USAID’S BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY PROGRAMS FY 2007 USAID’S BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY PROGRAMS, FY 2007

October 2008

USAID’S BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY PROGRAMS, FY 2007

October 2008

This report was printed with vegetable-based inks on acid-free and elemental chlorine-free paper certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, and contains 50 percent recycled content including 25 percent post-consumer waste.

Cover Photo FREEDOM: A prominent member of the Huambracocha community in Peru holds up river turtles before releasing them into a local lake. USAID engages with indigenous people to promote turtle conservation and community fisheries management in this remote part of the Pastaza River basin. Photo by Michael Tweddle.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Executive Summary ...... v

CHANGING THE LANDSCAPE: USAID’S APPROACH TO BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY ...... 1

Africa ...... 7 Africa Regional Program ...... 8. Central African Regional Program for the Environment/ Congo Basin Forest Partnership ...... 9. USAID/East Africa ...... 12 USAID/Southern Africa ...... 13 USAID/West Africa ...... 14 Ethiopia ...... 15 Guinea ...... 15 Kenya ...... 17 Liberia ...... 19 Madagascar ...... 22. Malawi ...... 24. Mali ...... 25. Mozambique ...... 26. Namibia ...... 28. Nigeria ...... 28. Rwanda ...... 29. Senegal ...... 30. Sudan ...... 32. Tanzania ...... 34. Uganda ...... 35.

Asia ...... 37 ANE Regional Program ...... 38. Regional Development Mission for Asia ...... 38. Afghanistan ...... 40. Bangladesh ...... 42. Cambodia ...... 44. Indonesia ...... 45. Nepal ...... 48. Philippines ...... 50.

USAID’S BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY PROGRAMS, FY 2007 i LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN ...... 53 LAC Regional Sustainable Development Program ...... 54. Caribbean Regional Program ...... 56. Central America and Mexico Regional Program ...... 57. Bolivia ...... 59. Brazil ...... 60. Colombia ...... 61 Dominican Republic ...... 62. Ecuador ...... 63. El Salvador ...... 66. Guatemala ...... 66. Guyana ...... 68. Honduras ...... 70. Jamaica ...... 71 Mexico ...... 73. Nicaragua ...... 77. Panama ...... 77. Paraguay ...... 78. Peru ...... 80.

Centrally Funded Programs ...... 81 EGAT/NRM/Biodiversity Team ...... 81. EGAT/NRM/Forestry Team ...... 84. EGAT/NRM/Land Resources Management Team ...... 85. EGAT/NRM/Water Team ...... 87. EGAT/Agriculture ...... 90. EGAT/Environment and Science Policy ...... 92. DCHA/Conflict Management and Mitigation ...... 94. Global Health ...... 94. Tropical Forest Conservation Act ...... 95.

USAID BIODIVERSITY AND FORESTRY FUNDING OVERVIEW . . .97 Forestry Budget ...... 97. Biodiversity Budget ...... 102.

ii TABLE OF CONTENTS ANNEX I. Definitions ...... 107

Features KENYA: When Tourism Disappears, Jobs and Wildlife Follow ...... 18. LIBERIA: Major Achievements of the Liberia Forestry Initiative in 2007 . . . . . 20. BANGLADESH: Fishing Efficiently ...... 43. INDONESIA: Palm Oil in Paradise? ...... 46. ECUADOR: Peaceful Coexistence (with Spectacled bears) ...... 64. GUATEMALA: Money Growing Under Trees ...... 67.

Maps Africa ...... 7. Asia ...... 37. Latin America and the Caribbean ...... 53. Forest Management Plans in the Brazilian Amazon ...... 61 Global Conservation Program Sites ...... 82. Mapping Climate Change Impact in Central America ...... 86.

Figures Figure 1 . USAID Funding for Forestry by Region in FY 2007 ...... 97. Figure 2 . USAID Funding of Forestry Activities, 1987 to 2007 ...... 100. Figure 3 . USAID Funding for Biodiversity by Region in FY 2007 ...... 102. Figure 4 . USAID Funding of Biodiversity Activities, 1987 to 2007 ...... 103.

Tables Table 1 . USAID Funding for Forestry Programs and Activities, FY 2007 . . . . . 98. Table 2 . U .S . Government International Forestry Funding, FY 2007 ...... 101 Table 3 . USAID Funding for Biodiversity Programs and Activities, FY 2007 . . . 104. Table 4 . U .S . Government International Biodiversity Funding, FY 2007 . . . . . 106.

USAID’S BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY PROGRAMS, FY 2007 iii About This Report

This report describes the United for biodiversity and forestry are All four criteria must be met for States Agency for International presented at the end of this report. programs to be eligible for dedicated Development’s (USAID) biodiversity biodiversity funds. These criteria guide conservation and forestry programs The scale of biodiversity programs program design and budgeting, leading for fiscal year (FY) 2007. It provides and the nature of forestry programs to robust and often interdisciplinary USAID’s partners and the public with managed by USAID have both been programs which recognize biodiversity a summary of the Agency’s approaches, affected by an increase in dedicated conservation as a prerequisite to activities, and results. Since the FY funding for biodiversity. USAID achieving development goals. For 2005 edition, USAID has reported on carefully assesses which programs meet example, USAID forestry programs its biodiversity and forestry programs the requirements of this “biodiversity increasingly promote biodiversity together because of the significant overlap earmark” using four key criteria: objectives as well as economic between these two program areas. growth and governance objectives. • The program must have an Investments in forests provide jobs, Much of USAID’s biodiversity work explicit biodiversity objective; foreign investment and tax revenue centers on better management and • Activities must be identified based on from logging, secure resource conservation of forest ecosystems, and an analysis of threats to biodiversity; rights and benefits for indigenous much of USAID’s forestry work is • The program must monitor people and rural communities, and done with an objective of conserving associated indicators for maintain biodiversity services and biodiversity. However, because not all biodiversity conservation; and products such as climate regulation, forestry activities conserve biodiversity, • Site-based programs must have the flood control, food and fuel. nor is all biodiversity conservation in intent to positively impact biodiversity forests, separate budget summaries in biologically significant areas.

iv ExAboutecutive This S ummaryReport Executive Summary

USAID supports forestry and The vast majority of funds were biodiversity conservation in about 50 distributed by USAID’s overseas countries around the world. In FY Missions, as described in the 2007, the Agency invested $183.7 chapters on Africa, Asia, and Latin million toward biodiversity, of which America and the Caribbean. A $176.2 million was Development small portion of these funds was Assistance (DA), exceeding the managed centrally from USAID’s Congressional biodiversity earmark Washington headquarters to provide of $165.5 million in DA funds. overall leadership, identify and share USAID also supported almost $97 best practices, address threats that million in sustainable forestry and cut across regions or disciplines, forest conservation activities, of test and institutionalize innovative

which 84 percent overlaps with approaches, and provide a variety of WETLAND RESTORATION: biodiversity. These investments mechanisms by which Missions may In Hail Haor, Bangladesh, USAID brought approximately 110 million work towards biodiversity and forestry support has helped establish 80 wetland sanctuaries, and local new hectares of biologically objectives. Selected results from FY management of the inland fishery significant areas under improved 2007 activities are highlighted below. is now in the hands of communities. Several locally scarce or lost management, an area the size of species of fish and water birds are California and Texas combined. now recovering, and the value of the fish catch in three wetlands has more than doubled since U.S. investment began in 1998.

