Eliminate, Neutralize, and Disrupt Wildlife Trafficking Act of 2016
PL 114-231 (H.R.2494), enacted 10/07/2016

130 STAT. 949 
PUBLIC LAW 114–231—OCT. 7, 2016 
Public Law 114–231 
114th Congress 
An Act 
To support global anti-poaching efforts, strengthen the capacity of partner countries 
to counter wildlife trafficking, designate major wildlife trafficking countries, and 
for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Eliminate, 
Neutralize, and Disrupt Wildlife Trafficking Act of 2016’’. 
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for this Act 
is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 
Sec. 2. Definitions. 
TITLE I—PURPOSES AND POLICY 
Sec. 101. Purposes. 
Sec. 102. Statement of United States policy. 
TITLE II—REPORT ON MAJOR WILDLIFE TRAFFICKING COUNTRIES 
Sec. 201. Report. 
TITLE III—FRAMEWORK FOR INTERAGENCY RESPONSE 
Sec. 301. Presidential Task Force on Wildlife Trafficking. 
TITLE IV—PROGRAMS TO ADDRESS THE ESCALATING WILDLIFE 
TRAFFICKING CRISIS 
Sec. 401. Anti-poaching programs. 
Sec. 402. Anti-trafficking programs. 
Sec. 403. Engagement of United States diplomatic missions. 
Sec. 404. Community conservation. 
TITLE V—OTHER ACTIONS RELATING TO WILDLIFE TRAFFICKING 
PROGRAMS 
Sec. 501. Amendments to Fisherman’s Protective Act of 1967. 
Sec. 502. Wildlife trafficking violations as predicate offenses under money laun-
dering statute. 
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES.—The term 
‘‘appropriate congressional committees’’ means— 
(A) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Com-
mittee on Appropriations of the Senate; and 
(B) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Com-
mittee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives. 
(2) CO-CHAIRS OF THE TASK FORCE.—The term ‘‘Co-Chairs 
of the Task Force’’ means the Secretary of State, the Secretary 
16 USC 7601. 
16 USC 7601 
note. 
Eliminate, 
Neutralize, and 
Disrupt Wildlife 
Trafficking Act of 
2016. 
Oct. 7, 2016 
[H.R. 2494] 
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130 STAT. 950 
PUBLIC LAW 114–231—OCT. 7, 2016 
of the Interior, and the Attorney General, as established pursu-
ant to Executive Order 13648. 
(3) COMMUNITY CONSERVATION.—The term ‘‘community con-
servation’’ means an approach to conservation that recognizes 
the rights of local people to manage, or benefit directly and 
indirectly from wildlife and other natural resources in a long- 
term biologically viable manner and includes— 
(A) devolving management and governance to local 
communities to create positive conditions for resource use 
that takes into account current and future ecological 
requirements; and 
(B) building the capacity of communities for conserva-
tion and natural resource management. 
(4) COUNTRY OF CONCERN.—The term ‘‘country of concern’’ 
refers to a foreign country specially designated by the Secretary 
of State pursuant to subsection (b) of section 201 as a major 
source of wildlife trafficking products or their derivatives, a 
major transit point of wildlife trafficking products or their 
derivatives, or a major consumer of wildlife trafficking products, 
in which the government has actively engaged in or knowingly 
profited from the trafficking of endangered or threatened spe-
cies. 
(5) FOCUS COUNTRY.—The term ‘‘focus country’’ refers to 
a foreign country determined by the Secretary of State to be 
a major source of wildlife trafficking products or their deriva-
tives, a major transit point of wildlife trafficking products or 
their derivatives, or a major consumer of wildlife trafficking 
products. 
(6) DEFENSE ARTICLE; DEFENSE SERVICE; SIGNIFICANT MILI-
TARY
EQUIPMENT; TRAINING.—The terms ‘‘defense article’’, 
‘‘defense 
service’’, 
‘‘significant 
military 
equipment’’, 
and 
‘‘training’’ have the meanings given such terms in section 47 
of the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2794). 
(7) IMPLEMENTATION
PLAN.—The term ‘‘Implementation 
Plan’’ means the Implementation Plan for the National Strategy 
for Combating Wildlife Trafficking released on February 11, 
2015, a modification of that plan, or a successor plan. 
