[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 132, 115th Congress, 2nd Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


Public Law 115-353
115th Congress

An Act


 
To promote inclusive economic growth through conservation and
biodiversity programs that facilitate transboundary cooperation, improve
natural resource management, and build local capacity to protect and
preserve threatened wildlife species in the greater Okavango River Basin
of southern Africa. <>

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled, <>
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Defending Economic Livelihoods and
Threatened Animals Act'' or the ``DELTA Act''.
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.
SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

It is the sense of Congress that it is in the interest of the United
States to engage, as appropriate, with the Governments of Angola,
Botswana, Namibia, and neighboring countries, and in partnership with
donors, regional organizations, nongovernmental organizations, local
communities, and the private sector, to advance

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conservation efforts and promote economic growth and stability in the
greater Okavango River Basin and neighboring watersheds and conservation
areas.
SEC. 4. STATEMENT OF POLICY.

It is the policy of the United States to promote inclusive economic
growth through conservation and biodiversity programs that facilitate
transboundary cooperation, improve water and natural resource
management, and build local capacity to protect and preserve threatened
wildlife species in the greater Okavango River Basin and neighboring
watersheds and conservation areas.
SEC. 5. <>  STRATEGY.

(a) In General <> .--The Secretary and the
Administrator, in coordination with the heads of other relevant Federal
agencies, shall seek, as appropriate, to work with the Governments of
Angola, Botswana, Namibia, and neighboring countries, and in partnership
with donors, regional organizations, nongovernmental organizations,
local communities, and the private sector, to develop a strategy to--
(1) create and advance a cooperative framework to promote
responsible natural resource, water, and wildlife management
practices in the greater Okavango River Basin;
(2) protect traditional migration routes of elephants and
other threatened wildlife species;
(3) combat wildlife poaching and trafficking;
(4) address human health and development needs of local
communities; and
(5) catalyze economic growth in such countries and across
the broader region.

(b) Elements.--The strategy established pursuant to subsection (a)
shall--
(1) promote cooperative and responsible water, natural
resource, and wildlife management policies and practices within
and among the countries of Angola, Botswana, and Namibia, with a
particular focus on the greater Okavango River Basin and the
critical headwaters located in Angola;
(2) protect and restore wildlife habitats and traditional
migratory patterns of elephants and other threatened species;
(3) <>  combat wildlife poaching
and trafficking in Angola, Botswana, Namibia, and those areas of
Zambia and Zimbabwe that border Angola, Botswana, or Namibia,
including within regional and national parks and reserves, by
building the capacity of the governments of such countries,
local law enforcement, community leaders, and park rangers to
detect, disrupt, and prosecute poachers and traffickers;
(4) promote conservation as a foundation for inclusive
economic growth and development within a comprehensive
assistance strategy that places Angola, Botswana, and Namibia on
a trajectory toward graduation from the need for United States
foreign assistance;
(5) identify opportunities and mechanisms to leverage
regional organizations, nongovernmental organizations, and
public-private partnerships to contribute to support the
implementation of the strategy;
(6) establish monitoring and evaluation mechanisms,
including measurable goals, objectives, and benchmarks of
success, that are included in grants, contracts, and cooperative

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agreements to ensure the effective use of United States foreign
assistance; and
(7) <>  coordinate with and build the
capacity of regional conservation frameworks in order to advance
regional conservation objectives.
SEC. 6. UNITED STATES SUPPORT.

(a) In General <> .--The Secretary and the
Administrator, in coordination with the heads of other relevant Federal
agencies, are authorized to prioritize and advance ongoing efforts to--
(1) promote inclusive economic growth and development
through responsible water and natural resource management and
wildlife protection activities in the greater Okavango River
Basin;
(2) <>  provide technical
assistance to governments and local communities in Angola,
Botswana, and Namibia to create a policy-enabling environment
for such responsible water and natural resource management and
wildlife protection activities; and
(3) build the capacity of local law enforcement, park
rangers, and community leaders to combat wildlife poaching and
trafficking.

(b) Coordination and Integration With Regional Conservation
Frameworks.--The Secretary and the Administrator, in coordination with
the heads of other relevant Federal agencies, shall coordinate
assistance provided by Department of State, the United States Agency for
International Development, and such other relevant Federal agencies with
existing regional conservation frameworks in order to ensure regional
integration of conservation, wildlife trafficking, and water management
initiatives, to prevent duplication of efforts, and to advance regional
conservation objectives.
(c) Coordination With Private Sector.--The Secretary and the
Administrator, in coordination with the heads of other relevant Federal
agencies, are authorized to work with the private sector and
nongovernmental organizations to leverage public and private capital to
promote responsible resource management, combat wildlife poaching and
trafficking, and support inclusive economic growth and local livelihoods
in the greater Okavango River Basin.
(d) Monitoring and Evaluation.--The Secretary and the Administrator
shall establish monitoring and evaluation mechanisms, to include
measurable goals, objectives, and benchmarks, to ensure the effective
use of United States foreign assistance to achieve the objectives of
this section.
SEC. 7. REPORT.

(a) In General <> .--Not later than 1 year
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary and the
Administrator, in coordination with the heads of other relevant Federal
agencies, shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a
report on the implementation of this Act.

(b) Matters To Be Included <> .--
The report required under subsection (a) shall include a description of
the strategy required by section 5, including--
(1) the monitoring and evaluation plans and indicators used
to measure performance under the strategy;
(2) any legislative impediments to meeting the objectives of
such strategy;

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(3) the extent to which Angola, Botswana, and Namibia have
demonstrated a commitment and willingness to cooperate to
advance efforts described in section 5(b);
(4) progress made to date in meeting the objectives of such
strategy;
(5) efforts to coordinate, deconflict, and streamline
conservation programs in order to maximize resource
effectiveness;
(6) the extent to which Angola, Botswana, and Namibia and
other government in the region are investing resources to
advance conservation initiatives; and
(7) the extent to which other funding sources, including
through private sector investment and other investment by
Angola, Botswana, and Namibia, have been identified to advance
conservation initiatives.
SEC. 8. DEFINITIONS.

In this Act:
(1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the
Administrator of the United States Agency for International
Development.
(2) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term
``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
(A) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the
Committee on Appropriations of the House of
Representatives; and
(B) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the
Committee on Appropriations of the Senate.
(3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of State.

Approved December 21, 2018.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.R. 4819:
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CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 164 (2018):
July 17, considered and passed House.
Dec. 19, considered and passed Senate.