Photo: USAID/Bangladesh

USAID’SUSAID BIODIVERSITY BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION CONSERVATION AND AND FORESTRY FORESTRY PROGRAMS, PROGRAMS, FY FY2007 2007 v • USAID-supported aerial surveys in Southern Sudan confirmed that a migration of white-eared kob, tiang and Mongalla gazelle is still intact after decades of civil conflict, with over 1.2 million animals.

Asia

• In Nepal, an alliance to supply plant-based personal care products has helped marginalized communities achieve total sales of $3.5 million as of July 2007. The program has generated over 1,000 direct processing and

Photo: David Weiner, INCEF marketing jobs and benefited A JUVENILE MOUNTAIN GORILLA plays in the bamboo under the over 5,000 households, while watchful eyes of his family. USAID supports great ape conservation conserving or restoring over efforts in Africa and Asia, including protected area management, alternatives to deforestation and hunting, and ape research. 10,500 hectares of forest.

• USAID support to the ASEAN Africa • With USAID support, the Senegal Wildlife Enforcement Network Ministry of the Environment provided training and exchange • U.S. partners in the Congo Basin adopted policies that require all visits for more than 650 law Forest Partnership increased the charcoal to be made of wood from enforcement officials, and area of land under improved managed forests, benefiting local cooperation led to more than managed by 14.25 million communities and diminishing 30 wildlife law enforcement hectares, for a cumulative 46.6 the power of a charcoal cartel. actions in Southeast Asia. million hectares since 2003. • Communities participating in • In Indonesia, USAID helped • USAID supported the Kenya USAID’s community conservancies revive a Javanese tradition of Wildlife Service in upgrading project (LIFE) saw incomes seedling cultivation and tree their SafariCard revenue rise from $165,000 in 1998 to planting to rehabilitate severely collection system, which is $5.5 million in 2007. The net degraded land in and around expected to boost revenue for national return to the Namibian Raden Soerjo Grand Forest Park. biodiversity conservation in and economy from conservancies and around parks and reserves by an affiliated tourism companies was • USAID’s Responsible Asia Forestry additional $2 million per year. almost $34 million in 2007. and Trade (RAFT) Alliance signed an MOU with 14 forest enterprises • A Code of Harvesting Practices • USAID supported the creation of in 2007, with commitments was drafted for logging contracts in 735,049 hectares of new protected to improve forest management Liberia, which assures low impact areas in Madagascar, bringing in approximately 1.1 million logging and adherence to best the percentage of biodiversity hectares of tropical forest. forest management practices in this rich habitats represented in country still recovering from war. protected areas to 95.6 percent.

vi Executive Summary • In Bangladesh, tourism to one • USAID is assisting Afro- USAID pilot site increased nine- Colombians and indigenous fold from 2005 to 2006, and groups in Colombia to develop and four-fold again in 2007. A park manage 150,000 hectares of natural that had some 300 visitors per forest, and create approximately month in 2005 is on track to attract 21,000 forestry sector jobs. 15,000 per month in 2008. • In the 2.4 million hectare • In Cambodia, USAID-supported Podocarpus-El Condor Biosphere public awareness activities resulted Reserve in Ecuador, USAID and its in a 90 percent reduction of Photo: USAID/Cambodia partners reduced the rate of habitat outlets selling wildlife meat in four WILD TIGER IN CAMBODIA: loss by 88 percent, and maintained Efforts to curtail trafficking cities from the baseline measured in wildlife and wildlife parts 768,364 hectares of natural in 2005-2006, and 225 wildlife benefit the endangered tiger vegetation in five protected areas. throughout its range. traffickers were apprehended. • USAID assisted Peru’s two • The newly-initiated Orangutan most important environmental Conservation Services Project • In its last year, the Parks in Peril agencies with the adoption of in Indonesia improved the program assisted members of 16 new policies, agreements, management of 243,000 hectares of Fundación Páramo in the Condor and regulations to conserve biologically significant forest within Biosphere Reserve in Ecuador to biodiversity and sustainably Kalimantan and Sumatra, and reduce grazing and fire and help manage natural resources. provided training to 194 individuals conserve approximately 30,000 in natural resources management hectares in the Cotopaxi National and/or biodiversity conservation. Park and 12,000 hectares in the Centrally Funded Antisana Ecologic Reserve. Programs • USAID support for community conservation in Nepal led to 15,830 • In Bolivia, USAID improved 16 • With Global Conservation hectares of forest being officially indigenous community forest Program support, a team of turned over to local communities operations and facilitated nearly $1 scientists discovered the world’s for sustainable management, million in commercial contracts. largest known population of grey- and helped restore forest use Family income from forestry shanked douc, one of the 25 most rights for disenfranchised rural activities increased by 55 percent. endangered primates. Leaders people throughout the country. in the Quang Nam province of • Technical support and advocacy by Vietnam have agreed to create a USAID partners was instrumental protected area for this species. Latin America and in the creation of a 15 million the Caribbean hectare mosaic of conservation • A USAID TransLinks site in units in Pará State, Brazil, the Cambodia won the 2007 Wild Asia • In the Maya Biosphere Reserve, largest in any tropical forest in Responsible Tourism Award, for Guatemala’s largest protected the world. Located in a region the work of a local NGO partner in area, USAID helped open infamous for violent land conflicts helping village programs compete in important markets for sustainably and illegal logging, the mosaic the competitive world of tourism, harvested xate palm leaves used as will form a vast preservation and for putting a system in place ornamental greens. Beneficiaries corridor the size of Alabama. which pays residents to protect the sold over 14,000 xate bunches nests of critically endangered birds. for $147,948 in FY 2007.

USAID’S BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY PROGRAMS, FY 2007 vii • With support from Global Health Bureau, conservation partners provided health information and services in high biodiversity areas of Madagascar, Kenya, Cambodia and the Philippines, encouraging local communities to cooperate in the protection of forest and marine areas.

• USAID’s Carbon Reporting Initiative developed a user- friendly web-based forest carbon calculator which provides a scientifically rigorous estimate of the amount of carbon dioxide emissions avoided or sequestered through development activities, helping the Agency track climate change impact while encouraging forest conservation.

COLLECTING COCKLES: This • USAID’s Water Team established a coastal resident of Nicaragua gathers cockles in a permanent “no-take” coastal zoning scheme to conserve zone as part of an effort to monitor marine resources in Fumba Bay, the health of shellfish populations which her community depends Zanzibar, and introduced half- on for food and income. USAID pearl aquaculture as an eco- supported the establishment of these friendly source of food protein zones within important ecological reserves of the Aserradores, Padre (oyster) and income (pearls). Ramos, and Puerto Morazan estuaries of Nicaragua.

Photo: Nelvia del Socorro Hernández, CIDEA-UCA

viii Executive Summary CHANGING THE LANDSCAPE: USAID’S APPROACH TO BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY

Ecosystems are becoming achieve peace and security, govern listed above, and needs to be among impoverished and species are justly and democratically, realize the first priority investments in a disappearing at an alarming rate economic and social growth, country. Experience also shows there worldwide. With few exceptions, invest in education, and maintain are barriers to and preconditions the most severe of these trends public health and food security. for success in resource conservation are concentrated in developing and management, which must countries where people’s livelihoods International development is a be recognized and addressed. and even daily nourishment are complex and often stepwise process, often directly dependent on healthy where lasting results depend on In the past five years, USAID has forests, fisheries and wildlife. As simultaneous advancement across implemented a greatly expanded these natural resources decline, the a range of development issues. For biodiversity conservation portfolio, number of people competing for example, to grow crops there must with annual funding now approaching them increases and the potential for access to land and the right to use it, $200 million. Investments in conflict rises. In a shrinking world of reliable water and fertile soil, and of sustainable forest management, instant communications and global course good seeds and knowledge of non-destructive forest products and environmental impacts, conserving agriculture. Where do biodiversity enterprises, and forest conservation and managing biodiversity and forests and forestry activities fit into this have remained consistently high at for both their intrinsic and utilitarian complex development process? USAID around $100 million per year. Many of values is in everyone’s interest. experience shows that conserving these forestry activities are part of the Sustainable forestry and biodiversity biological resources advances all Agency’s biodiversity portfolio. With conservation programs help countries of the Agency’s overarching goals greater investment, USAID’s programs

RED-EYED TREE FROG: This startling amphibian (Agalychnis callidryas) lives in rainforests, from southern Mexico to northern Colombia.

