Wildlife Conservation and Anti-Trafficking Act of 2021

Wildlife Conservation and Anti-Trafficking Act of 2021

This bill sets forth provisions relating to wildlife conservation, anti-trafficking and poaching, and illegal fishing.

Specifically, the bill

• directs the Departments of Justice, the Interior, Commerce, State, and the Treasury to develop a plan of action for awards to whistleblowers of violations of laws applicable to wildlife trafficking;
• directs Interior to carry out the International Wildlife Conservation Program to, among other things, address global conservation threats and combat wildlife trafficking and poaching;
• provides funding for the conservation of certain endangered species;
• authorizes Interior, in consultation with the State Department, to station not less than one U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officer in the primary diplomatic or consular post of the United States in a focus country or country of concern (i.e., countries engaging in wildlife trafficking); and
• directs Commerce to make amounts available for illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing enforcement.

The bill also modifies the federal criminal code to make wildlife trafficking and illegal fishing predicates with respect to the enforcement of certain criminal offenses, including racketeering and money laundering.

Bill 117 HR 6059, also known as the Wildlife Conservation and Anti-Trafficking Act of 2021, is a piece of legislation introduced in the US Congress with the aim of addressing issues related to wildlife conservation and trafficking. The bill seeks to strengthen existing laws and regulations to better protect endangered species and combat illegal wildlife trafficking.

One of the key provisions of the bill is the establishment of a Wildlife Conservation and Anti-Trafficking Fund, which would provide funding for conservation efforts and enforcement activities aimed at combating wildlife trafficking. The bill also includes measures to enhance cooperation between federal agencies, international partners, and non-governmental organizations in the fight against wildlife trafficking.

Additionally, the bill includes provisions to increase penalties for wildlife trafficking offenses, as well as measures to improve the tracking and monitoring of wildlife populations. The bill also seeks to promote sustainable wildlife management practices and support community-based conservation efforts. Overall, the Wildlife Conservation and Anti-Trafficking Act of 2021 aims to strengthen efforts to protect endangered species, combat illegal wildlife trafficking, and promote sustainable wildlife management practices. The bill has received bipartisan support in Congress and is currently under consideration in committee.