--- kind: "section" citation: "16 U.S.C. § 5304" title: "16" title_heading: "Conservation" number: "5304" heading: "Rhinoceros and tiger conservation assistance" release: "119-102" date: "2026-07-12" url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/5304" units: - "Chapter 73 — Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation" --- # §5304. Rhinoceros and tiger conservation assistance - (a) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/5303.md?p=4), subject to the availability of appropriations and in consultation with the [Administrator](/usc/16/5303.md?p=5), shall use amounts in the [Fund](/usc/16/5303.md?p=3) to provide financial assistance for [projects](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) for the [conservation](/usc/16/5303.md?p=2) of rhinoceros and tigers. - (b) **Project proposal—** A country whose activities directly or indirectly affect rhinoceros or tiger populations, the [CITES](/usc/16/5303.md?p=1) Secretariat, or any other [person](/usc/16/5303.md?p=6) may submit to the [Secretary](/usc/16/5303.md?p=4) a [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) proposal under this section. Each proposal shall— - (1) name the individual responsible for conducting the [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4); - (2) [state](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) the purposes of the [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) succinctly; - (3) describe the qualifications of the individuals who will conduct the [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4); - (4) estimate the [funds](/usc/16/5303.md?p=3) and time required to complete the [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4); - (5) provide 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/16/5303.md?p=4) determines that the support is required for the success of the [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4); and - (6) provide any other information the [Secretary](/usc/16/5303.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—** Within 30 days of receiving a final [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) proposal, the [Secretary](/usc/16/5303.md?p=4) shall provide a copy of the proposal to the [Administrator](/usc/16/5303.md?p=5). The [Secretary](/usc/16/5303.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). 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/16/5303.md?p=3), the [Secretary](/usc/16/5303.md?p=4), after consulting with the [Administrator](/usc/16/5303.md?p=5), shall approve or disapprove the proposal and provide written notification to the [person](/usc/16/5303.md?p=6) who submitted the proposal and to the [Administrator](/usc/16/5303.md?p=5). - (d) **Criteria for approval—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/5303.md?p=4) may approve a [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) under this section if the [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) will enhance programs for [conservation](/usc/16/5303.md?p=2) of rhinoceros or tigers by assisting efforts to— - (1) implement [conservation](/usc/16/5303.md?p=2) programs; - (2) enhance compliance with provisions of [CITES](/usc/16/5303.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 rhinoceros or tigers or the use of rhinoceros or tiger habitat; or - (3) develop sound scientific information on that species’ habitat condition and carrying capacity, total numbers and population trends, or annual reproduction and mortality. - (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/16/5303.md?p=4) shall give consideration to [projects](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) which will enhance sustainable [conservation](/usc/16/5303.md?p=2) programs to ensure effective long-term [conservation](/usc/16/5303.md?p=2) of rhinoceros and tigers. - (f) **Project reporting—** Each [person](/usc/16/5303.md?p=6) that receives assistance under this section for a [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) shall provide periodic reports, as the [Secretary](/usc/16/5303.md?p=4) considers necessary, to the [Secretary](/usc/16/5303.md?p=4) and the [Administrator](/usc/16/5303.md?p=5). Each report shall include all information requested by the [Secretary](/usc/16/5303.md?p=4), after consulting with the [Administrator](/usc/16/5303.md?p=5), for evaluating the progress and success of the [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4). - (g) **Multiyear grants—** - (1) **Authorization—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/5303.md?p=4) may award to a [person](/usc/16/5303.md?p=6) 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/16/5303.md?p=6) demonstrates is an effective, long-term [conservation](/usc/16/5303.md?p=2) strategy for rhinoceroses or tigers and the habitat of rhinoceroses or tigers. - (2) **Effect—** Nothing in this subsection precludes the [Secretary](/usc/16/5303.md?p=4) from awarding a grant on an annual basis. ## Source credit (Pub. L. 103–391, § 5, Oct. 22, 1994, 108 Stat. 4095; Pub. L. 107–112, § 5, Jan. 8, 2002, 115 Stat. 2098; Pub. L. 110–132, § 3(a), Dec. 6, 2007, 121 Stat. 1360; Pub. L. 118–159, div. E, title LIII, § 5305(a), Dec. 23, 2024, 138 Stat. 2445.) ## Notes ### Editorial Notes ### Amendments 2024—Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 118–159 added subsec. (g). 2007—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 110–132 substituted “and to the Administrator” for “, to the Administrator, and to each country within which the project is to be conducted” in third sentence. 2002—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 107–112 amended heading and text generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “To the maximum extent practical, the Secretary should give consideration to projects which will enhance sustainable development programs to ensure effective, long-term conservation of rhinoceros and tigers.”