Title 16ConservationRelease 119-73

§5304 Rhinoceros and tiger conservation assistance

Title 16 › Chapter CHAPTER 73— - RHINOCEROS AND TIGER CONSERVATION › § 5304

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary must use Fund money, when funds are available and after talking with the Administrator, to pay for projects that help save rhinoceros and tigers. A country that affects those animals, the CITES Secretariat, or any other person can send a project plan. The plan must name who will run the project, say the project’s purpose, list the leaders’ qualifications, estimate cost and time, show government support if needed, and give any other information the Secretary asks for. Within 30 days of getting a final plan, the Secretary must give a copy to the Administrator. The Secretary must review the plan and, within 6 months and if money is available, decide after consulting the Administrator and tell the applicant and the Administrator in writing. The Secretary can approve projects that help conservation by supporting on-the-ground work, improving enforcement of CITES or laws that limit taking or trading the animals or using their habitat, or creating reliable science about habitat, carrying capacity, total population and trends, or birth and death rates. The Secretary should favor projects that make conservation last over the long term. People who get money must send regular reports with the information the Secretary asks for. The Secretary can give grants for up to 5 years for proven long-term projects, or award grants year by year.

Full Legal Text

Title 16, §5304

Conservation — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The Secretary, subject to the availability of appropriations and in consultation with the Administrator, shall use amounts in the Fund to provide financial assistance for projects for the conservation of rhinoceros and tigers.
(b)A country whose activities directly or indirectly affect rhinoceros or tiger populations, the CITES Secretariat, or any other person may submit to the Secretary a project proposal under this section. Each proposal shall—
(1)name the individual responsible for conducting the project;
(2)state the purposes of the project succinctly;
(3)describe the qualifications of the individuals who will conduct the project;
(4)estimate the funds and time required to complete the project;
(5)provide evidence of support of the project by appropriate governmental entities of countries in which the project will be conducted, if the Secretary determines that the support is required for the success of the project; and
(6)provide any other information the Secretary considers to be necessary for evaluating the eligibility of the project for funding under this chapter.
(c)Within 30 days of receiving a final project proposal, the Secretary shall provide a copy of the proposal to the Administrator. The Secretary shall review each final project proposal to determine if it meets the criteria set forth in subsection (d). Not later than 6 months after receiving a final project proposal, and subject to the availability of funds, the Secretary, after consulting with the Administrator, shall approve or disapprove the proposal and provide written notification to the person who submitted the proposal and to the Administrator.
(d)The Secretary may approve a project under this section if the project will enhance programs for conservation of rhinoceros or tigers by assisting efforts to—
(1)implement conservation programs;
(2)enhance compliance with provisions of CITES and laws of the United States or a foreign country that prohibit or regulate the taking or trade of rhinoceros or tigers or the use of rhinoceros or tiger habitat; or
(3)develop sound scientific information on that species’ habitat condition and carrying capacity, total numbers and population trends, or annual reproduction and mortality.
(e)To the maximum extent practical, in determining whether to approve project proposals under this section, the Secretary shall give consideration to projects which will enhance sustainable conservation programs to ensure effective long-term conservation of rhinoceros and tigers.
(f)Each person that receives assistance under this section for a project shall provide periodic reports, as the Secretary considers necessary, to the Secretary and the Administrator. Each report shall include all information requested by the Secretary, after consulting with the Administrator, for evaluating the progress and success of the project.
(g)(1)The Secretary may award to a person who is otherwise eligible for a grant under this section a multiyear grant of up to 5 years to carry out a project that the person demonstrates is an effective, long-term conservation strategy for rhinoceroses or tigers and the habitat of rhinoceroses or tigers.
(2)Nothing in this subsection precludes the Secretary from awarding a grant on an annual basis.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2024—Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 118–159 added subsec. (g). 2007—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 110–132 substituted “and to the Administrator” for “, to the Administrator, and to each country within which the project is to be conducted” in third sentence. 2002—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 107–112 amended heading and text generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “To the maximum extent practical, the Secretary should give consideration to projects which will enhance sustainable development programs to ensure effective, long-term conservation of rhinoceros and tigers.”

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

16 U.S.C. § 5304

Title 16Conservation

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73