(8) NATIONAL
STRATEGY.—The term ‘‘National Strategy’’ 
means the National Strategy for Combating Wildlife Trafficking 
published on February 11, 2014, a modification of that strategy, 
or a successor strategy. 
(9) NATIONAL
WILDLIFE
SERVICES.—The term ‘‘national 
wildlife services’’ refers to the ministries and government bodies 
designated to manage matters pertaining to wildlife manage-
ment, including poaching or trafficking, in a focus country. 
(10) SECURITY FORCE.—The term ‘‘security force’’ means 
a military, law enforcement, gendarmerie, park ranger, or any 
other security force with a responsibility for protecting wildlife 
and natural habitats. 
(11) TASK FORCE.—The term ‘‘Task Force’’ means the Presi-
dential Task Force on Wildlife Trafficking, as established by 
Executive Order 13648 (78 Fed. Reg. 40621) and modified by 
section 201. 
(12) WILDLIFE
TRAFFICKING.—The term ‘‘wildlife traf-
ficking’’ refers to the poaching or other illegal taking of pro-
tected or managed species and the illegal trade in wildlife 
and their related parts and products. 
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130 STAT. 951 
PUBLIC LAW 114–231—OCT. 7, 2016 
TITLE I—PURPOSES AND POLICY 
SEC. 101. PURPOSES. 
The purposes of this Act are— 
(1) to support a collaborative, interagency approach to 
address wildlife trafficking; 
(2) to protect and conserve the remaining populations of 
wild elephants, rhinoceroses, and other species threatened by 
poaching and the illegal wildlife trade; 
(3) to disrupt regional and global transnational organized 
criminal networks and to prevent the illegal wildlife trade 
from being used as a source of financing for criminal groups 
that undermine United States and global security interests; 
(4) to prevent wildlife poaching and trafficking from being 
a means to make a living in focus countries; 
(5) to support the efforts of, and collaborate with, individ-
uals, communities, local organizations, and foreign governments 
to combat poaching and wildlife trafficking; 
(6) to assist focus countries in implementation of national 
wildlife anti-trafficking and poaching laws; and 
(7) to ensure that United States assistance to prevent and 
suppress illicit wildlife trafficking is carefully planned and 
coordinated, and that it is systematically and rationally 
prioritized on the basis of detailed analysis of the nature and 
severity of threats to wildlife and the willingness and ability 
of foreign partners to cooperate effectively toward these ends. 
SEC. 102. STATEMENT OF UNITED STATES POLICY. 
It is the policy of the United States— 
(1) to take immediate actions to stop the illegal global 
trade in wildlife and wildlife products and associated 
transnational organized crime; 
(2) to provide technical and other forms of assistance to 
help focus countries halt the poaching of elephants, rhinoc-
eroses, and other imperiled species and end the illegal trade 
in wildlife and wildlife products, including by providing training 
and assistance in— 
(A) wildlife protection and management of wildlife 
populations; 
(B) anti-poaching and effective management of pro-
tected areas including community managed and privately- 
owned lands; 
(C) local engagement of security forces in anti-poaching 
responsibilities, where appropriate; 
(D) 
wildlife 
trafficking 
investigative 
techniques, 
including forensic tools; 
(E) transparency and corruption issues; 
(F) management, tracking, and inventory of confiscated 
wildlife contraband; 
(G) demand reduction strategies in countries that lack 
the means and resources to conduct them; and 
(H) bilateral and multilateral agreements and coopera-
tion; 
(3) to employ appropriate assets and resources of the United 
States Government in a coordinated manner to curtail poaching 
and disrupt and dismantle illegal wildlife trade networks and 
16 USC 7612. 
16 USC 7611. 
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130 STAT. 952 
PUBLIC LAW 114–231—OCT. 7, 2016 
the financing of those networks in a manner appropriate for 
each focus country; 
(4) to build upon the National Strategy and Implementation 
Plan to further combat wildlife trafficking in a holistic manner 
and guide the response of the United States Government to 
ensure progress in the fight against wildlife trafficking; and 
(5) to recognize the ties of wildlife trafficking to broader 
forms of transnational organized criminal activities, including 
trafficking, and where applicable, to focus on those crimes 
in a coordinated, cross-cutting manner. 
TITLE II—REPORT ON MAJOR WILDLIFE 
TRAFFICKING COUNTRIES 
SEC. 201. REPORT. 
