Combating Wildlife Trafficking

Executive Order 13648 of July 1, 2013

Combating Wildlife Trafficking

By the authority vested in me as President by the
Constitution and the laws of the United States of
America, and in order to address the significant
effects of wildlife trafficking on the national
interests of the United States, I hereby order as
follows:

Section 1. Policy. The poaching of protected species
and the illegal trade in wildlife and their derivative
parts and products (together known as “wildlife
trafficking”) represent an international crisis that
continues to escalate. Poaching operations have
expanded beyond small-scale, opportunistic actions to
coordinated slaughter commissioned by armed and
organized criminal syndicates. The survival of
protected wildlife species such as elephants, rhinos,
great apes, tigers, sharks, tuna, and turtles has
beneficial economic, social, and environmental impacts
that are important to all nations. Wildlife trafficking
reduces those benefits while generating billions of
dollars in illicit revenues each year, contributing to
the illegal economy, fueling instability, and
undermining security. Also, the prevention of
trafficking of live animals helps us control the spread
of emerging infectious diseases. For these reasons, it
is in the national interest of the United States to
combat wildlife trafficking.

In order to enhance domestic efforts to combat wildlife
trafficking, to assist foreign nations in building
capacity to combat wildlife trafficking, and to assist
in combating transnational organized crime, executive
departments and agencies (agencies) shall take all
appropriate actions within their authority, including
the promulgation of rules and regulations and the
provision of technical and financial assistance, to
combat wildlife trafficking in accordance with the
following objectives:

    (a) in appropriate cases, the United States shall
seek to assist those governments in anti-wildlife
trafficking activities when requested by foreign
nations experiencing trafficking of protected wildlife;
    (b) the United States shall promote and encourage
the development and enforcement by foreign nations of
effective laws to prohibit the illegal taking of, and
trade in, these species and to prosecute those who
engage in wildlife trafficking, including by building
capacity;
    (c) in concert with the international community and
partner organizations, the United States shall seek to
combat wildlife trafficking; and
    (d) the United States shall seek to reduce the
demand for illegally traded wildlife, both at home and
abroad, while allowing legal and legitimate commerce
involving wildlife.

Sec. 2. Establishment. There is established a
Presidential Task Force on Wildlife Trafficking (Task
Force), to be co-chaired by the Secretary of State,
Secretary of the Interior, and the Attorney General
(Co-Chairs), or their designees, who shall report to
the President through the National Security Advisor.
The Task Force shall develop and implement a National
Strategy for Combating Wildlife Trafficking in
accordance with the objectives outlined in section 1 of
this order, consistent with section 4 of this order.

Sec. 3. Membership. (a) In addition to the Co-Chairs,
the Task Force shall include designated senior-level
representatives from:

(i) the Department of the Treasury;

(ii) the Department of Defense;

(iii) the Department of Agriculture;

(iv) the Department of Commerce;

(v) the Department of Transportation;

(vi) the Department of Homeland Security;

(vii) the United States Agency for International Development;

(viii) the Office of the Director of National Intelligence;

(ix) the National Security Staff;

(x) the Domestic Policy Council;

(xi) the Council on Environmental Quality;

(xii) the Office of Science and Technology Policy;

(xiii) the Office of Management and Budget;

(xiv) the Office of the United States Trade Representative; and

(xv) such agencies and offices as the Co-Chairs may, from time to time,
designate.

    (b) The Task Force shall meet not later than 60
days from the date of this order and periodically
thereafter.

Sec. 4. Functions. Consistent with the authorities and
responsibilities of member agencies, the Task Force
shall perform the following functions:

    (a) not later than 180 days after the date of this
order, produce a National Strategy for Combating
Wildlife Trafficking that shall include consideration
of issues relating to combating trafficking and curbing
consumer demand, including:

(i) effective support for anti-poaching activities;

(ii) coordinating regional law enforcement efforts;

(iii) developing and supporting effective legal enforcement mechanisms; and

(iv) developing strategies to reduce illicit trade and reduce consumer
demand for trade in protected species;

    (b) not later than 90 days from the date of this
order, review the Strategy to Combat Transnational
Organized Crime of July 19, 2011, and, if appropriate,
make recommendations regarding the inclusion of crime
related to wildlife trafficking as an implementation
element for the Federal Government's transnational
organized crime strategy;
    (c) coordinate efforts among and consult with
agencies, as appropriate and consistent with the
Department of State's foreign affairs role, regarding
work with foreign nations and international bodies that
monitor and aid in enforcement against crime related to
wildlife trafficking; and
    (d) carry out other functions necessary to
implement this order.

Sec. 5. Advisory Council on Wildlife Trafficking. Not
later than 180 days from the date of this order, the
Secretary of the Interior (Secretary), in consultation
with the other Co-Chairs of the Task Force, shall
establish an Advisory Council on Wildlife Trafficking
(Advisory Council) that shall make recommendations to
the Task Force and provide it with ongoing advice and
assistance. The Advisory Council shall have eight
members, one of whom shall be designated by the
Secretary as the Chair. Members shall not be employees
of the Federal Government and shall include
knowledgeable individuals from the private sector,
former governmental officials, representatives of
nongovernmental organizations, and others who are in a
position to provide expertise and support to the Task
Force.

Sec. 6. General Provisions. (a) This order shall be
implemented consistent with applicable domestic and
international law, and subject to the availability of
appropriations.

    (b) Nothing in this order shall be construed to
impair or otherwise affect:

(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department, agency, or the
head thereof, or the status of that department or agency within the Federal
Government; or

(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget
relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

    (c) This order is not intended to, and does not,
create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural,
enforceable at law or in equity by any party against
the United States, its departments, agencies, or
entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any
other person.
    (d) Insofar as the Federal Advisory Committee Act,
as amended (5 U.S.C. App.) (the “Act”), may apply to
the Advisory Council, any functions of the President
under the Act, except for that of reporting to the
Congress, shall be performed by the Secretary in
accordance with the guidelines issued by the
Administrator of General Services.
    (e) The Department of the Interior shall provide
funding and administrative support for the Task Force
and Advisory Council to the extent permitted by law and
consistent with existing appropriations.

    (Presidential Sig.)

THE WHITE HOUSE,

    July 1, 2013.