Great Ape Conservation Act of 2000
PL 106-411 (H.R.4320), enacted 11/01/2000

PUBLIC LAW 106-411—NOV. 1, 2000 
114 STAT. 1789 
Public Law 106-411 
106th Congress 
An Act 
To assist in the conservation of great apes by supporting and providing 
financial 
Nov. 1, 2000 
resources for the conservation programs of countries within the range of great 
[H.R. 4320] 
apes and projects of persons with demonstrated expertise in the conservation 
of great apes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives 
of Great Ape 
the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
Conservation Act 
' 
^ 
' 
of 2000. 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
16 USC 6301 
This Act may be cited as the "Great Ape Conservation Act 
of 2000". 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES. 
16 USC 6301. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds that— 
(1) great ape populations have decHned to the point that 
the long-term survival of the species in the wild is in serious 
jeopardy; 
(2) the chimpanzee, gorilla, bonobo, orangutan, and gibbon 
are listed as endangered species under section 4 of the Endan-
gered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1533) and under Appendix 
I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered 
Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (27 UST 1087; TIAS 8249); 
(3) because the challenges facing the conservation of great 
apes are so immense, the resources available to date have 
not been sufficient to cope with the continued loss of habitat 
due to human encroachment and logging and the consequent 
diminution of great ape populations; 
(4) because great apes are flagship species for the conserva-
tion of the tropical forest habitats in which they are found, 
conservation of great apes provides benefits to numerous other 
species of wildlife, including many other endangered species; 
(5) among the threats to great apes, in addition to habitat 
loss, are population fragmentation, hunting for the bushmeat 
trade, live capture, and exposure to emerging or introduced 
diseases; 
(6) great apes are important components of the ecosystems 
they inhabit, and studies of their wild populations have pro-
vided important biological insights; 
(7) although subsistence hunting of tropical forest animals 
has occurred for hundreds of years at a sustainable level, 
the tremendous increase in the commercial trade of tropical 
forest species is detrimental to the future of these species; 
and 
(8) the reduction, removal, or other effective addressing 
of the threats to the long-term viability of populations of great 
114 STAT. 1790 
PUBLIC LAW 106-411—NOV. 1, 2000 
apes in the wild will require the joint commitment and effort 
of countries that have within their boundaries any part of 
the range of great apes, the United States and other countries, 
and the private sector, 
(b) PURPOSES.—The purposes of this Act are— 
(1) to sustain viable populations of great apes in the wild; 
and 
(2) to assist in the conservation and protection of great 
apes by supporting conservation programs of countries in which 
populations of great apes are located and by supporting the 
CITES Secretariat. 
16 use 6302. 
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) CITES.—The term "CITES" means the Convention on 
International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and 
Flora, done at Washington March 3, 1973 (27 UST 1087; TIAS 
8249), including its appendices. 
(2) CONSERVATION.—^The term "conservation"— 
(A) means the use of methods and procedures necessary 
to prevent the diminution of, and to sustain viable popu-
lations of, a species; and 
(B) includes all activities associated with wildlife 
management, such as— 
(i) conservation, protection, restoration, acquisi-
tion, and management of habitat; 
(ii) in-situ research and monitoring of populations 
and habitats; 
(iii) assistance in the development, implementa-
tion, and improvement of management plans for man-
aged habitat ranges; 
(iv) enforcement and implementation of CITES; 
(v) enforcement and implementation of domestic 
laws relating to resource management; 
(vi) development and operation of sanctuaries for 
members of a species rescued from the illegal trade 
in live animals; 
(vii) training of local law enforcement officials in 
the interdiction and prevention of the illegal killing 
of great apes; 
(viii) programs for the rehabilitation of members 
of a species in the wild and release of the members 
into the wild in ways which do not threaten existing 
wildlife populations by causing displacement or the 
introduction of disease; 
(ix) conflict resolution initiatives; 
(x) community outreach and education; and 
(xi) strengthening the capacity of local commu-
nities to implement conservation programs. 
(3) FUND.—^The term "Fund" means the Great Ape Con-
servation Fund established by section 5. 
(4) GREAT APE.—^The term "great ape" means a chimpanzee, 
gorilla, bonobo, orangutan, or gibbon. 
