauthorization Act of 2009 (H.R. 509) would
reauthorize funding for conserving turtles through 2014.
• The Multinational Species Conservation Funds Semipostal Stamp Act of 2009
(H.R. 1454 and S. 1567) would provide proceeds to implement the MSCF from
the sale of certain postage stamps. According to bill language, funds from the
stamps should not offset annual appropriations to the MSCF, nor should they be
taken into account in any decision related to funding the MSCF or FWS. The
stamps would be available to the public for at least five years.
• The Global Wildlife Conservation, Coordination, and Enhancement Act of 2009
(H.R. 3086) would create a program to administer MSCF funds and other similar
funds for wildlife conservation, among other things.
• The Wildlife Without Borders Authorization Act (H.R. 3198) would create a
species program to administer MSCF programs.
Two bills address the NMBCF. One extends the authorization for appropriations to FY2015, with
steadily increasing funding levels (H.R. 2213); and the second (S. 690) also would reauthorize
appropriations to FY2015 in increasing increments.
Table 1. Appropriations for Multinational Species Conservation Fund and
Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Fund, FY2006-FY2010
(in U.S. $ thousands)
Multinational Species
FY2006
FY2007
FY2008
FY2009
FY2010
FY2011
Conservation Fund
Enacted Enacted Enacted Enacted Enacted Requested
African
Elephant
$1,379 $1,379 $1,477 $2,000 $2,000 $2,000
Tiger
and
Rhinos
1,576 1,576 1,969 2,500 3,000 2,500
Asian
Elephant
1,379 1,379 1,477 2,000 2,000 2,000
Great
Apes
1,379 1,379 1,969 2,000 2,500 2,000
Marine
Turtle
691 691 984
1,500
2,000 1,500
Total
MSCF
6,404 6,404 7,876 10,000 11,500 10,000
Neotropical Migratory
3,941 3,941 4,430 4,750 5,000 4,000
Bird Conservation Fund
5 Felid species include lion (Panthera leo), leopard (Panthera pardus), jaguar (Panthera onca), snow leopard (Uncia
uncia), clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa), cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus), Iberian lynx (Lynx pardina), and Borneo bay
cat (Catopuma badia), including any subspecies or population of such a species. This does not include any species,
subspecies, or population that is native to the United States, or any tiger (Panthera tigris).
6 Canid species include dhole (Cuon alpinus), gray wolf (Canis lupus), Ethiopian wolf (Canis simensis), bush dog
(Speothos venaticus), African wild dog (Lycaon pictus), maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus), and Darwin’s fox,
(Pseudalopex fulvipes), including any subspecies or population of such a species. This does not include any subspecies
or population that is native to the United States, Canada, or the European Union.
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Author Contact Information
Pervaze A. Sheikh
M. Lynne Corn
Specialist in Natural Resources Policy
Specialist in Natural Resources Policy
psheikh@crs.loc.gov, 7-6070
lcorn@crs.loc.gov, 7-7267
Congressional Research Service
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