USAID manages a diverse portfolio of projects that conserve biodiversity and sustain forests while advancing development, particularly for vulnerable people who rely on natural resources for their livelihoods. This annual report summarizes the Agency's work in this sector and its importance to human well-being, highlighting discrete and cumulative results in fiscal year (FY) 2014, and how FY 2014 funds were allocated for work in FY 2015.

 

USAID invested $213 million in FY 2014 funds toward biodiversity conservation in about 50 countries, with approximately 57 percent of funds going to our 12 highest priority countries and regions.  About a quarter of FY 2014 funds were programmed to address wildlife crime in about 25 countries, primarily to build capacity of law enforcement to deter, detect and disrupt poaching and wildlife trafficking, reduce demand for wildlife and wildlife products, and foster international coordination in solving these challenges.  USAID forestry programming totaled $153 million in about 40 countries, of which $150 million was focused on tropical forests. The vast majority (94 percent) of forestry activities advanced biodiversity conservation or climate change mitigation objectives.

 

Agency programs had a substantial impact and reach in FY 2014, improving natural resource management across 75 million hectares of biologically significant area, about the size of Texas and West Virginia combined. The challenges confronting biodiversity conservation are great, but the results shared in this report demonstrate that solutions are in reach and progress can be made by USAID and the international community working to conserve biodiversity around the world for the benefit of people, wildlife, and wild places.

 

Additional USAID reports on biodiversity and/or forestry programs are available at:

www.usaid.gov/biodiversity/impact/annual-reports