
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 2, 2001]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 2, 2001 and January 28, 2002]
[CITE: 22USC2151p-1]

 
               TITLE 22--FOREIGN RELATIONS AND INTERCOURSE
 
                     CHAPTER 32--FOREIGN ASSISTANCE
 
                 SUBCHAPTER I--INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
 
  Part I--Declaration of Policy; Development Assistance Authorizations
 
Sec. 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.

(Pub. L. 87-195, pt. I, Sec. 118, as added Pub. L. 99-529, title III, 
Sec. 301(3), Oct. 24, 1986, 100 Stat. 3014.)


                            Prior Provisions

    A prior section 118 of Pub. L. 87-195, pt. I, was renumbered section 
117 and is classified to section 2151p of this title.

                         Delegation of Functions

    For delegation of functions of President under this section, see Ex. 
Ord. No. 12163, Sept. 29, 1979, 44 F.R. 56673, as amended, set out as a 
note under section 2381 of this title.

                  Section Referred to in Other Sections

    This section is referred to in section 2191 of this title.
