Sec. 3. Critically endangered animals conservation assistance
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/bill/116/hr/4341/ih/section-3A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
In consultation with other Federal officials, the Secretary shall use amounts in the Fund to carry out a competitive grant program to provide financial assistance for the conservation of critically endangered species. A proposal for a grant under subsection
(a)may be submitted to the Secretary by— any wildlife management authority of a foreign country that has within its boundaries natural habitat of the critically endangered species if the activities of the authority directly or indirectly benefit that species’ conservation; or any other person or group with the demonstrated expertise and capacity required for the conservation of a critically endangered species. A project proposal shall include— evidence of support for the project by appropriate governmental entities of the country in which the project will be conducted, if the Secretary determines that such support is required for the success of the project; evidence of sensitivity to local historic and cultural resources and compliance with applicable laws; evidence of free, prior, and informed consent by indigenous peoples and local communities in the areas the project will be conducted, if the Secretary, based on the nature of the project, determines that such consent is required for the success of the project; information regarding the source and amount of matching funding available for the project; and any other information that the Secretary determines to be appropriate. The Secretary may approve a proposal under this section if the project will— help recover and sustain viable populations in the wild of a critically endangered species with a range that is, in whole or in part, outside of the United States; enhance compliance with provisions of the Convention and laws of the United States or a foreign country related to the conservation of a critically endangered species; or develop sound scientific information on that species’ habitat, population numbers and trends, reproduction, mortality, and other threats to survival. The Secretary may approve a proposal under this section if the proposal would achieve one of the goals set forth in paragraph
(1)through— protection, restoration, and management of habitat; in situ research and monitoring of populations, habitats, annual reproduction, and species population trends; development, implementation, and improvement of national and regional management plans for a critically endangered species and the habitat of such species; enforcement and implementation of the Convention or the law of a foreign country to— protect and manage a critically endangered species or the habitat of such species; prevent illegal or unsustainable removal of a critically endangered species from the wild, including as marine bycatch; or prevent illegal trade of a critically endangered species; training and capacity building for local law enforcement officials in the interdiction and prevention of the illegal killing, removal from the wild, or trade of a critically endangered species; an initiative to resolve a conflict between humans and a critically endangered species; research and implementation of projects to address disease and threats to the health of a critically endangered species; community outreach and education on conservation of a critically endangered species and the habitat of such species; or strengthening the ability of local communities to implement a conservation program. The Secretary shall, prior to approving any proposal under this section, consult with each of the following with respect to such proposal: The Government of each country in which such proposal will be carried out. Any other Federal agency the Secretary determines is appropriate. In determining whether to approve a proposal, the Secretary shall give preference to a proposal that— is designed to ensure effective, long-term conservation of critically endangered species and their habitats; and has matching funds available. The Secretary shall, within 180 days of receiving a proposal under this section, approve or disapprove of the proposal and provide written notification of such approval or disapproval to— the person who submitted such proposal; any Federal agency the Secretary determines appropriate; and the foreign country in which such proposal would be carried out. The Secretary shall require each person that receives assistance under this section to submit periodic reports including such information as the Secretary may require in order to evaluate the progress and success of each grant issued under this section. Reports under paragraph (1), and any other documents relating to projects for which financial assistance is provided under this Act except for documents that the Secretary determines to be confidential in nature, shall be made available to the public. Amounts provided as a grant under this Act— may not be used for captive breeding of critically endangered species other than for captive breeding designed for release into the wild; and may be used for captive breeding of a species for release into the wild only if no other conservation method for the species is biologically or technically feasible.