Photo: Jerry Bauer, USDA Forest Service

USAID’S BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY PROGRAMS, FY 2007 1 have been able to work at larger scales, planned and managed for an entire invest in regional landscapes, and ecosystem, watershed or other natural undertake multi-sectoral programs. As unit based on biodiversity priorities the Agency’s experience in these issues and ecological, social and political has grown over the past three decades, factors. Landscape conservation it has applied its lessons learned emphasizes strategic planning, threat assessment and response, and planning across other development sectors such as health, agriculture, and energy. USAID has also become a world leader in integrated approaches to sustainable agriculture, community-based natural resource management and natural products enterprises. For example, the “Nature, Wealth and Power” approach developed by USAID and its partners enables planners to deal with natural resource issues in the context of Photo: USAID/Nepal livelihoods, governance, and markets. BUFFER ZONE USER GROUPS conduct a public hearing and audit in the Shey Phoksundo National Perhaps the most influential USAID Park buffer zones in Dolpa, activity promoting landscape- Nepal. This process is used by local communities to hold their scale conservation is the Global committee members and local Conservation Program (GCP), government officials transparent, accountable and responsive. initiated in 1999 and still ongoing in the form of “GCP II.” This program chooses high priority ecosystems where through ever more sophisticated partner organizations work towards approaches to conservation and forest catalytic change, threat reduction, management, such as integrating and building capacity in local groups. economic concerns and property A recent evaluation of GCP found rights into project planning and it has succeeded in incorporating implementation. The result is the threats-based conservation design and Agency has been more effective in planning at landscape scales, and has its conservation actions and effects helped partner organizations manage change on an increasingly larger scale. their projects adaptively, changing priorities, location, approach or At the start of the new millennium, level of effort if monitoring results conservation organizations began to recommend it. In addition, GCP systematically design programs at partners have made significant progress Lessons from GCP have improved the landscape and/or seascape level in addressing two important barriers landscape conservation efforts that (hereafter referred to as landscape to successful conservation: lack of cross political boundaries in several conservation). USAID has been involvement by the people who live in priority locations. For example, heavily involved in developing and and use the landscapes, and the limited the new multilateral Coral Triangle refining landscape scale conservation capacity of local governments and Initiative draws on lessons learned approaches, in which activities are organizations to manage these areas. from seascape conservation by a GCP

2 INTRODUCTION CEIBA TREE: Buttresses add stability for this giant tree living on the thin soil of the Ecuadorian rainforest. USAID works with the Government of Ecuador to grant land title and forest use rights to indigenous groups and small communities, and builds their skills to protect and manage the forests wisely.

Photo: USAID/Ecuador

partner in Indonesia and Papua New supported by USAID’s Central African Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Guinea. GCP experience advised Regional Program on the Environment and Peru. While these regional another partner when they developed (CARPE). In turn, CBFP/CARPE initiatives are structured differently, a landscape conservation plan in an experience has inspired other USAID they recognize and build on the area of the Democratic Republic of regional conservation efforts, such understanding that sharing lessons Congo for the multilateral Congo as the Initiative for Conservation in and skills across a region is an Basin Forest Partnership (CBFP) the Andean Amazon, encompassing efficient way to create wider impact.

USAID’S BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY PROGRAMS, FY 2007 3 Photo: USAID/Guinea ELECTION DAY: A community in Guinea uses a show of hands to elect forest co-management committee members. Cooperative management among farmers, community groups, and government forestry officials, protects biodiversity, maintains the forest, and results in equitable sharing of responsibility and benefit among partners.

In addition to these regional resource rights, as well as income from One critical area that receives greater approaches, other USAID biodiversity tourism to parks or, in the case of attention within USAID is land tenure and forestry programs invest over the Namibia, photo and hunting safaris in and property rights. Ownership and long term in individual countries, community-managed conservancies. access to land, forests, wildlife, water and produce equally dramatic and Biodiversity and economic benefits and other natural resources is often sustainable results. In Madagascar, are intertwined: while wildlife unclear in developing countries. This nearly two decades of working with populations have grown exponentially can result in violent conflict over the government on protected areas in Namibia, communities participating these rights, negatively impacting culminated in 2007 with six national in natural resource management conservation efforts. Thoughtful parks in the eastern rainforest – an through LIFE have seen revenue conservation that addresses these area the size of the Grand Canyon rise from $165,000 in 1998 to $5.5 issues can reduce or eliminate such National Park – being designated a million (and a net national return conflict. USAID supports many World Heritage Site, and over 95 of almost $34 million) in 2007. efforts which transfer resource rights percent of biodiversity-rich habitat from the national government to secured in parks and reserves. After Landscape conservation planners face local communities, or restore resource 15 years of support by USAID’s multiple challenges as these programs rights to disenfranchised indigenous mission in Namibia, the Living expand. The GCP evaluation revealed people. In Senegal, the government in a Finite Environment (LIFE) that landscape actors have not been recently adopted policies requiring project has resulted in a nationwide very successful in coping with the charcoal to come from managed community-based natural resource wider enforcement and economic forests, taking control of this essential management program implemented by issues which emerge at a landscape resource away from an unsustainable local organizations and communities scale, compared to work at smaller urban cartel and giving it to forest involving over 14 percent of the sites. Landscapes are embedded within communities so that income supports country’s land and nearly 13 percent existing governance and economic local people and there is a strong of the population. In both countries, systems that are not easy to change. incentive for communities to reinvest success and sustainability are related in sustainable forest management. to giving communities natural Another example is in the Philippines,