(a) REPORT.—Not later than one year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary of 
State, in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior and the 
Secretary of Commerce, shall submit to Congress a report that 
lists each country determined by the Secretary of State to be a 
focus country within the meaning of this Act. 
(b) SPECIAL DESIGNATION.—In each report required under sub-
section (a), the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary 
of the Interior and the Secretary of Commerce, shall identify each 
country of concern listed in the report the government of which 
has actively engaged in or knowingly profited from the trafficking 
of endangered or threatened species. 
(c) SUNSET.—This section shall terminate on the date that 
is 5 years after the date of the enactment of this Act. 
TITLE III—FRAMEWORK FOR 
INTERAGENCY RESPONSE 
SEC. 301. PRESIDENTIAL TASK FORCE ON WILDLIFE TRAFFICKING. 
(a) RESPONSIBILITIES.—In addition to the functions required 
by Executive Order 13648 (78 Fed. Reg. 40621), the Task Force 
shall be informed by the Secretary of State’s annual report required 
under section 201 and considering all available information, ensure 
that relevant United States Government agencies— 
(1) collaborate, to the greatest extent practicable, with the 
national wildlife services, or other relevant bodies of each focus 
country to prepare, not later than 90 days after the date of 
submission of the report required under section 201(a), a United 
States mission assessment of the threats to wildlife in that 
focus country and an assessment of the capacity of that country 
to address wildlife trafficking; 
(2) collaborate, to the greatest extent practicable, with rel-
evant ministries, national wildlife services, or other relevant 
bodies of each focus country to prepare, not later than 180 
days after preparation of the assessment referred to in para-
graph (1), a United States mission strategic plan that includes 
recommendations for addressing wildlife trafficking, taking into 
Collaboration. 
Strategic plan. 
Recommenda- 
tions. 
Collaboration. 
Assessment. 
Deadlines. 
16 USC 7631. 
Determination. 
Consultation. 
16 USC 7621. 
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130 STAT. 953 
PUBLIC LAW 114–231—OCT. 7, 2016 
account any regional or national strategies for addressing wild-
life trafficking in a focus country developed before the prepara-
tion of such assessment; 
(3) coordinate efforts among United States Federal agencies 
and non-Federal partners, including missions, domestic and 
international organizations, the private sector, and other global 
partners, to implement the strategic plans required by para-
graph (2) in each focus country; 
(4) not less frequently than annually, consult and coordi-
nate with stakeholders qualified to provide advice, assistance, 
and information regarding effective support for anti-poaching 
activities, coordination of regional law enforcement efforts, 
development of and support for effective legal enforcement 
mechanisms, and development of strategies to reduce illicit 
trade and reduce consumer demand for illegally traded wildlife 
and wildlife products, and other relevant topics under this 
Act; and 
(5) coordinate or carry out other functions as are necessary 
to implement this Act. 
(b) DUPLICATION AND EFFICIENCY.—The Task Force shall— 
(1) ensure that the activities of the Federal agencies 
involved in carrying out efforts under this Act are coordinated 
and not duplicated; and 
(2) encourage efficiencies and coordination among the 
efforts of Federal agencies and interagency initiatives ongoing 
as of the date of the enactment of this Act to address trafficking 
activities, including trafficking of wildlife, humans, weapons, 
and narcotics, illegal trade, transnational organized crime, or 
other illegal activities. 
(c) CONSISTENCY WITH AGENCY RESPONSIBILITIES.—The Task 
Force shall carry out its responsibilities under this Act in a manner 
consistent with the authorities and responsibilities of agencies rep-
resented on the Task Force. 
(d) TASK FORCE STRATEGIC REVIEW.—One year after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Task 
Force shall submit a strategic assessment of its work and provide 
a briefing to the appropriate congressional committees that shall 
include— 
(1) a review and assessment of the Task Force’s 
implementation of this Act, identifying successes, failures, and 
gaps in its work, or that of agencies represented on the Task 
Force, including detailed descriptions of— 
(A) what approaches, initiatives, or programs have suc-
ceeded best in increasing the willingness and capacity of 
focus countries to suppress and prevent illegal wildlife 
trafficking, and what approaches, initiatives, or programs 
have not succeeded as well as hoped; and 
(B) which foreign governments subject to subsections 
(a) and (b) of section 201 have proven to be the most 
successful partners in suppressing and preventing illegal 
wildlife trafficking, which focus countries have not proven 
to be so, and what factors contributed to these results 
in each country discussed; 
(2) a description of each Task Force member agency’s prior-
ities and objectives for combating wildlife trafficking; 
Deadlines. 
