USAID and Biodiversity Conservation

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USAID and Biodiversity Conservation
Biodiversity Conservation in Agriculture
Symposium Punta Cana, Dominican Republic May 31 -
June 2, 2006
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USAIDs Mission

• USAID contributes to U.S. national interests by
  supporting the people of developing and
  transitional countries in their efforts to
  achieve sustainable economic and social progress
  and to participate more fully in resolving the
  problems of their countries and the world.

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What is USAID?

• The U.S. Agency for International Development
  (USAID) is the lead US federal agency providing
  foreign assistance and humanitarian aid to the
  developing world.
• USAID is a key component of U.S. foreign policy.
• Total budget for 2004 was about 9.5 billion
  (4.5 billion jointly managed with State Dept.)

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Total 2004 U.S. International Biodiversity
Funding
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What USAID Does

• The Agency works in 7 areas critical to
  achieving both economic and social development
  and advancing U.S. foreign policy objectives
• Economic growth trade
• Agriculture
• Global health
• Conservation of naturalresources
• Democracy and governance
• Education
• Humanitarian assistance.

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How USAID Does Its Work

• With headquarters in Washington, D.C., USAID's
  strength is its field offices around the world.
• USAID works in close partnership with private
  voluntary and indigenous organizations,
  universities, businesses, international agencies,
  foreign governments, and other U.S. government
  agencies.
• USAID has working relationships with more than
  3,500 companies and over 300 private voluntary
  organizations.

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USAIDs in Situ Biodiversity Program

• USAID invested over 165 million in biodiversity
  conservation in Fiscal Year 2005.
• 85 of funds are programmed by USAIDs field
  missions, and managed by environment
  professionals in the field. The remainder is
  programmed globally through Washington, DC.

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USAID Biodiversity Expenditures 1987-2004
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Evolution of Conservation Funding
Ad hoc
Strategic
Protection based on ecology (species)
Geographic Conservation priorities
Conservation including social considerations
(ICDP)
Threats-based conservation
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USAID Biodiversity Expenditures 1987-2004
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USAIDs Biodiversity Funding By Region- 2004
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Illustrative Conservation Approaches

• USAID takes a threats and opportunities-based
  approach to biodiversity conservation.
• Landscape-Level Conservation
• Sustainable Use and Market-Based Mechanisms
• Community-Based Conservation
• Protected Areas Management
• Environmental Education and Communication
• Policy Development and Reform

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Biodiversity Program Principles

• Programs should apply a threats and
  opportunities-based approach
• Programs should be participatory and foster
  sustainability
• Programs should strengthen in-country capacity
• Programs should focus on priority sites

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WWF Ecoregions
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CI Hotspots and Wilderness areas
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Biodiversity Program Principles

• Programs should be results oriented
• Programs should complement other conservation
  activities
• and fill critical gaps.
• Programs should include learning and be
  adaptive.

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Threats

• Threats are the factors that negatively affect
  biodiversity, and
• Threats should be identified at the level at
  which the threat abatement can be undertaken.

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The Threats-based Conservation Approach

• Identify the site, scale, and conservation
  targets,
• Identify direct threats to biodiversity,
• Prioritize threats,
• Develop conservation interventions to address
  high priority threats, and
• Apply adaptive management techniques.

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Weak Example of Links
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Improved Links
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Over-extraction of forest resources by communities

• Goal Ecologically and financially sustainable
  forest management
• Mitigation Community-based forest management
• Strength
• Inclusion of communities in all steps of the
  process, including threats analysis
• Communities identify and rank threats
• Communities implement management actions

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Habitat fragmentation - overgrazing

• Goal Increase area for biodiversity wildlife
  migration
• Mitigation Work with relevant stakeholders to
  develop large scale management plans
• Strengths
• Land-use decision-making devolved to communities
• Stakeholder participation at all levels of
  planning and implementation
• Conservation solutions matched with economic
  opportunities

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People and Conservation

• Threats develop from local, national and
  international needs and interests
• Whenever possible, benefits from threats-based
  solutions should benefit local communities
• Mitigate conservation costs incurred by local
  communities

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USAID Biodiversity Program Profile Madagascar

• High level of biodiversity, threat,
  opportunity
• Strong Malagasy Government commitment
• USAID 8.32 mill. Biodiversity in 2004
• USAID program focus areas

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USAID Biodiversity Program Profile Nepal

• USAID 1.42 mill. Biodiversity in 2004
• Effective programs in face of conflict
• USAID program focus areas

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USAID Biodiversity Program Profile CBFP

• Congo Basin Forest Partnership / Central African
  Reg. Program for the Environment
• USAID 16 mill. Biodiversity in 2004
• Landscape scale conservation of the Congo Basin

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USAID Biodiversity Program Profile GCP

• GCP The Global Conservation Program
• USAID 6.2 mill. Biodiversity in 2004
• Conservation in 17 priority land and seascapes
  globally
• Photo The Nature Conservancy Komodo Island Land
  and Seascape

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USAID promoting threats based conservation

• Prioritize funding on opportunities that focus on
  threats-based approach
• Work with partners to develop sound emphasis on
  local community involvement and benefits
• Develop biodiversity activities in concert with
  other sectors - democracy and governance,
  agriculture, economic growth, and health

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Websites for Further Information

• USAID Biodiversity Programs
• http//www.usaid.gov/our_work/environment/biodiver
  sity/
• USAID LAC/Environment Programs
• http//www.usaid.gov/locations/latin_america_carib
  bean/environment/
• U.S. Forest Service International Programs
• www.fs.fed.us/global/
• Tropical Forest Conservation Act
• www.usaid.gov/our_work/environment/forestry/tfca.h
  tml
• Conservation Finance Alliance
• http//www.conservationfinance.org/

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• Thank You!