4 INTRODUCTION where indigenous farmers in northern products are not derived from illegal Luzon have been awarded ancestral or destructive logging. USAID has rights to their land and now protect been at the forefront of catalyzing the forests with checkpoints along public-private alliances that address access roads. Along with LIFE in issues in global supply chains from Namibia, these are typical examples forest to shelf, helping retailers of community-based natural resource find the sustainable wood products management where a previously demanded by consumers. Examples unmanaged resource – forests or of these include the Sustainable Forest wildlife – is now managed sustainably Products Global Alliance (SFPGA) by local people organized around their Photo: USAID/Rwanda and the Responsible Asia Forest and shared interest in receiving higher COLOBUS MONKEY: Trade (RAFT) programs, which work value and longer-term benefits. Nyungwe Forest National with networks of corporations and Park in Rwanda is home to nine primate species, including financial institutions committed to Another challenge of working at the this one, Colobus angolensis environmental sustainability, as well ruwenzori. USAID supports landscape scale is making markets ecotourism development as manufacturers, exporters, forest work for conservation in the context in and around the park. concession owners, governments of widespread poverty. USAID has and communities, to verify long promoted sustainably harvested, legality and certify practices. certified and natural products to activities, especially in tropical provide economic incentives for forests which harbor the most As a complement to socioeconomic conservation. For example, in Mexico biodiversity and are also among the incentives, USAID uses state-of-the- the Agency supported certification most threatened ecosystems. High art technology to support resource of community-managed forests, global demand for wood and paper conservation efforts at landscape and improving the management of over combined with weak monitoring regional scales. In Central Africa, 500,000 hectares of high biodiversity and enforcement have led to satellites are increasingly relied upon to area and improving milling techniques illegal logging, which at the global monitor change in forest cover, which to get more lumber from fewer trees level is undermining markets for aids in CBFP/CARPE long-term in selected appropriate areas. Milling legitimate companies who invest in planning and evaluation of progress. efficiency alone provided $1 million sustainable management. At the local In Central and South America, in additional revenues, and one level, these conditions have led to USAID supports the multi-donor community signed a contract worth violent conflict between traffickers, Mesoamerican Regional Visualization more than $3 million to produce government officials and communities, and Monitoring System (SERVIR, school furniture built from sustainably and have increased corruption. in Spanish) which provides countries harvested lumber. In El Salvador, over with climate information, forest fire 700 coffee producers on 200 farms Since the Presidential Initiative alerts, and other ecological monitoring and processing plants achieved shade- Against Illegal Logging was launched services. Worldwide, USAID’s grown, fair-trade certification in 2007, in 2002, several public-private FRAMEweb.net portal supports bringing improved management to partnerships among governments, communities of practice which share more than 7,000 hectares and a price NGOs and private enterprises ideas, results and lessons-learned premium to producers, who expect have emerged to address illegal and from experiences in natural resource to harvest 915,000 pounds of coffee unsustainable logging and associated management. USAID Missions will worth an estimated $3.8 million. trade. Companies in the United soon benefit from a web-based forest States, Europe and other major carbon calculator that will provide Market forces can also be effective in consumer markets are increasingly a scientifically rigorous estimate overcoming illegal and unsustainable interested in ensuring that their of the amount of carbon dioxide

USAID’S BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY PROGRAMS, FY 2007 5 Many of USAID’s newest initiatives attempt to combine these tools and skills with landscape conservation approaches and attention to natural resource rights, governance and markets at the national, regional and global scales. In Liberia, USAID is working to promote local land and resource rights so communities

Photo: Development Associates Inc benefit as the country restarts CHECKPOINT: Indigenous Bugkalot upland farmers in Cadikitan, commercial forestry after years of Northern Luzon, Philippines, have been awarded certificate of a logging ban. In West Africa, the ancestral domain rights to their land and are helping protect the forests by maintaining checkpoints along access roads. STEWARD (Sustainable and Thriving Environments for West African Regional Development) collaboration emissions avoided or sequestered dynamics of rural development, between USDA Forest Service and through forest conservation, for example how people move USAID promotes learning networks, sustainable forest management, out of small-scale agriculture best practices in conservation and forest fire control, reforestation, and the informal economy into natural resources management, and and agroforestry activities. more profitable ventures. consistent environmental policies across borders. Around the world, USAID was one of the first to Analysis of market systems that impact USAID’s TransLinks program, a value and promote landscape level species and ecosystems: Besides (or research and development consortium, interventions, and is committed before) promoting certification and addresses issues such as land to overcoming the challenges of PES, conservation practitioners need rights and conservation, payments this approach in order to achieve to better understand how traditional for environmental services and far-reaching and sustainable commodity and financial markets effective conservation enterprises. results. In addition to promoting impact land use. A recent analysis local governance and rights, and concluded that much of the world’s Biodiversity conservation and harnessing traditional and emerging overall deforestation is concentrated in sustainable forestry are vital for markets to conserve biodiversity Indonesia and Brazil, where conversion the prosperity and security of all and forests, USAID applies of forests to produce commodities nations. Through trade, travel and specialized tools and skills, such as: such as palm oil, soybeans and the geochemistry of Earth, the cattle has been a major driver. products and services provided by Institutional analyses: Conservation healthy ecological communities programs need to understand Understanding the political economy of benefit every person on the planet. what institutions are capable and resource management: Shifts in land use Recognizing these relationships, the trusted by diverse populations and can produce unintended consequences. programs and projects described how these can be scaled up and There is need to assess the impacts on in this report have worked to networked to address landscape access to land and resources on the apply the best methodologies, level threats and opportunities. most vulnerable people. In addition, technology and people towards landscape scale trends should be strengthening the natural resource Expertise in rural development at tracked to assess if threats are actually base upon which USAID development regional scales: Conservation must abated or simply moved elsewhere. objectives ultimately depend. apply an understanding of the

6 INTRODUCTION USAID country and regional programs funded significant biodiversity conservation and forestry activities in over 25 countries Africa throughout Africa in FY 2007.

The African continent is home to the greatest concentrations of large mammals on Earth, the mighty Congo River surrounded by the world’s second largest tropical rainforest, the evolutionary laboratory of Madagascar, and numerous important arid environments, wetlands, and coral reefs. An estimated 70 percent of Africans depend on natural resources for their livelihoods, and the richness and diversity of its ecosystems provide global benefits. ecotourism enterprises. Poor governance, conflict, and HIV/ In FY 2007, USAID continued its AIDS challenge these efforts in role as a conservation leader in Africa many African nations, while with several programs working to globalization and nascent promote sustainable use of natural carbon markets for climate resources, from responsible logging change mitigation provide new and community forestry to slowing opportunities and incentives for the bushmeat trade and advancing conserving Africa’s natural wealth.

BABY BOOM: Several hundred thousand wildebeest calves are born over a period of three weeks during the annual migration of herbivores through Tanzania and Kenya. Calves learn to run within minutes of birth, but synchronized reproduction and sheer numbers are their main line of defense against lions and other predators.

Photo: Mike Colby, USAID

USAID’S BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY PROGRAMS, FY 2007 7 Africa Regional Program critical habitats. The program seeks on natural resource management to to conceptually and pragmatically Missions and their partners, including Office of Sustainable link understanding of biodiversity numerous assessments, trainings, and Development situations with sound design and program design and implementation implementation of USAID programs, activities. For example, USFS-IP USAID Bureau for Africa’s Office and to identify emerging best practices. supported USAID/Mozambique’s of Sustainable Development (AFR/ Activities include biodiversity Forests, Finance, Food, Fuel and SD) provides analytical and technical assessments, targeted analyses, Future (5F) program, where an assistance to country programs, and and other program development Environmental Impact Assessment coordinates with donors and partner support. By incorporating best has been completed, reforestation organizations to promote social and practices into operational plans, with endangered species is underway, economic development. Biodiversity Mission Strategic Plans and Country and environmental protection activities include support for great Assistance Strategies, this program guidelines have been established. ape conservation, knowledge sharing raises awareness of USAID’s on natural resource management biodiversity conservation goals. via the Internet, collaboration with U.S. conservation organizations, and Through BATS implementer timely and thoughtful biodiversity Chemonics International, Africa program assessment and planning Regional Program supported a review for USAID’s Africa Missions. of 30 years of Africa Bureau experience in the biodiversity sector; has drafted AFR/SD manages USAID support to extractive industry guidelines for the Great Apes Conservation Fund, conserving biodiversity in the areas implemented by the U.S. Fish and of mining, oil and gas, forestry Wildlife Service (FWS). In 2007, and fisheries; and has developed an $2.5 million of Congo Basin Forest information packet on conserving Partnership funds were distributed biodiversity before, during, and after Photo: Crickette Sanz, WCS in 29 grants to 11 institutions. conflict. BATS also implements or CONSERVING GREAT APES Grantees included: World Wildlife supports mandatory biodiversity is hard work. Here, Wildlife Conservation Society researchers Fund, for work to increase ecotourism and tropical forestry assessments survey ape nests in a flooded part of in the Central African Republic by in African countries. In FY 2007, the Nouabale-Ndoki National Park in northern Republic of Congo, part habituating two groups of western Chemonics independently completed of a project supported by USAID lowland gorillas to people; Rare, for a these assessments in four countries via the Great Ape Conservation Fund, administered by the U.S. public awareness campaign to conserve (Benin, Burkina Faso, Mauritania Fish and Wildlife Service. bonobos in the Democratic Republic and Sierra Leone), assisted the of Congo; and Wildlife Conservation USDA Forest Service International Society, for their efforts to reduce Programs (USFS-IP) with two Support to USFS-IP is also used to the transport of illegal bushmeat assessments (Lesotho and Swaziland), introduce expertise and services to on Cameroon’s rail system through designed and delivered a three-day countries and regions in Africa with education and law enforcement. training in Kalispell, Montana for new USAID programs or which USFS-IP personnel conducting have not previously received Forest FY 2007 was the first year of the assessments for Botswana, Chad, Service assistance. Programs initiated Biodiversity Analysis and Technical and Niger, and provided support to in FY 2007 include: sustainable Support (BATS) program, which helps USAID to undertake two additional forest management planning in USAID Headquarters and Missions assessments (Nigeria and Senegal). Ghana; ecotourism development in conduct activities in Africa in a Cross River State, Nigeria; website manner that conserves biodiversity USAID Africa Bureau funded USFS- and digital image training in Sierra and protects tropical forests and other IP to provide technical assistance Leone; training in tree identification,

