Request for Public Review of the Draft Updated USAID Biodiversity Policy

USAID's Biodiversity Policy

POLICY UPDATE 

Please note: the Public Review Period is now closed. Thank you to all who submitted their feedback.
Thank you for your interest in the draft updated USAID Biodiversity Policy. The USAID Biodiversity Policy provides high-level guidance for the Agency’s efforts to conserve biodiversity and catalyze nature-positive, equitable development in programming and partnerships across sectors. This draft updates the 2014 USAID Biodiversity Policy and is meant to be a concise document. Additional implementation guidance will accompany the release of the Policy.

Overview of Updates

The updated Policy has two goals: (1) conserve biodiversity in priority places, and (2) catalyze nature-positive, equitable development. The seven principles of the updated Policy outline a process to achieve the Policy’s vision through (1) locally led development, (2) equity and inclusion, (3) cross-sectoral approaches, (4) climate resilience and nature-based solutions, (5) private sector engagement, (6) policy engagement, and (7) evidence and learning.

Key proposed changes include:

  • Elevating a nature-positive approach to development that contributes to halting and reversing biodiversity loss through transformative shifts in societal systems
  • Sharing ownership of biodiversity mainstreaming across sectors at USAID, including expanding nature-based solutions and managing nature-related risks to development
  • Ensuring alignment with the USAID Climate Strategy to address the twin crises of climate change and biodiversity loss together
  • Strengthening equity, inclusion, and gender- and youth-responsive action in biodiversity conservation
  • Updating the list of Tier One Missions and Biodiversity Code requirements for biodiversity funding

Public Review Period

USAID’s draft updated Biodiversity Policy is no longer open for public comment.

The draft updated Biodiversity Policy is available on the right, and a graphic with the vision, goals, and principles is available in French, Spanish, and Portuguese below.

For More Information

Conserving Biodiversity

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Panoramic photo of a mangrove landscape. A man can be seen paddling a canoe offshore.

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Conservation is development. USAID achieves cross-cutting results through programming that protects priority land and seascapes and promotes the security, health, and prosperity of local communities.

USAID's Biodiversity Policy

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An elephant reaches for browse

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USAID aims to shape a future in which both people and nature thrive. The Agency’s Biodiversity Policy builds on a long history of conserving biodiversity and reflects the critical role of natural systems in achieving development goals.
 

This policy is currently being revised.

Biodiversity Conservation and Forestry Programs Annual Report

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Elias Ruta is a life-long fisherman who now works as a tour guide and ranger for Siete Pecados Marine Park. Ecotourism is a conservation enterprise intended to reduce fishing pressure in the nearshore environment.

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To satisfy the requirements of Sections 118(f) and 119(h) of Part I of Public Law 87-195, the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) submits this report on our programming to conserve forests and biodiversity