H.R. 5885

Wildlife Innovation and Longevity Driver Act or the WILD Act

This bill reauthorizes through FY2023 the Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program, the African Elephant Conservation Act, the Asian Elephant Conservation Act of 1997, the Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Act of 1994, the Great Ape Conservation Fund, and the Marine Turtle Conservation Fund.

Federal agencies that have duties relating to invasive species management for the protection of water and wildlife must: (1) inhibit or reduce the populations of invasive species and effectuate restoration or reclamation efforts on land they manage, and (2) develop a strategic plan for implementing an invasive species program designed to achieve a substantive annual net reduction of invasive species populations or infested acreage in managed areas.

This bill amends the Great Ape Conservation Act of 2000, including to authorize the Department of the Interior to award a multi-year grant for carrying out a project that is an effective, long-term conservation strategy for great apes (defined in the Act as chimpanzees, gorillas, bonobos, orangutans, and gibbons) and their habitats.

This bill amends the Marine Turtle Conservation Act of 2004 to expand eligibility for financial assistance to include: (1) a wildlife management authority of a U.S. territory, and (2) projects for the conservation of freshwater turtles and tortoises.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service must establish Theodore Roosevelt Genius Prizes for: (1) prevention of wildlife poaching and trafficking, (2) promotion of wildlife conservation, (3) management of invasive species, (4) protection of endangered species, and (5) nonlethal management of human-wildlife conflicts. The bill establishes advisory boards for those prizes.