8 AFRICA vegetation assessment, and wildlife STCP focuses on promoting the seven countries, covering an area monitoring in Divundu, Namibia, production and marketing of quality of 65 million hectares (680,300 and Mucusso, Angola; and, an Africa cocoa, and improving market access km²). From the Bight of Africa Leadership Seminar in South Africa and income for small-scale producers, to the mountains of the Albertine and Botswana. USFS-IP support attention is also paid to creating Rift, these landscapes extend across is now part of ongoing USAID systems that are environmentally political boundaries and ecosystems assistance to the Sudan Transition friendly, socially responsible, and to conserve the most biologically Environment Program (STEP) in economically sustainable. In this vein, important forests while promoting Southern Sudan, and training in the STCP program included work cooperation in environmental wildlife detection and monitoring and publications on “Biodiversity monitoring and law enforcement. systems for the Department of Water and Smallholder Cocoa Production Affairs and Forestry in South Africa. Systems in West Africa” and The primary objective of CARPE’s “Enhancing the knowledge base on current phase is to reduce the rate The Africa Biodiversity Collaborative valuable trees in cocoa in West Africa.” of forest degradation and loss of Group (ABCG), founded in 2000, biodiversity through increased is co-funded by USAID Africa local, national, and regional natural Bureau, other donors, and NGO Central African Regional resource management capacity, members. This consortium of Program for the using a people-centered approach U.S. conservation organizations Environment/Congo to forest conservation. In the past, active in Africa helps leverage the Basin Forest Partnership conservation strategies were typically significant intellectual capital and developed to support protected areas, other resources of its members Landscape-level Conservation community lands, or private sector to provide technical assistance in and Forest Management holdings as separate entities within support of USAID’s biodiversity in the Congo Basin and political boundaries. Over time there conservation programs across Africa. Virunga Mountains has been increasing recognition In 2007, ABCG provided program that wildlife movements, ecological planning, implementation and USAID’s Central African Regional processes, and human influences move evaluation support to the BATS Program for the Environment in between macro-zones and across program, and began support for a (CARPE) is a 20-year initiative started such borders. Addressing natural new initiative with the FWS and in 1994. CARPE moved from an resources management at a larger scale Tanzania’s Mweka Wildlife College information gathering phase to an allows for broader examination of to address the bushmeat trade implementation phase in January conflicting policies and practices across in East Africa through targeted 2003, when management moved jurisdictions and land-use regimes. training of wildlife professionals. from Washington, DC to Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, CARPE’s approach involves Sustainable development of the following the launch of the Congo the creation and execution of smallholder tree crop sector in West Basin Forest Partnership (CBFP), comprehensive landscape management and Central Africa is promoted by an international partnership of plans which convey resource usage Africa Bureau through co-funding of governments, NGOs and the private rights to rural populations, thereby the Sustainable Tree Crops Program sector all working towards improved providing environmental and political (STCP), a public-private, research- conservation and management of stability in areas prone to conflict over for-development partnership. In FY forests and wildlife in the region. natural resources. Key activities include 2007, the primary tree crops targeted CARPE is the principle U.S. protected area management, improved by STCP in West Africa were cocoa program supporting CBFP. logging policies, support for rational and cashew nuts, with additional forest use by local inhabitants, and tree crops considered within the The majority of CBFP funds allocated improved environmental governance. context of diversifying cocoa or by CARPE support activities in In 2007, the total area under improved cashew production systems. While 12 key biodiversity landscapes in management by CARPE partners

USAID’S BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY PROGRAMS, FY 2007 9 increased by 14.25 million hectares, In 2007, CBFP/ CARPE partners threats. In addition, partner World to a total of 46.6 million hectares. NASA and University of Maryland Resources Institute (WRI) developed This includes 14.6 million hectares used archived satellite imagery to an internet-based forest information in 64 separate Community Based establish a baseline rate of forest system, which allows national Natural Resource Zones where cover change from 1990-2000, and governments and independent CARPE partners have initiated or generated forest cover change maps observers to verify whether forestry implemented a participatory land for the entire Congo Basin, for the concession holders are practicing use planning process. In additions, 12 priority landscapes, and for each legal and environmentally sustainable there are 17.7 million hectares of of six Central African countries. The logging practices. Two always-current protected areas and 14.3 million information will help assess progress “forest atlases” are operational for hectares of extractive resource zones towards conservation objectives, Cameroon and Republic of Congo, – primarily forest concessions – identify areas of biodiversity and by the end of 2008, five countries under improved management. degradation, and inform the in the region will have web-based appropriate conservation response to monitoring of logging concessions.

10 AFRICA DZANGA BAI: Forest elephants, build capacity for advocacy, monitor gorillas and other large mammals congregate in forest clearings environmental compliance, and known as bais like this one in promote financial management for Central African Republic, part of the Sangha Tri-National Landscape good governance in the forestry sector. which also includes portions of Cameroon and Republic of Congo. Fourteen new laws or policies were Photo: David Weiner, INCEF passed in the environment and forestry sector in FY 2007 with support from CARPE. For example: eight of nine countries in the region have ratified a treaty governing the sustainable use and management of natural resources in Central Africa; Gabon has passed a law creating a National Park Agency; the Central African Republic has adopted mining and water codes; the Democratic Republic of Congo has promulgated eight implementation decrees that operationalize the forestry code; and, Equatorial Guinea has issued a decree banning the export of raw logs from logging concessions.

Identifying best practices and transferring this knowledge to local stakeholders is critical to sustaining and building upon the achievements to date. With this in mind, the USDA Forest Service (USFS) is applying its wealth of practical experience managing large-scale forested landscapes to the production of management guidelines for the 12 landscapes. In 2007 they finalized Within each of the 12 landscapes, Union) plays a coordinating, two guides, one on protected areas partners have also created monitoring catalyzing and supporting role through and one on landscapes in general, programs to survey and manage a small grant program to build the and circulated a draft of a third keystone species including great capacity of indigenous NGOs, and guide on community-based natural apes, elephants and okapi (forest links their activities with international resource management. In addition, giraffe). Data are being collated to partners, national governments USFS trained an estimated 100 create geographically referenced and regional institutions. A related national and local ministry of baseline information which objective is the coordination of civil forestry and environment planners will be published in 2008. society actors at local, national, and and implementing partners on international levels in developing landscape planning processes. In addition to field conservation and advocating a biodiversity These documents and training mechanisms, CARPE is working to conservation policy agenda on a workshops are essential for building improve biodiversity governance. national scale. In 2007, 291 people local capacity for conservation and Partner IUCN (World Conservation benefited from training programs to sustainable forestry in Central Africa.

