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U.S. Code as of:
01/19/04
Section 2151p-1. Tropical forests
(a) Importance of forests and tree cover
In enacting section 2151a(b)(3) of this title the Congress
recognized the importance of forests and tree cover to the
developing countries. The Congress is particularly concerned about
the continuing and accelerating alteration, destruction, and loss
of tropical forests in developing countries, which pose a serious
threat to development and the environment. Tropical forest
destruction and loss -
(1) result in shortages of wood, especially wood for fuel; loss
of biologically productive wetlands; siltation of lakes,
reservoirs, and irrigation systems; floods; destruction of
indigenous peoples; extinction of plant and animal species;
reduced capacity for food production; and loss of genetic
resources; and
(2) can result in desertification and destabilization of the
earth's climate.
Properly managed tropical forests provide a sustained flow of
resources essential to the economic growth of developing countries,
as well as genetic resources of value to developed and developing
countries alike.
(b) Priorities
The concerns expressed in subsection (a) of this section and the
recommendations of the United States Interagency Task Force on
Tropical Forests shall be given high priority by the President -
(1) in formulating and carrying out programs and policies with
respect to developing countries, including those relating to
bilateral and multilateral assistance and those relating to
private sector activities; and
(2) in seeking opportunities to coordinate public and private
development and investment activities which affect forests in
developing countries.
(c) Assistance to developing countries
In providing assistance to developing countries, the President
shall do the following:
(1) Place a high priority on conservation and sustainable
management of tropical forests.
(2) To the fullest extent feasible, engage in dialogues and
exchanges of information with recipient countries -
(A) which stress the importance of conserving and sustainably
managing forest resources for the long-term economic benefit of
those countries, as well as the irreversible losses associated
with forest destruction, and
(B) which identify and focus on policies of those countries
which directly or indirectly contribute to deforestation.
(3) To the fullest extent feasible, support projects and
activities -
(A) which offer employment and income alternatives to those
who otherwise would cause destruction and loss of forests, and
(B) which help developing countries identify and implement
alternatives to colonizing forested areas.
(4) To the fullest extent feasible, support training programs,
educational efforts, and the establishment or strengthening of
institutions which increase the capacity of developing countries
to formulate forest policies, engage in relevant land-use
planning, and otherwise improve the management of their forests.
(5) To the fullest extent feasible, help end destructive
slash-and-burn agriculture by supporting stable and productive
farming practices in areas already cleared or degraded and on
lands which inevitably will be settled, with special emphasis on
demonstrating the feasibility of agroforestry and other
techniques which use technologies and methods suited to the local
environment and traditional agricultural techniques and feature
close consultation with and involvement of local people.
(6) To the fullest extent feasible, help conserve forests which
have not yet been degraded, by helping to increase production on
lands already cleared or degraded through support of
reforestation, fuelwood, and other sustainable forestry projects
and practices, making sure that local people are involved at all
stages of project design and implementation.
(7) To the fullest extent feasible, support projects and other
activities to conserve forested watersheds and rehabilitate those
which have been deforested, making sure that local people are
involved at all stages of project design and implementation.
(8) To the fullest extent feasible, support training, research,
and other actions which lead to sustainable and more
environmentally sound practices for timber harvesting, removal,
and processing, including reforestation, soil conservation, and
other activities to rehabilitate degraded forest lands.
(9) To the fullest extent feasible, support research to expand
knowledge of tropical forests and identify alternatives which
will prevent forest destruction, loss, or degradation, including
research in agroforestry, sustainable management of natural
forests, small-scale farms and gardens, small-scale animal
husbandry, wider application of adopted traditional practices,
and suitable crops and crop combinations.
(10) To the fullest extent feasible, conserve biological
diversity in forest areas by -
(A) supporting and cooperating with United States Government
agencies, other donors (both bilateral and multilateral), and
other appropriate governmental, intergovernmental, and
nongovernmental organizations in efforts to identify,
establish, and maintain a representative network of protected
tropical forest ecosystems on a worldwide basis;
(B) whenever appropriate, making the establishment of
protected areas a condition of support for activities involving
forest clearance or degradation; and
(C) helping developing countries identify tropical forest
ecosystems and species in need of protection and establish and
maintain appropriate protected areas.
(11) To the fullest extent feasible, engage in efforts to
increase the awareness of United States Government agencies and
other donors, both bilateral and multilateral, of the immediate
and long-term value of tropical forests.
(12) To the fullest extent feasible, utilize the resources and
abilities of all relevant United States Government agencies.
(13) Require that any program or project under this part
significantly affecting tropical forests (including projects
involving the planting of exotic plant species) -
(A) be based upon careful analysis of the alternatives
available to achieve the best sustainable use of the land, and
(B) take full account of the environmental impacts of the
proposed activities on biological diversity,
as provided for in the environmental procedures of the Agency for
International Development.
(14) Deny assistance under this part for -
(A) the procurement or use of logging equipment, unless an
environmental assessment indicates that all timber harvesting
operations involved will be conducted in an environmentally
sound manner which minimizes forest destruction and that the
proposed activity will produce positive economic benefits and
sustainable forest management systems; and
(B) actions which significantly degrade national parks or
similar protected areas which contain tropical forests or
introduce exotic plants or animals into such areas.
(15) Deny assistance under this part for the following
activities unless an environmental assessment indicates that the
proposed activity will contribute significantly and directly to
improving the livelihood of the rural poor and will be conducted
in an environmentally sound manner which supports sustainable
development:
(A) Activities which would result in the conversion of forest
lands to the rearing of livestock.
(B) The construction, upgrading, or maintenance of roads
(including temporary haul roads for logging or other extractive
industries) which pass through relatively undegraded forest
lands.
(C) The colonization of forest lands.
(D) The construction of dams or other water control
structures which flood relatively undegraded forest lands.
(d) PVOs and other nongovernmental organizations
Whenever feasible, the President shall accomplish the objectives
of this section through projects managed by private and voluntary
organizations or international, regional, or national
nongovernmental organizations which are active in the region or
country where the project is located.
(e) Country analysis requirements
Each country development strategy statement or other country plan
prepared by the Agency for International Development shall include
an analysis of -
(1) the actions necessary in that country to achieve
conservation and sustainable management of tropical forests, and
(2) the extent to which the actions proposed for support by the
Agency meet the needs thus identified.
(f) Annual report
Each annual report required by section 2394(a) of this title
shall include a report on the implementation of this section.
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