(5) 
MULTINATIONAL 
SPECIES CONSERVATION FUND.—^The 
term "Multinational Species Conservation Fund" means such 
fund as established in title I of the Department of the Interior 
PUBLIC LAW 106-411—NOV. 1, 2000 
114 STAT. 1791 
and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1999, under the 
heading "MULTINATIONAL SPECIES CONSERVATION FUND". 
(6) SECRETARY.—The term "Secretary" means the Secretary 
of the Interior. 
SEC. 4. GREAT APE CONSERVATION ASSISTANCE. 
16 USC 6303. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subject to the availability of funds and in 
consultation with other appropriate Federal officials, the Secretary 
shall use amounts in the Fund to provide financial assistance 
for projects for the conservation of great apes for which project 
proposals are approved by the Secretary in accordance with this 
section. 
(b) PROJECT PROPOSALS.— 
(1) ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS.—^A proposal for a project for the 
conservation of great apes may be submitted to the Secretary 
b y -
(A) any wildlife management authority of a country 
that has within its boundaries any part of the range of 
a great ape if the activities of the authority directly or 
indirectly affect a great ape population; 
(B) the CITES Secretariat; or 
(C) any person or group with the demonstrated exper-
tise required for the conservation of great apes. 
(2) 
REQUIRED 
ELEMENTS.—^A 
project 
proposal 
shall 
include— 
(A) a concise statement of the purposes of the project; 
(B) the name of the individual responsible for con-
ducting the project; 
(C) a description of the qualifications of the individuals 
who will conduct the project; 
(D) a concise description of— 
(i) methods for project implementation and out-
come assessment; 
(ii) staff and community management for the 
project; and 
(iii) the logistics of the project; 
(E) an estimate of the funds and time required to 
complete the project; 
(F) evidence of support for the project by appropriate 
governmental entities of the countries in which the project 
will be conducted, if the Secretary determines that such 
support is required for the success of the project; 
(G) information regarding the source and amount of 
matching funding available for the project; and 
(H) any other information that the Secretary considers 
to be necessary for evaluating the eligibility of the project 
for funding under this Act. 
(c) PROJECT REVIEW AND APPROVAL.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall— 
(A) not later than 30 days after receiving a project Deadline, 
proposal, provide a copy of the proposal to other appropriate 
Federal officials; and 
(B) review each project proposal in a timely manner 
to determine if the proposal meets the criteria specified 
in subsection (d). 
(2) CONSULTATION; APPROVAL OR DISAPPROVAL.—Not later Deadline, 
than 180 days after receiving a project proposal, and subject 
114 STAT. 1792 
PUBLIC LAW 106-411—NOV. 1, 2000 
to the availability of funds, the Secretary, after consulting 
with other appropriate Federal officials, shall— 
(A) consult on the proposal with the government of 
each country in which the project is to be conducted; 
(B) after taking into consideration any comments 
resulting from the consultation, approve or disapprove the 
proposal; and 
(C) provide written notification of the approval or dis-
approval to the person who submitted the proposal, other 
appropriate Federal officials, and each country described 
in subparagraph (A). 
(d) CRITERIA FOR APPROVAL.—^The Secretary may approve a 
project proposal under this section if the project will enhance pro-
grams for conservation of great apes by assisting efforts to— 
(1) implement conservation programs; 
(2) address the conflicts between humans and great apes 
that arise from competition for the same habitat; 
(3) enhance compliance with CITES and other applicable 
laws that prohibit or regulate the taking or trade of great 
apes or regulate the use and management of great ape habitat; 
(4) develop sound scientific information on, or methods 
for monitoring— 
(A) the condition and health of great ape habitat; 
(B) great ape population numbers and trends; or 
(C) the current and projected threats to the habitat, 
current and projected numbers, or current and projected 
trends; or 
(5) promote cooperative projects on the issues described 
in paragraph (4) among government entities, affected local 
communities, nongovernmental organizations, or other persons 
in the private sector. 
(e) PROJECT SUSTAINABILITY.—To the maximum extent prac-
ticable, in determining whether to approve project proposals under 
this section, the Secretary shall give preference to conservation 
projects that are designed to ensure effective, long-term conserva-
tion of great apes and their habitats. 