USAID’S BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY PROGRAMS, FY 2007 11 USAID/East Africa the Republics of Kenya, Uganda and dialogue on Integrated Water Tanzania), which will ensure water Resources Management to align the Water for Biodiversity in flows to sustain the biodiversity project goals with those of the World the Mara River Basin of the Mara-Serengeti region. Bank funded Nile Equatorial Lakes Sustainable Action Plan (NELSAP) The survival of the Mara-Serengeti In FY 2007 the program started in the basin, and a joint proposal for ecosystem is dependent on the the process of developing a basin funding by the NELSAP program flows of river Mara, which provide wide Biodiversity Action Plan by has been prepared. TWB-MRB biodiversity in this ecosystem with holding a workshop of stakeholders has facilitated the formation of riverine habitats and serves as refuge in June 2007, which attracted several interim transboundary water users from annual and periodic droughts. key government and community committees critical to the formation Straddling the Kenya-Tanzania border stakeholder institutions from Kenya with Masai Mara National Reserve and Tanzania, as well as the EAC, in the north and Serengeti National International Livestock Research Park in the south, the Mara River is Institute, and World Wildlife Fund’s threatened by growing water scarcity East Africa Regional Program as upstream water abstraction has Office (WWF/EARPO). This continued to grow. In addition, consultative process has resulted in water pollution has been worsened agreed approaches to conserving by poor land-management practices the Basin, including community- upstream and discharge of untreated, based conservation, protected area raw waste into the river. In response management, sustainable use of to these threats, USAID/East Africa natural resources, economic incentives initiated “Transboundary Water for for conservation, environmental

Biodiversity in the Masai Mara River education and communication, and Photo: WWF-EARPO Basin” (TWB-MRB) in 2006. policy analysis, development and DINNER: Residents of the Iseresere reform. WWF/EARPO compiled village in Northern Tanzania display their catch of mudfish The overall goal of TWB-MRB is to data from biodiversity threat from the Mara wetlands. Nearby, improve water resource management surveys conducted by WWF, EAC Lake Victoria no longer contains in ways that reduce and mitigate and African Centre for Technical this important food for people and wildlife. USAID supports a threats to biodiversity in the Mara Studies. TWB-MRB supports the biodiversity action plan for the River Basin. To achieve this goal, process of addressing threats and Mara Basin to conserve species impacted by reduced water flow the program supports activities that challenges identified in EAC’s policy and increased water pollution. improve understanding of the water statement on “Ecosystems, Natural needs of biodiversity, harmonize river resources and Environment.” basin management plans and policies of a Transboundary Water Users to provide a sufficient quantity of The program also launched an Forum, supported transboundary clean water to people and wildlife, Environmental Flows Assessment dialogue for Integrated water and explicitly monitor indicators (EFA) to gauge the water needs of wild resources management and helped for biodiversity conservation in animals and plants, and conducted prepare proposals for the formation the basin. TWB-MRB promotes a two consultative workshops and EFA of national and regional Masai Mara transboundary agreement between measurements on the Mara River to basin management structures. The Kenya and Tanzania, under the determine the baseline river flows program trained nearly 100 people authority of the East African necessary for the maintenance of in both Kenya and Tanzania who Community (EAC: the regional biodiversity. The TWB-MRB has have subsequently been involved in intergovernmental organization of also held a regional stakeholder’s transboundary basin management.

12 AFRICA USAID/Southern Africa services in the basin. USAID is also of Namibia was conducted, working to increase the capacity of which assessed bird diversity and Biodiversity Conservation forestry and environmental technical community use of natural resources, through Improved River specialists to conduct inventories including the transboundary Basin Management of biologically important areas, acquisition of bushmeat. activities critical for conservation USAID regional activities in Southern planning. Perhaps the most important • A geographic information system Africa aim to improve biodiversity activity supported by the Mission was established for the region. conservation in the Okavango is preparation of a management River Basin by supporting key plan for the biologically significant In Kuando Kubango province, Angola, elements of the National Biodiversity Mucusso Reserve in Angola, significant progress was made in which will advise the process of filling information gaps and securing developing national guidelines on government cooperation. For example, management plan preparation for an Action Plan to support biodiversity protected areas in the country. in the the provice was prepared in collaboration with the Angolan Mucusso Reserve and transboundary Ministry of Environment and Urban areas contiguous to Angola are Affairs (MINUA) and the Provincial threatened by extensive fires in the late Government or Kuando Kubango dry season, hunting of low-density (PGKK). The first ever agreement mammal populations, unsustainable between USAID, MINUA and PGKK logging of key hardwood tree species, was signed, forming a partnership a high rate of post-war expansion of for preparing a management plan for human settlements and agriculture Mucusso Reserve in the province. along the Kubango River in Angola, With USAID support, land use and future agricultural expansion along land cover change along the Kubango the Cuito River following proposed River from 2003 to 2006 was mapped,

Photo: USAID/Southern Africa mine closures in Namibia, and and a threat analysis conducted of COLLECTING WOODY SPECIES possible loss of protected status for a the Kumbilo wetlands in Mucusso FOR IDENTIFICATION: With section of the Caprivi Game Reserve and human-elephant conflicts in USAID support, a local team of technicians-in-training conducted that lines the Kavango River. Many the region. Data collected from field mammal and vegetation inventories basin-wide activities important work and research in Portugal, Angola in accessible areas of the Mucusso to addressing these issues were and Namibia contributed to a new Game Reserve, Angola. supported with FY 2007 funds: tree guide for Kuando Kubango, produced in English and Portuguese. Strategic Action Plan of Angola and • Over 50 government environmental integrating concerns of Botswana and technicians and managers from These achievements will influence the Namibia, under the guidance of the the three Okavango River overall outcome of a management plan Permanent Okavango River Basin Basin countries were trained due in late 2008, featuring stakeholder Water Commission (OKACOM). on tree species identification, participation and guidelines for Specifically, USAID/Southern Africa mammal monitoring and management planning in Angola that is working to strengthen OKACOM vegetation assessment. can be disseminated and supported so it can better coordinate and oversee by OKACOM within the Basin. research on sustainable use of the • A six-month study on the natural resources, while conserving Okavango River system in valuable biodiversity and ecological Kavango and Caprivi regions

USAID’S BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY PROGRAMS, FY 2007 13 Dutch and French foreign assistance since 1999. Activities include efforts to better understand current NRM practices of the transboundary area, while bringing transparency and accountability into the governance of forest resources, especially in conflict situations. There are also plans to develop small farm-based industries to provide economic safety nets, while reducing pressure on the available forest resources.