Assessment. 
Coordination. 
Coordination. 
Consultation. 
Coordination. 
Coordination. 
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130 STAT. 954 
PUBLIC LAW 114–231—OCT. 7, 2016 
(3) an account of total United States funding each year 
since fiscal year 2014 for all government agencies and programs 
involved in countering poaching and wildlife trafficking; 
(4) an account of total United States funding since fiscal 
year 2014 to support the activities of the Task Force, including 
administrative overhead costs and congressional reporting; and 
(5) recommendations for how to improve United States 
and international efforts to suppress and prevent illegal wildlife 
trafficking in the future, based upon the Task Force’s experience 
as of the time of the review. 
(e) TERMINATION OF TASK FORCE.—The statutory authorization 
for the Task Force provided by this Act shall terminate 5 years 
after the date of the enactment of this Act or such earlier date 
that the President terminates the Task Force by rescinding, super-
seding, or otherwise modifying relevant portions of Executive Order 
13648. 
TITLE IV—PROGRAMS TO ADDRESS THE 
ESCALATING WILDLIFE TRAFFICKING 
CRISIS 
SEC. 401. ANTI-POACHING PROGRAMS. 
(a) WILDLIFE LAW ENFORCEMENT PROFESSIONAL TRAINING AND 
COORDINATION
ACTIVITIES.—The Secretary of State and the 
Administrator of the United States Agency for International 
Development, in collaboration with the heads of other relevant 
United States agencies and nongovernmental partners where appro-
priate, may provide assistance to focus countries to carry out the 
recommendations made in the strategic plan required by section 
301(a)(2), among other goals, to improve the effectiveness of wildlife 
law enforcement in regions and countries that have demonstrated 
capacity, willingness, and need for assistance. 
(b) SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING SECURITY ASSISTANCE TO 
COUNTER WILDLIFE TRAFFICKING AND POACHING IN AFRICA.—It is 
the sense of Congress that the United States should continue to 
provide defense articles (not including significant military equip-
ment), defense services, and related training to appropriate security 
forces of countries of Africa for the purposes of countering wildlife 
trafficking and poaching. 
SEC. 402. ANTI-TRAFFICKING PROGRAMS. 
(a) INVESTIGATIVE CAPACITY BUILDING.—The Secretary of State 
and the Administrator of the United States Agency for International 
Development, in collaboration with the heads of other relevant 
United States agencies and communities, regions, and governments 
in focus countries, may design and implement programs in focus 
countries to carry out the recommendations made in the strategic 
plan required under section 301(a)(2) among other goals, with clear 
and measurable targets and indicators of success, to increase the 
capacity of wildlife law enforcement and customs and border secu-
rity officers in focus countries. 
(b) TRANSNATIONAL PROGRAMS.—The Secretary of State and 
the Administrator of the United States Agency for International 
Development, in collaboration with other relevant United States 
agencies, nongovernmental partners, and international bodies, and 
Collaboration. 
16 USC 7642. 
Collaboration. 
16 USC 7641. 
Recommenda- 
tions. 
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130 STAT. 955 
PUBLIC LAW 114–231—OCT. 7, 2016 
in collaboration with communities, regions, and governments in 
focus countries, may design and implement programs, including 
support for Wildlife Enforcement Networks, in focus countries to 
carry out the recommendations made in the strategic plan required 
under section 301(a)(2), among other goals, to better understand 
and combat the transnational trade in illegal wildlife. 
SEC. 403. ENGAGEMENT OF UNITED STATES DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS. 
As soon as practicable but not later than 2 years after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, each chief of mission to a focus 
country should begin to implement the recommendations contained 
in the strategic plan required under section 301(a)(2), among other 
goals, for the country. 
SEC. 404. COMMUNITY CONSERVATION. 