(f) MATCHING FUNDS.—In determining whether to approve 
project proposals under this section, the Secretary shall give pref-
erence to projects for which matching funds are available. 
(g) PROJECT REPORTING.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Each person that receives assistance 
under this section for a project shall submit to the Secretary 
periodic reports (at such intervals as the Secretary considers 
necessary) that include all information that the Secretary, after 
consultation with other appropriate government officials, deter-
mines is necessary to evaluate the progress and success of 
the project for the purposes of ensuring positive results, 
assessing problems, and fostering improvements. 
(2) AVAILABILITY TO THE PUBLIC.—Reports under paragraph 
(1), and any other documents relating to projects for which 
financial assistance is provided under this Act, shall be made 
available to the public. 
(h) LIMITATIONS ON USE FOR CAPTIVE BREEDING.—^Amounts 
provided as a grant under this Act— 
(1) may not be used for captive breeding of great apes 
other than for captive breeding for release into the wild; and 
PUBLIC LAW 106-411—NOV. 1, 2000 
114 STAT. 1793 
(2) may be used for captive breeding of a species for release 
into the wild only if no other conservation method for the 
species is biologically feasible. 
(i) PANEL.—Every 2 years, the Secretary shall convene a panel 
of experts to identify the greatest needs for the conservation of 
great apes. 
SEC. 5. GREAT APE CONSERVATION FUND. 
16 USC 6304 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—^There is established in the Multinational 
Species Conservation Fund a separate account to be known as 
the "Great Ape Conservation Fund", consisting o
f
— 
(1) amounts transferred to the Secretary of the Treasury 
for deposit into the Fund under subsection (e); 
(2) amounts appropriated to the Fund under section 6; 
and 
(3) any interest earned on investment of amounts in the 
Fund under subsection (c). 
(b) EXPENDITURES FROM FUND.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (2), upon request 
by the Secretary, the Secretary of the Treasury shall transfer 
from the Fund to the Secretary, without further appropriation, 
such amounts as the Secretary determines are necessary to 
provide assistance under section 4. 
(2) ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES.—Of the amounts in the 
account available for each fiscal year, the Secretary may expand 
not more than 3 percent, or up to $80,000, whichever is greater, 
to pay the administrative expenses necessary to carry out this 
Act. 
(c) INVESTMENT OF AMOUNTS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—^The Secretary of the Treasury shall invest 
such portion of the Fund as is not, in the judgment of the 
Secretary of the Treasury, required to meet current with-
drawals. Investments may be made only in interest-bearing 
obligations of the United States. 
(2) ACQUISITION OF OBLIGATIONS.—For the purpose of 
investments under paragraph (1), obligations may be acquired— 
(A) on original issue at the issue price; or 
(B) by purchase of outstanding obligations at the 
market price. 
(3) SALE OF OBLIGATIONS.—^Any obligation acquired by the 
Fund may be sold by the Secretary of the Treasury at the 
market price. 
(4) CREDITS TO FUND.—^The interest on, and the proceeds 
from the sale or redemption of, any obligations held in the 
Fund shall be credited to and form a part of the Fund. 
(d) TRANSFERS OF AMOUNTS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The amounts required to be transferred 
to the Fund under this section shall be transferred at least 
monthly from the general fund of the Treasury to the Fund 
on the basis of estimates made by the Secretary of the Treasury. 
(2) ADJUSTMENTS.—Proper adjustment shall be made in 
amounts subsequently transferred to the extent prior estimates 
were in excess of or less than the amounts required to be 
transferred. 
(e) ACCEPTANCE AND USE OF DONATIONS.—The Secretary may 
accept and use donations to provide assistance under section 4. 
Amounts received by the Secretary in the form of donations shall 
114 STAT. 1794 
PUBLIC LAW 106-411—NOV. 1, 2000 
be transferred to the Secretary of the Treasury for deposit into 
the Fund. 
16 u s e 6305. 
SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Fund $5,000,000 
for each of fiscal years 2001 through 2005. 
Approved November 1, 2000. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 4320: 
HOUSE REPORTS: No. 106-792 (Comm. on Resources). 
SENATE REPORTS: No. 106-472 (Comm. on Environment and Public Works). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 146 (2000): 
July 25, considered and passed House. 
Oct. 19, considered and passed Senate.