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USAID and Biodiversity Conservation Biodiversity Conservation in Agriculture Symposium Punta Cana, Dominican Republic May 31 - June 2, 2006 USAID’s 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. 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.) Total 2004 U.S. International Biodiversity Funding USAID $169,472,543 Treasury Department (GEF & TFCA) $66,000,000 Fish & Wildlife Service $17,700,000 State Department $6,360,000 Forest Service $6,000,000 National Park Service Total $846,000 $266,378,543 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 natural resources • Democracy and governance • Education • Humanitarian assistance. 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. USAID’s in Situ Biodiversity Program • USAID invested over $165 million in biodiversity conservation in Fiscal Year 2005. • 85% of funds are programmed by USAID’s field missions, and managed by environment professionals in the field. The remainder is programmed globally through Washington, DC. USAID Biodiversity Expenditures 1987-2004 Evolution of Conservation Funding Ad hoc Protection based on ecology (species) Conservation including social considerations (ICDP) Strategic Geographic Conservation priorities Threats-based conservation USAID Biodiversity Expenditures 1987-2004 USAID’s Biodiversity Funding By Region- 2004 Illustrative Conservation Approaches USAID takes a threats and opportunitiesbased 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 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 WWF Ecoregions CI Hotspots and Wilderness areas 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. 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. 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. Weak Example of Links THREAT ACTIVITY Poverty Develop alternative economic activities Lack of environmental awareness Distribution of environmental education materials Timber concession threatening site Radio programs for communities on environmental awareness Improved Links Threat Conversion Habitat degredation Effect on Source of conservation Threat target Logging company concessions Species Bushmeat exploitation/ for local and overharvesting urban markets Activity Loss of forest habitat for elephants Best practice agreements between company and government Loss of mammal species Increase enforcement capacity Develop alternative sources of protein 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 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 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 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 USAID Biodiversity Program Profile: Nepal • USAID $1.42 mill. Biodiversity in 2004 • Effective programs in face of conflict • USAID program focus areas 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 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 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 Websites for Further Information USAID Biodiversity Programs http://www.usaid.gov/our_work/environment/biodiversity/ USAID LAC/Environment Programs http://www.usaid.gov/locations/latin_america_caribbean/environment/ U.S. Forest Service International Programs www.fs.fed.us/global/ Tropical Forest Conservation Act www.usaid.gov/our_work/environment/forestry/tfca.html Conservation Finance Alliance http://www.conservationfinance.org/ Thank You!