[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 129 (Friday, July 5, 2013)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 40621-40623]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-16387]



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Vol. 78

Friday,

No. 129

July 5, 2013

Part IV





The President





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Executive Order 13648--Combating Wildlife Trafficking
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  Federal Register / Vol. 78 , No. 129 / Friday, July 5, 2013 / 
Presidential Documents  

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 Title 3--
 The President

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                Executive Order 13648 of July 1, 2013

                
Combating Wildlife Trafficking

                By the authority vested in me as President by the 
                Constitution and the laws of the United States of 
                America, and in order to address the significant 
                effects of wildlife trafficking on the national 
                interests of the United States, I hereby order as 
                follows:

                Section 1. Policy. The poaching of protected species 
                and the illegal trade in wildlife and their derivative 
                parts and products (together known as ``wildlife 
                trafficking'') represent an international crisis that 
                continues to escalate. Poaching operations have 
                expanded beyond small-scale, opportunistic actions to 
                coordinated slaughter commissioned by armed and 
                organized criminal syndicates. The survival of 
                protected wildlife species such as elephants, rhinos, 
                great apes, tigers, sharks, tuna, and turtles has 
                beneficial economic, social, and environmental impacts 
                that are important to all nations. Wildlife trafficking 
                reduces those benefits while generating billions of 
                dollars in illicit revenues each year, contributing to 
                the illegal economy, fueling instability, and 
                undermining security. Also, the prevention of 
                trafficking of live animals helps us control the spread 
                of emerging infectious diseases. For these reasons, it 
                is in the national interest of the United States to 
                combat wildlife trafficking.

                In order to enhance domestic efforts to combat wildlife 
                trafficking, to assist foreign nations in building 
                capacity to combat wildlife trafficking, and to assist 
                in combating transnational organized crime, executive 
                departments and agencies (agencies) shall take all 
                appropriate actions within their authority, including 
                the promulgation of rules and regulations and the 
                provision of technical and financial assistance, to 
                combat wildlife trafficking in accordance with the 
                following objectives:

                    (a) in appropriate cases, the United States shall 
                seek to assist those governments in anti-wildlife 
                trafficking activities when requested by foreign 
                nations experiencing trafficking of protected wildlife;
                    (b) the United States shall promote and encourage 
                the development and enforcement by foreign nations of 
                effective laws to prohibit the illegal taking of, and 
                trade in, these species and to prosecute those who 
                engage in wildlife trafficking, including by building 
                capacity;
                    (c) in concert with the international community and 
                partner organizations, the United States shall seek to 
                combat wildlife trafficking; and
                    (d) the United States shall seek to reduce the 
                demand for illegally traded wildlife, both at home and 
                abroad, while allowing legal and legitimate commerce 
                involving wildlife.

                Sec. 2. Establishment. There is established a 
                Presidential Task Force on Wildlife Trafficking (Task 
                Force), to be co-chaired by the Secretary of State, 
                Secretary of the Interior, and the Attorney General 
                (Co-Chairs), or their designees, who shall report to 
                the President through the National Security Advisor. 
                The Task Force shall develop and implement a National 
                Strategy for Combating Wildlife Trafficking in 
                accordance with the objectives outlined in section 1 of 
                this order, consistent with section 4 of this order.

                Sec. 3. Membership. (a) In addition to the Co-Chairs, 
                the Task Force shall include designated senior-level 
                representatives from:

(i) the Department of the Treasury;

(ii) the Department of Defense;

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(iii) the Department of Agriculture;

(iv) the Department of Commerce;

(v) the Department of Transportation;

(vi) the Department of Homeland Security;

(vii) the United States Agency for International Development;

(viii) the Office of the Director of National Intelligence;

(ix) the National Security Staff;

(x) the Domestic Policy Council;

(xi) the Council on Environmental Quality;

(xii) the Office of Science and Technology Policy;

(xiii) the Office of Management and Budget;

(xiv) the Office of the United States Trade Representative; and

(xv) such agencies and offices as the Co-Chairs may, from time to time, 
designate.

                    (b) The Task Force shall meet not later than 60 
                days from the date of this order and periodically 
                thereafter.

                Sec. 4. Functions. Consistent with the authorities and 
                responsibilities of member agencies, the Task Force 
                shall perform the following functions:

                    (a) not later than 180 days after the date of this 
                order, produce a National Strategy for Combating 
                Wildlife Trafficking that shall include consideration 
                of issues relating to combating trafficking and curbing 
                consumer demand, including:

(i) effective support for anti-poaching activities;

(ii) coordinating regional law enforcement efforts;

(iii) developing and supporting effective legal enforcement mechanisms; and

(iv) developing strategies to reduce illicit trade and reduce consumer 
demand for trade in protected species;

                    (b) not later than 90 days from the date of this 
                order, review the Strategy to Combat Transnational 
                Organized Crime of July 19, 2011, and, if appropriate, 
                make recommendations regarding the inclusion of crime 
                related to wildlife trafficking as an implementation 
                element for the Federal Government's transnational 
                organized crime strategy;
                    (c) coordinate efforts among and consult with 
                agencies, as appropriate and consistent with the 
                Department of State's foreign affairs role, regarding 
                work with foreign nations and international bodies that 
                monitor and aid in enforcement against crime related to 
                wildlife trafficking; and
                    (d) carry out other functions necessary to 
                implement this order.

                Sec. 5. Advisory Council on Wildlife Trafficking. Not 
                later than 180 days from the date of this order, the 
                Secretary of the Interior (Secretary), in consultation 
                with the other Co-Chairs of the Task Force, shall 
                establish an Advisory Council on Wildlife Trafficking 
                (Advisory Council) that shall make recommendations to 
                the Task Force and provide it with ongoing advice and 
                assistance. The Advisory Council shall have eight 
                members, one of whom shall be designated by the 
                Secretary as the Chair. Members shall not be employees 
                of the Federal Government and shall include 
                knowledgeable individuals from the private sector, 
                former governmental officials, representatives of 
                nongovernmental organizations, and others who are in a 
                position to provide expertise and support to the Task 
                Force.

                Sec. 6. General Provisions. (a) This order shall be 
                implemented consistent with applicable domestic and 
                international law, and subject to the availability of 
                appropriations.

                    (b) Nothing in this order shall be construed to 
                impair or otherwise affect:

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(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department, agency, or the 
head thereof, or the status of that department or agency within the Federal 
Government; or

(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget 
relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

                    (c) This order is not intended to, and does not, 
                create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, 
                enforceable at law or in equity by any party against 
                the United States, its departments, agencies, or 
                entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any 
                other person.
                    (d) Insofar as the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 
                as amended (5 U.S.C. App.) (the ``Act''), may apply to 
                the Advisory Council, any functions of the President 
                under the Act, except for that of reporting to the 
                Congress, shall be performed by the Secretary in 
                accordance with the guidelines issued by the 
                Administrator of General Services.
                    (e) The Department of the Interior shall provide 
                funding and administrative support for the Task Force 
                and Advisory Council to the extent permitted by law and 
                consistent with existing appropriations.
                
                
                    (Presidential Sig.)

                THE WHITE HOUSE,

                    July 1, 2013.

[FR Doc. 2013-16387
Filed 7-3-13; 11:15 am]
Billing code 3295-F3