This report covers programming to conserve biodiversity and manage forests during Fiscal Year (FY) 2023. Biodiversity provides food, water, clean air, and livelihoods, supporting more than half of the global gross domestic product. But nature is in crisis, with threats like overexploitation and land and sea use change pushing species and ecosystems to the brink. USAID plays a critical role in addressing this global crisis, as do its local community, government, civil society, and private sector partners around the world.
In FY 2023, USAID invested in conserving biodiversity and forests, fighting nature crimes, and supporting sustainable fisheries in approximately 60 countries. The Agency also began updating its Biodiversity Policy of 2014 to reflect the current global context for biodiversity conservation and calls for transformative change. The revised Policy, which is expected to be released in November 2024, will describe how USAID can support this change through its work to achieve nature-positive, equitable development across societal systems over the next decade.