The Secretary of State, in collaboration with the United State 
Agency for International Development, heads of other relevant 
United States agencies, the private sector, nongovernmental 
organizations, and other development partners, may provide support 
in focus countries to carry out the recommendations made in the 
strategic plan required under section 301(a)(2) as such recommenda-
tions relate to the development, scaling, and replication of commu-
nity wildlife conservancies and community conservation programs 
in focus countries to assist with rural stability and greater security 
for people and wildlife, empower and support communities to man-
age or benefit from their wildlife resources in a long-term bio-
logically viable manner, and reduce the threat of poaching and 
trafficking, including through— 
(1) promoting conservation-based enterprises and incen-
tives, such as eco-tourism and stewardship-oriented agricultural 
production, that empower communities to manage wildlife, nat-
ural resources, and community ventures where appropriate, 
by ensuring they benefit from well-managed wildlife popu-
lations; 
(2) helping create alternative livelihoods to poaching by 
mitigating wildlife trafficking, helping support rural stability, 
greater security for people and wildlife, responsible economic 
development, and economic incentives to conserve wildlife popu-
lations; 
(3) engaging regional businesses and the private sector 
to develop goods and services to aid in anti-poaching and anti- 
trafficking measures; 
(4) working with communities to develop secure and safe 
methods of sharing information with enforcement officials; 
(5) providing technical assistance to support land use 
stewardship plans to improve the economic, environmental, 
and social outcomes in community-owned or -managed lands; 
(6) supporting community anti-poaching efforts, including 
policing and informant networks; 
(7) working with community and national governments 
to develop relevant policy and regulatory frameworks to enable 
and promote community conservation programs, including sup-
porting law enforcement engagement with wildlife protection 
authorities to promote information-sharing; and 
(8) working with national governments to ensure that 
communities have timely and effective support from national 
authorities to mitigate risks that communities may face when 
engaging in anti-poaching and anti-trafficking activities. 
16 USC 7644. 
Deadline. 
16 USC 7643. 
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130 STAT. 956 
PUBLIC LAW 114–231—OCT. 7, 2016 
TITLE V—OTHER ACTIONS RELATING 
TO WILDLIFE TRAFFICKING PROGRAMS 
SEC. 501. AMENDMENTS TO FISHERMAN’S PROTECTIVE ACT OF 1967. 
Section 8 of the Fisherman’s Protective Act of 1967 (22 U.S.C. 
1978) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) in paragraph (1), by inserting ‘‘, in consultation 
with the Secretary of State,’’ after ‘‘Secretary of Commerce’’; 
(B) in paragraph (2), by inserting ‘‘, in consultation 
with the Secretary of State,’’ after ‘‘Secretary of the 
Interior’’; 
(C) in paragraph (3), by inserting ‘‘in consultation with 
the Secretary of State,’’ after ‘‘, as appropriate,’’; 
(D) by redesigning paragraph (4) as paragraph (5); 
and 
(E) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following new 
paragraph: 
‘‘(4) The Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary of the 
Interior shall each report to Congress each certification to the 
President made by such Secretary under this subsection, within 
15 days after making such certification.’’; and 
(2) in subsection (d), by inserting ‘‘in consultation with 
the Secretary of State,’’ after ‘‘as the case may be,’’. 
SEC. 
502. 
WILDLIFE 
TRAFFICKING 
VIOLATIONS 
AS 
PREDICATE 
OFFENSES UNDER MONEY LAUNDERING STATUTE. 
Section 1956(c)(7) of title 18, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (E), by striking ‘‘; or’’ and inserting 
a semicolon; 
(2) in subparagraph (F), by striking the semicolon and 
inserting ‘‘; or’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: 
‘‘(G) any act that is a criminal violation of subpara-
graph (A), (B), (C), (D), (E), or (F) of paragraph (1) of 
section 9(a) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 
U.S.C. 1538(a)(1)), section 2203 of the African Elephant 
Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 4223), or section 7(a) of the 
Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Act of 1994 (16 U.S.C. 
5305a(a)), if the endangered or threatened species of fish 
or wildlife, products, items, or substances involved in the 
Reports. 
Certification. 
Deadline. 
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130 STAT. 957 
PUBLIC LAW 114–231—OCT. 7, 2016 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 2494: 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD: 
Vol. 161 (2015): Nov. 2, considered and passed House. 
Vol. 162 (2016): Sept. 15, considered and passed Senate, amended. 
Sept. 21, House concurred in Senate amendment. 
violation and relevant conduct, as applicable, have a total 
value of more than $10,000;’’. 
Approved October 7, 2016. 
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