[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 21 (Wednesday, February 14, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E198]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


 INTRODUCTION OF THE AFRICAN ELEPHANT CONSERVATION REAUTHORIZATION ACT

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                        HON. WAYNE T. GILCHREST

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 14, 2001

  Mr. GILCHREST. Mr. Speaker, as the new chairman of the House 
Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife and Oceans, I am 
pleased to introduce legislation to reauthorize the African Elephant 
Conservation Act of 1988.
  Prior to the passage of this landmark conservation law, the 
population of African elephants plummeted from 1.3 million animals to 
less than 600,000. The primary causes of this catastrophic decline were 
the illegal poaching of elephants and the insatiable international 
demand for elephant ivory. Without immediate action, it was clear that 
this flagship species of the African continent would continue its march 
toward extinction.
  In response to this crisis, the Congress passed the African Elephant 
Conservation Act. In addition, President George H. Bush used the 
authority of this law to prohibit the importation of all carved ivory 
into the United States and to persuade the convention on the 
International Trade in Endangered Species of wild fauna and flora 
[CITES] to place the African elephant on its Appendix I list. Through 
this listing, a worldwide commercial ban on all products derived from 
the species was established in January of 1990. Due to these actions, 
the price of ivory, the trade in ivory, and the poaching of elephants 
all decreased almost immediately.
  A key component of this law was the establishment of the African 
Elephant Conservation Fund. Under the terms of the fund, the Secretary 
of the Interior is charged with the responsibility of reviewing and 
approving meritorious conservation projects. To date, 113 conservation 
projects that affect elephant population in 22 separate countries have 
been funded. In total, $11.9 million in federal money has been 
obligated for these projects, matched by $51.7 million in non-federal 
funds.
  In recent years, money has been spent to aerial monitor elephants in 
Kenya; assess the impact of elephants on plant and habitat biodiversity 
in South Africa; control elephant crop damages in Ghana; financially 
assist the African elephant specialist group; study forest elephants in 
the Central African Republic; supplement anti-poaching activities in 
Zimbabwe; and track the origin of African elephant ivory.
  While the population of African elephants is no longer declining, 
and, in fact, is growing in Southern Africa, the job of conserving this 
magnificent specifies is far from over. The number of worthwhile 
unfunded projects far exceeds those receiving aid and the African 
Elephant Conservation Fund remains the only dedicated source of funding 
for this species in the world. The authorization of appropriations for 
the act expires on September 30, 2002 and the goal of my legislation is 
to extend the highly effective conservation law for an additional 5 
years.
  It is essential that we not allow this irreplaceable species to 
disappear from this planet. During the last reauthorization process, 
the administration testified that ``The principles embodied in this act 
are sound. They provide a catalyst for cooperative efforts among the 
governments of the world, nongovernmental organizations, and the 
private sector to work together for a common goal--the conservation and 
continued healthy existence of populations of African elephants. This 
is not a hand out, but a helping hand''.
  I urge my colleagues to join with me in support of the African 
Elephant Conservation Reauthorization Act of 2001.

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