100 conservation projects are looking for funding after USAID’s closure
Twenty months after the dismantling of USAID, a new analysis documents what the international development agency’s disappearance has meant for conservation projects around the world. Projects have stalled or collapsed in countries from Kenya to Bangladesh, reports Ashoka Mukpo. Wildlife patrols, forest monitoring, community conservation programs and environmental policy work have all been hit.…
Twenty months after USAID's dissolution, a new study reveals the devastating impact on conservation projects globally. From Kenya to Bangladesh, projects have faltered or ceased entirely, according to Ashoka Mukpo's report. The analysis, conducted by One Earth Partners, surveyed 150 experts in Bangladesh, Peru, Kenya, Colombia, and Vietnam.
The dismantling of USAID eliminated approximately $1 billion in global conservation and environment funding. USAID had allocated $366 million to biodiversity conservation and $257 million to climate adaptation in fiscal year 2024, plus additional millions for clean energy, natural climate solutions, ocean plastics, and pollution mitigation.
The report details the consequences of USAID's demise on various initiatives. In Colombia and Peru, USAID trained officials to utilize satellite data for monitoring Amazon deforestation—a vital effort that has been disrupted. The agency also backed anti-poaching efforts at Mozambique's Gorongosa National Park and supported community-led nature-based tourism in Bangladesh.
Bangladesh's Maasai Mara Wildlife Conservancies Association, spearheaded by Daniel Sopia, suffered a significant blow when it lost a $6.5 million grant and had to lay off 10 employees, cutting its budget. Kenya was particularly hard hit, with Daniel Sopia's organization experiencing a sharp decline in resources following USAID's closure.
Written by urgent.news from Mongabay's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
