Sec. 2. FINDINGS

199 words·~1 min read·/statute-compilations/comps-15318/sec-2

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## SEC. 2 FINDINGS Congress finds the following: ####

(1)The greater Okavango River Basin, which ranges from the highland plateau of Angola to northeastern Namibia and northern Botswana, and also provides critical natural resources that sustain wildlife in Zambia and Zimbabwe, is the largest freshwater watershed in southern Africa. ####

(2)The greater Okavango River Basin is the main source of water and livelihoods for over 1 million people, and the effective management and protection of this critical watershed will help advance important conservation and economic growth objectives for Angola, Botswana, Namibia, local communities, and the broader region. ####

(3)The greater Okavango River Basin is home to the largest remaining elephant population in the world, as well as other threatened wildlife species. ####

(4)Poaching and trafficking of threatened wildlife species in the greater Okavango River Basin has increased in recent years, and has the potential to undermine regional stability by disrupting local governance and management of resources, and supplanting key economic opportunities for community members. ####

(5)Governments in the region have taken important steps to coordinate through existing conservation frameworks to combat trafficking, ensure responsible resource management, support local livelihoods, and protect threatened wildlife species.