The Guinea/Sierra Leone Transboundary Natural Resource Management project is designed to conserve the natural forest Photo: USAID/Guinea areas associated with Outamba REST STOP: A sleeping nest built of branches and leaves (center- Kilimi National Park (OKNP) in top) is a sure sign of chimpanzees. Habitat like this along the Guinea- Sierra Leone border will be better conserved through transboundary Sierra Leone, and the classified cooperation and investments in community forests and protected areas. forests of southern Guinea, by working with communities and appropriate institutions. OKNP, USAID/West Africa West Africa. The defining landscape Sierra Leone’s only national park, feature is the forested Tano River contains a variety of habitats Natural Resource Management basin, including the river terminus, that are regionally important for Without Borders the Aby Lagoon. This zone is rich in biodiversity conservation. It is also biodiversity but is threatened by high part of a watershed that supplies West Africa is rich in natural resources, deforestation rates; natural forest cover many communities in northern Sierra but tapping into this wealth to foster outside of protected areas has been Leone. The park’s northern border development is a challenge due a especially impacted by conversion is the international boundary with lack of capacity in government and to agriculture. The project aims Guinea, where a considerable amount the private sector, as well as a legacy to improve the management and of wildlife and dry forest cover remains of recent and ongoing conflicts. sustainable productivity of natural but is not well managed or protected. Conservation and natural resource resources within the western region Some local Guinean officials would management (NRM) efforts can be of Ghana and the Aboisso prefecture like this area to become a national very effective in building capacity of Cote d’Ivoire while promoting park, or at least a classified forest. and promoting peace, which is the a more equitable distribution of goal of two trans-boundary initiatives benefits and regional stability. In FY 2007, project design was supported by USAID/West Africa. completed and the World Agroforestry The West Africa Regional Mission In FY 2007, project design was Centre (ICRAF) was selected to lead serves 19 countries in all, only six of completed and implementation implementation. ICRAF has promoted which have USAID bilateral Missions. begun with the selection of CARE community forest co-management in International as the partner. The Guinea for 15 years, and is essentially The Ghana/Ivory Coast project builds on CARE’s work expanding its Landscape Management Transboundary Area project focuses on in the western region of Ghana in for Improved Livelihoods (LAMIL) a zone which has received the highest forest management and biodiversity program, initiated in 2006, to the rating for biodiversity conservation in conservation that has been funded by Sierra Leone border and beyond.

14 AFRICA One objective specific to this base: land degradation from soil and restoration. Development of transboundary project is to increase erosion, over-harvesting, deforestation, community-based strategies for the collaboration and information invasive species, and cultivation of invasive species management is an exchange between key stakeholders in steep, fragile lands has resulted in ongoing effort supported by PLI both countries on forest management the loss of biodiversity, productivity, and the Government of Ethiopia. and associated issues such as stability, and resiliency. USAID poaching and illegal logging. Field is responding to these challenges In 2008, USAID/Ethiopia is initiating activities are starting in 2008. through support for reforestation, a five-year Ethiopian Ecotourism community-based invasives species Development Program (EEDP) with These projects share many goals management, and ecotourism. FY 2007 funds and assistance from and activities: restoring degraded USAID’s Global Sustainable Tourism landscapes; improving NRM USAID/Ethiopia’s Productive Safety Alliance, which will capitalize on through strengthened protected area Net Program (PSNP) works to Ethiopia’s extant and rich biodiversity. management agencies, community- decrease the number of persistently EEDP is a community-based activity based enterprise development poor people requiring food or that will lead to better management of initiatives and active community cash assistance to meet basic needs protected areas and specific protection participation in management; by strengthening the capacity of for unique and valuable assemblages of building local government and target beneficiaries to diversify their species. EEDP will be self-sustaining, civil society capacity in NRM, livelihoods options. Natural resources creating economic opportunities from enterprise development (including management, including forestry, offers a myriad of tourism-related jobs. ecotourism) and conflict management; income-generating opportunities for and, establishing systems to the poorest of the poor while restoring effectively monitor the flow and a healthy, productive landscape. In FY Guinea value of natural resources. 2007, over 15 million tree seedlings were planted across the country, more Landscape Management Further support for the environment than three million elephant grass for Improved Livelihoods in West Africa is provided by (forage) seedlings were distributed, and the Sustainable and Thriving 762 hectares of land were reclaimed Destructive farming practices, Environments for West African as a result of gully treatment. especially shifting (“slash and burn”) Regional Development (STEWARD) cultivation, pose a significant program, a collaboration among The Pastoralist Livelihoods Initiative threat to biodiversity and forests in the USAID Africa Bureau, USAID (PLI), with USDA Forest Service Guinea, part of a high biodiversity Economic Growth and Trade technical assistance, influences zone that stretches from Sierra Bureau and USDA Forest Service. policy on rangeland management by Leone to Cameroon. Guinea’s See the Centrally Funded Programs strengthening traditional pastoralist National Directorate of Water and chapter for more information. institutions and the Government Forests (DNEF) does not have the of Ethiopia’s pastoralist programs resources to manage the more than to better manage natural resources. 100 classified natural forests, and Ethiopia One particular challenge is Prosopis communities reliant on unclassified juliflora, an invasive species affecting forests are likewise challenged. Food Security, Forestry and the Afar and Somali Regions of Ecotourism Programs Ethiopia. In FY 2007, USAID In response, USAID works to improve developed an invasive species the capacity of local communities Food security continues to be a management strategy for Prosopsis to manage forests and increase concern in Ethiopia, and is therefore with government and PLI partners, sustainable agricultural production a focus of USAID efforts in this addressing infestation prevention, through the Landscape Management country. One contributing factor is rapid detection and response, control for Improved Livelihoods (LAMIL) the fragility of the natural resource and management, and rehabilitation activity, started in FY 2006 by the

USAID’S BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY PROGRAMS, FY 2007 15 and multipurpose tree species for enhancing soil fertility were introduced and adopted by 580 households.

The primary goal of the biodiversity component of LAMIL is to enhance the survival of the highly threatened West African chimpanzee, an umbrella species for forest biodiversity in the region. Although an estimated 75 percent of the country’s chimpanzee population has disappeared in the past 30 years, Guinea remains an important refuge for the species, with critical habitat located in and around co-managed forests. In FY 2007, LAMIL used participatory Photo: USAID/Guinea mapping, public awareness, and SEEDS OF CHANGE: Children in Guinea learn about the importance of direct outreach to hunters to address natural resources management by planting trees, part of the LAMIL project supported by USAID. immediate and long-range threats to biodiversity, especially chimpanzees.

World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF). DNEF, and together they review or In collaboration with communities, This activity is complemented by develop natural resource management LAMIL has identified and delimited large and small grants to encourage (NRM) procedures, establish a 23,004 hectares of chimpanzee critical wildlife habitat conservation, promote means of disseminating tree and crop habitat, including migration corridors, development in the cashew sector, intensification models, and empower where communities have agreed and support agricultural research. local communities to plan and to avoid production activities. 245 Within this framework, a major implement sound NRM activities. watersheds were also demarcated in focus of USAID/Guinea’s activities this process, which has helped target has been forest co-management: The project includes education reforestation activities. In FY 2007, a cooperative management among opportunities and resources to increase total of 120,000 high-value seedlings farmers, community groups, and local the economic value of well-managed were produced and transplanted DNEF officials, resulting in protection forests, including training on the use by communities, including 24,646 of biodiversity in classified forests, the of market information systems, and seedlings for live fencing and 95,724 sustainable use of forest resources, and sustainable harvest and processing of seedlings for various other activities an equitable sharing of responsibility key agroforestry and non-timber forest such as reforestation of degraded areas and benefit among partners. products. In FY 2007, new processing within classified forests, protection equipment and storage technologies of watersheds and chimpanzee Since inception, LAMIL has were introduced to the communities critical habitats, enrichment successfully supported community to add value to raw products, and planting within community forests, co-management in four classified a community savings account was and introduction of high-value forests for a total of 55,500 hectares. opened from the proceeds of teak sales trees in community farmlands. To create a policy environment for in Souti Yanfou, further increasing sustainable and productive forest interest in community-based NRM. Public awareness and training on management at the national level, Agroforestry innovations such as the importance of biodiversity the project also provides USDA community nurseries, live fencing, and the causes and consequences Forest Service technical assistance to improved manure pits, fodder plots of biodiversity loss is a key part of

