Protecting the Environment
Marco Polo sheep, an endangered species found in the mountainous Wakhan Corridor of Afghanistan and adjoining regions of China, Pakistan, and Tajikistan, are under serious threat from poaching and uncontrolled trophy hunting. USAID supports conservation activities for the Marco Polo sheep in the Wakhan Corridor and programs in other biologically important areas of Afghanistan, such as Band-e Amir, which is a proposed UNESCO World Heritage Site. (Photo: Wildlife Conservation Society)
ASIA BUREAU ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMS
Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam
CONTACTS
John Wilson
Bureau Environment Officer
Tel:(202) 712-4633
Email: jwilson@usaid.gov Overview
The continued social and economic development of the Asia region rests on the responsible stewardship and sustainable use of its natural resources. The challenge is great: demands on the environment and for energy are intensifying due to population growth. Weak governance and poverty also complicate efforts to protect the environment and mitigate climate change. USAID addresses these challenges as described below and conducts reviews of all its programs for potential environmental impacts.
Programs
Making Clean Water Available to Communities
Nearly 80 percent of the world’s population without adequate sanitation lives in Asia, as do almost two-thirds of those without clean drinking water. Sadly, over 500,000 young children die from waterborne diseases in the region each year. Water shortages also heighten regional tensions, increasing the likelihood of conflict. In response, USAID is supporting a range of water and sanitation activities. USAID’s Regional Development Mission for Asia has implemented 12 partnerships and pilot projects with cities and utilities in seven countries, resulting in improved access to water and sanitation for over 248,000 people and adoption of 24 improved laws and plans for water and sanitation service delivery.
Promoting Biodiversity And Forest Conservation
Approximately 430 million people are dependent on Asia’s forests for their survival, yet more than 100 million acres of forests have been lost in Asia since 1990, and that number is growing fast. This ongoing loss puts economies and communities that depend on natural resources at risk, exacerbating poverty and conflicts and contributing to global climate change. To protect forest resources and address the related societal concerns, USAID involves local communities in managing them wisely. In Nepal, for example, USAID supports community forest user groups that promote participation, inclusion, transparency, and accountability, while improving the management of forests. USAID supports innovative partnerships to protect Asia’s unique forest biodiversity, combat illegal logging, reduce forest conflict, and promote responsible timber trade by transforming the market for tropical timber to achieve sustainability.
Providing Clean Energy for Growth
Energy demand in Asia is expected to increase by nearly 50 percent over the next 15 years, increasing greenhouse gas emissions, raising air pollution levels, and causing an estimated 530,000 premature deaths per year. Promoting clean energy remains a key challenge for most Asian countries to help sustain economic development while combating climate change. USAID is helping to scale up investment in clean energy technologies and practices and assist institutions working on clean energy development. USAID also encourages clean energy development and regional energy trade through efforts like the South Asia Regional Initiative for Energy.
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