Short title

This Act may be cited as the

Wildlife Without Borders Authorization Act

Findings and purpose

(a)

Findings

Congress finds that— (1)our Nation has a long-standing commitment to assisting other countries with the conservation of wildlife species and limited wildlife conservation resources, including trained wildlife professionals, are often unavailable in many foreign countries containing globally important biological resources; (2)conservation activities, both overseas and in neighboring countries, are required to meet the Federal Government’s obligations under numerous international treaties, laws, agreements, and cooperative programs; (3)since 1989, the Wildlife Without Borders Program, an administratively-created program within the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, has provided wildlife conservation assistance throughout the world by developing locally-adapted wildlife management and conservation programs, in coordination with non-governmental organizations, governments, private businesses, and community leaders, in an effort to maintain global species diversity; (4)activities under the Wildlife Without Borders Program is responsible for implementation of over 800 conservation projects around the world that address grass-roots threats to numerous endangered species, habitats, and ecosystems and that complement the United States Fish and Wildlife Service’s existing programs for African elephants, rhinoceros and tigers, Asian elephants, great apes, migratory birds, and marine turtles; (5)activities under the Wildlife Without Borders Program provide education, training, and outreach to strengthen capacity for habitat and wildlife conservation throughout the world and serve a key role in facilitating international dialogue; and (6)although the Secretary of the Interior is generally authorized to undertake partnering and capacity building activities, a specific authorization will reinforce our Nation’s long-term commitment to the Wildlife Without Borders Program. (b)

Purpose

The purpose of this Act is to provide capacity building, outreach, education, and training assistance in endangered species and strategic habitat conservation to other nations by providing international wildlife management and conservation programs through the Wildlife Without Borders Program.

Definitions

In this Act: (1)

Conservation

The term conservation includes— (A)the methods and procedures necessary to bring a species to the point at which there are sufficient populations in the wild to ensure that the species does not become extinct; and (B)all activities associated with protection and management of a species, including— (i)maintenance, management, protection, and restoration of species habitat; (ii)research and monitoring; (iii)law enforcement; (iv)community outreach and education; (v)conflict resolution initiatives; and (vi)strengthening the capacity of local communities, government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and other institutions to implement conservation programs. (2)

Fish or wildlife

The term fish or wildlife means any member of the animal kingdom, including any mammal, fish, bird, amphibian, reptile, mollusk, crustacean, or arthropod. (3)

Plant

The term plant mean any member of the plant kingdom, including seeds, roots, and other parts thereof. (4)

Secretary

The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior. (5)

Species

The term species includes any subspecies of fish or wildlife or plants, and any distinct population segment of any species of vertebrate fish or wildlife.

Wildlife without borders program

(a)

In general

The Secretary shall carry out the Wildlife Without Borders Program within the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to provide international wildlife conservation assistance through the initiation, facilitation, and promotion of locally adapted wildlife management and conservation programs in coordination with non-governmental organizations, governments, private businesses, and community leaders. Such program shall include, but shall not be limited to, partnership programs for grass roots capacity building, applied scientific conservation research, and wildlife management training. (b)

Program components

The program authorized under this section shall include the following: (1)

Species program

A species program, which shall comprise administration of the programs and funds authorized by— (A)the African Elephant Conservation Act of 1988 (16 U.S.C. 4201 et seq.); (B)the Asian Elephant Conservation Act of 1997 (16 U.S.C. 4261 et seq.); (C)the Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Act of 1994 (16 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.); (D)the Great Ape Conservation Act of 2000 (16 U.S.C. 6301); (E)the Marine Turtle Conservation Act of 2004 (16 U.S.C. 6601); and (F)any similar, future authority provided to the Secretary and implemented by the Fish and Wildlife Service. (2)

Regional program

A regional program, which shall— (A)address grass-roots conservation problems through a regional grants program focused on building in-country human and institutional capacity to achieve comprehensive conservation in a manner adapted to the particular needs of a partner country; (B)facilitate and guide delivery of other international United States Fish and Wildlife Service programs; and (C)coordinate, develop, and implement regional treaties, conventions, and accords, including regional coordination mechanisms, on behalf of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. (3)

Global program

A global program, which shall, through programs under the jurisdiction of the secretary and that are implemented through the United States Fish and Wildlife Service— (A)implement global habitat and conservation initiatives; and (B)address the international aspects of global conservation threats, such as invasive species and wildlife disease. (c)

Coordination

The Secretary shall operate the program components authorized under this section in a coordinated fashion to ensure efficient and cost-effective implementation. (d)

Additional components

The Secretary may include such additional components in the program authorized under this section as the Secretary considers appropriate.

Acceptance and use of donations

In administering the Wildlife Without Borders Program, the Secretary may accept donations of funds and to use such funds for capacity building, grants, and other on-the-ground uses carried out by the program components authorized under paragraphs (2) and (3) of section 4.

Federal Advisory Committee Act

The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to any advisory committees established under this Act.

Authorization of appropriations

To carry out this Act there is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2009 through 2013.