---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 4264"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "4264"
heading: "Asian elephant conservation assistance"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/4264"
units:
  - "Chapter 62A — Asian Elephant Conservation"
---

# §4264. Asian elephant conservation assistance

- (a) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/4263.md?p=4), subject to the availability of [funds](/usc/16/4263.md?p=3) and in consultation with the [Administrator](/usc/16/4263.md?p=5), shall use amounts in the [Fund](/usc/16/4263.md?p=3) to provide financial assistance for [projects](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) for the [conservation](/usc/16/4263.md?p=2) of Asian elephants for which final [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) proposals are approved by the [Secretary](/usc/16/4263.md?p=4) in accordance with this section.
- (b) **Project proposal—** Any relevant wildlife management authority of a nation within the range of Asian elephants whose activities directly or indirectly affect Asian elephant populations, the [CITES](/usc/16/4263.md?p=1) Secretariat, or any [person](/usc/16/450rr–1.md?p=b) with demonstrated expertise in the [conservation](/usc/16/4263.md?p=2) of Asian elephants, may submit to the [Secretary](/usc/16/4263.md?p=4) a [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) proposal under this section. Each proposal shall include the following:
  - (1) The name of the individual responsible for conducting the [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4).
  - (2) A succinct statement of the purposes of the [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4).
  - (3) A description of the qualifications of the individuals who will conduct the [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4).
  - (4) An estimate of the [funds](/usc/16/4263.md?p=3) and time required to complete the [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4).
  - (5) Evidence of support of the [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) by appropriate governmental entities of countries in which the [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) will be conducted, if the [Secretary](/usc/16/4263.md?p=4) determines that the support is required for the success of the [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4).
  - (6) Information regarding the source and amount of matching funding available to the applicant.
  - (7) Any other information the [Secretary](/usc/16/4263.md?p=4) considers to be necessary for evaluating the eligibility of the [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) for funding under this chapter.
- (c) **Project review and approval—**
  - (1) **In general—** Within 30 days after receiving a final [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) proposal, the [Secretary](/usc/16/4263.md?p=4) shall provide a copy of the proposal to the [Administrator](/usc/16/4263.md?p=5). The [Secretary](/usc/16/4263.md?p=4) shall review each final [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) proposal to determine if it meets the criteria set forth in [subsection (d)](#d).
  - (2) **Consultation; approval or disapproval—** Not later than 6 months after receiving a final [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) proposal, and subject to the availability of [funds](/usc/16/4263.md?p=3), the [Secretary](/usc/16/4263.md?p=4), after consulting with the [Administrator](/usc/16/4263.md?p=5), shall—
    - (A) request written comments on the proposal from each country within which the [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) is to be conducted;
    - (B) after requesting those comments, approve or disapprove the proposal; and
    - (C) provide written notification of that approval or disapproval to the [person](/usc/16/450rr–1.md?p=b) who submitted the proposal and the [Administrator](/usc/16/4263.md?p=5).
- (d) **Criteria for approval—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/4263.md?p=4) may approve a final [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) proposal under this section if the [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) will enhance programs for [conservation](/usc/16/4263.md?p=2) of Asian elephants by assisting efforts to—
  - (1) implement [conservation](/usc/16/4263.md?p=2) programs;
  - (2) address the conflicts between humans and elephants that arise from competition for the same habitat;
  - (3) enhance compliance with provisions of [CITES](/usc/16/4263.md?p=1) and laws of the United States or a foreign country that prohibit or regulate the [taking](/usc/16/3102.md?p=18) or trade of Asian elephants or regulate the use and management of Asian elephant habitat;
  - (4) develop sound scientific information on the condition of Asian elephant habitat, Asian elephant population numbers and trends, or the threats to such habitat, numbers, or trends; or
  - (5) promote cooperative [projects](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) on those topics with other foreign governments, affected local communities, nongovernmental organizations, or others in the private sector.
- (e) **Project sustainability—** To the maximum extent practical, in determining whether to approve [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) proposals under this section, the [Secretary](/usc/16/4263.md?p=4) shall give consideration to [projects](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) which will enhance sustainable integrated [conservation](/usc/16/4263.md?p=2) development programs to ensure effective, long-term [conservation](/usc/16/4263.md?p=2) of Asian elephants.
- (f) **Project reporting—** Each [person](/usc/16/450rr–1.md?p=b) who receives assistance under this section for a [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) shall provide periodic reports, as the [Secretary](/usc/16/4263.md?p=4) considers necessary, to the [Secretary](/usc/16/4263.md?p=4) and the [Administrator](/usc/16/4263.md?p=5). Each report shall include all information required by the [Secretary](/usc/16/4263.md?p=4), after consulting with the [Administrator](/usc/16/4263.md?p=5), for evaluating the progress and success of the [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4).
- (g) **Matching funds—** In determining whether to approve [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) proposals under this section, the [Secretary](/usc/16/4263.md?p=4) shall give priority to those [projects](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) for which there exists some measure of matching [funds](/usc/16/4263.md?p=3).
- (h) **Limitation on use for captive breeding—** Amounts provided as a grant under this chapter may not be used for captive breeding of Asian elephants other than for release in the wild.
- (i) **Multiyear grants—**
  - (1) **Authorization—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/4263.md?p=4) may award to a [person](/usc/16/450rr–1.md?p=b) who is otherwise eligible for a grant under this section a multiyear grant of up to 5 years to carry out a [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) that the [person](/usc/16/450rr–1.md?p=b) demonstrates is an effective, long-term [conservation](/usc/16/4263.md?p=2) strategy for Asian elephants and the habitat of Asian elephants.
  - (2) **Effect—** Nothing in this subsection precludes the [Secretary](/usc/16/4263.md?p=4) from awarding a grant on an annual basis.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 105–96, § 5, Nov. 19, 1997, 111 Stat. 2151; Pub. L. 110–133, § 2(a), Dec. 6, 2007, 121 Stat. 1362; Pub. L. 118–159, div. E, title LIII, § 5304(a), Dec. 23, 2024, 138 Stat. 2445.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2024—Subsec. (i). Pub. L. 118–159 added subsec. (i).

2007—Subsec. (c)(2)(C). Pub. L. 110–133 substituted “and the Administrator” for “, the Administrator, and each of those countries”.