Combating Wildlife Trafficking - Priority Species

Wildlife trafficking threatens a staggering array of terrestrial, freshwater, and marine species, including: elephants, rhinos, tigers, sharks, tuna, sea turtles, land tortoises, great apes, exotic birds, pangolins, sturgeon, coral, iguanas, chameleons, and tarantulas. Wildlife trafficking also includes trafficking of fisheries products and related threats to food supplies and food security. It is also well-established that wildlife trafficking is facilitated and exacerbated by illegal harvest of and trade in plants and trees, which destroys needed habitat and opens access to previously remote populations of highly endangered wildlife, such as tigers. Projects submitted for funding under this program must address the above cited species, both terrestrial and marine, and take a multifaceted approach in dealing with the problem of illegal wildlife trafficking as outlined in the Implementation Planâ¿¿s Objectives. Funds provided under this program will not be used for: the purchase of firearms or ammunitions; buying of Intelligence information or paying informants; gathering information by persons who conceal their true identity; law enforcement operations that prompt suspects to carry out illegal activities so they may be arrested (entrapment); or any activity that would circumvent sanctions, laws or regulations of either the U.S. or the country in which the activity would occur. Funds may not be used to provide material support or resources to individuals, entities, or organizations of countries that have been identified by the U.S. Department of State as state sponsors of terrorism. These funds may not be used towards training U.S. Federal Government personnel. Program will fund projects that link directly to the National Strategy for Combating Wildlife Trafficking: Implementation Plan. (https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/docs/nationalstrategywildlifetrafficking.pdf). 100% of funding is discretionary. This program is authorized under the National Strategy for Combating Wildlife Trafficking; Executive Order 13648; July 5, 2013; Implementation Plan of the National Strategy for Combating Wildlife Trafficking; February 11, 2014; Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531-43).