16 AFRICA LAMIL. Monthly education programs devoted to biodiversity conservation technical support and through using books, theater, songs and field and sustainable use of natural creation of conservation projects. excursions have reached 576 children resources with investments in policy, in primary schools, and community governance, field conservation USAID helps monitor the health meetings have reached 700 adults and information technology. of wildlife populations through in forest communities, where support to the Kenya Wildlife Service participants learned about biodiversity USAID partnered with the Northern (KWS). In 2007, KWS undertook and their role in protecting it. Six Rangelands Trust (NRT) to put aerial biomass monitoring in Nairobi lessons on general biodiversity and 377,289 hectares of land under National Park (NNP), and maps chimpanzees have been produced improved management and expand were digitized to produce baselines for broadcasting on rural radio. ecological connectivity among four for long-term monitoring. Wildlife protected areas in FY 2007. Support censuses in Kajiado and Machakos Guns and traps threaten chimpanzees was centered on 12 community- ranches provided data on wildlife across Africa, through illegal hunting managed conservancies selected for populations in the dispersal areas of these great apes for food, and their diversity of habitats, range of south of NNP. In Amboseli National fatal injuries from snares set for legal wildlife species, tourism potential and Park, aerial and ground censuses were game. The project has supported the community commitment to rangeland done to monitor biomass changes and creation of a hunters association at conservation. Three conservancies standardize monitoring processes. Balayan-Souroumban, which promotes received rangeland rehabilitation local control of hunting activities assistance; six set up community- The Mission’s Forestry/Range and ensures that forestry and wildlife based systems for ecological data Rehabilitation and Environmental codes are respected. Hunters – expert monitoring; three piloted vegetation Management Strengthening trackers who value good wildlife monitoring to track changes in wildlife (FORREMS) program works inside management – now monitor wildlife habitat as a result of management and outside protected areas to and report illegal hunting and logging. interventions (and inform planning improve sustainable management of game scout security operations). of forest and woodland ecosystems, USAID biodiversity conservation Grazing committees elected in agroforestry systems and degraded activities may already be bearing three conservancies are planning rangelands. One result of FORREMS fruit in Guinea. Informal analysis improved grazing practices in buffer is the International Small Group of monitoring data from FY 2007 zones outside core conservation Tree Planting program (TIST), a suggests that the chimpanzee areas. Aerial counts in some public-private partnership initiated population in the four classified conservancies suggest these efforts in 2005 that involves the Clean Air forests where LAMIL works will are paying off, with populations of Action Corporation, the Institute for exceed the baseline of 410 individuals elephant, giraffe and Grant’s gazelle Environmental Innovation, USAID recorded at the start of the project. doubling or better in recent years. and over 24,000 small farmers in central Kenya. In FY 2007, TIST In the same region, USAID supported signed climate change transaction Kenya NRT in the initiation, negotiation agreements with 2,295 small groups, and ratification of five community- including 715 tree planting groups, on Community Conservation private sector ecotourism deals, the strength of 3.86 million quantified to Carbon Markets leveraging private sector investments trees eligible for carbon trading on that exceeded $1.5 million. the voluntary carbon market. Biodiversity conservation and Communities and landowners natural resource management are participating in the program realized USAID also supported rangeland the primary sectors through which $401,808 in financial returns as restoration through the Laikipia USAID works to advance Kenya to dividends, salaries and wages. Wildlife Forum (LWF), which put a transforming state. In FY 2007, About 6,000 additional individuals 4,264 hectares of degraded land 82 percent of Mission funds were benefited through funding, training, under improved management in FY

USAID’S BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY PROGRAMS, FY 2007 17 NAIROBI NATIONAL PARK: Zebras are among the many large mammals that draw people to this relatively small park a short drive from the capital. USAID supported aerial surveys here in 2007.

Photo: Mike Colby, USAID

When Tourism Disappears, Jobs and Wildlife Follow

Much of USAID’s support for Kenya goes to ecotourism, which is critical for financing biodiversity activities and building public support for conservation. Tourism is the country’s top hard currency earner, providing 500,000 jobs – one-tenth of Kenya’s workforce – and adding $1 billion annually to the economy in recent years. 2007 was a record-breaking year for tourists, when over two million people visited the country.

When post-election violence started in early January 2008, the country was full of tourists. Over the next several weeks, ethnic conflict claimed 1,500 lives and caused 260,000 Kenyans to flee their homes. No tourists were harmed and the airport stayed open every day, but most visitors cancelled vacations or moved them to neighboring countries. Game lodges sat empty, and even coastal hotels and resorts dropped to 20 percent of capacity in the normally busy winter months. Tourist-dependent enterprises held a collective breath and many employees lost their jobs or continued working without pay. The loss of national and local revenue combined with rural unrest could have led to widespread poaching of wildlife, as it has elsewhere, but such fears never materialized.

As of June 2008, four months after a power-sharing agreement was negotiated and violence subsided, tourism was picking up once again. Most bookings for the second half of 2008 were never cancelled, and the famous wildebeest migration in July, August and September is expected to bring precious foreign currency back to the parks and communities that rely on it. Kenyans are optimistic that tourism and the economy will rebound to former levels in 2009.

Source: “Kenya tourism still struggling,” ONE News, New Zealand, June 23, 2008.

2007, with 40,000 aloes and 29,600 all of which are community/ illegal logging and the bushmeat indigenous trees planted along riparian private sector partnerships. trade. In FY 2007, 97 villages areas and community grazing lands. were organized into three umbrella Some land was rehabilitated through Nature Kenya received support Community Forest Associations, the widespread use of thorny acacia as to extend Participatory Forest and farmers in the program put a ground cover to discourage grazing Management (PFM) to all areas 14,400 hectares under PFM and and encourage grass regeneration. adjacent to the east boundary of planted 300,000 trees in agroforestry Three new ecotourism facilities the Arabuko Sokoke forest. This initiatives. Revenue generated from are currently under construction, support will address threats from forest-based resources amounted

18 AFRICA to $52,357, mostly from export of forest butterfly chrysalises to the US and EU, supplemented by the sale of honey and forest mushrooms in local markets. Over 2,000 people obtained increased economic returns from forest product revenues. A biennial biodiversity monitoring assessment of the Forest found increases in some taxa, particularly birds and butterflies, indicating that harvesting of non- timber forest products (including butterfly chrysalises) had negligible impact. The assessment also noted a slight increase in numbers of the globally endangered Sokoke Owl and Photo: USAID/Kenya Akalat (both IUCN “red list” species), IT PAYS TO CONSERVE for these Kipepeo farmers selling butterfly and an Ader’s duiker was spotted by chrysalises destined for museums and ‘butterfly gardens’ in North America KWS for the first time in this forest. and Europe. In 2007, butterflies and other sustainable harvested non-timber forest products earned over $50,000 for communities near the Arabuko Sokoke Forest. At the national level, USAID supported the Government of Kenya to undertake a comprehensive review of the Wildlife Management Prior to the CITES 14th Conference developing service manuals and and Conservation Act of 1977 and of Parties in June 2007, USAID guidelines for hiring and managing Policy Paper No. 3 of 1975. This facilitated a KWS proposal to amend KFS staff, and finalizing reform Kenya Civil Society Strengthening the rules for trading African elephant documents including guidelines and Program mobilized communities ivory in Botswana, Namibia, South authorizations for forest concessions and other stakeholder groups to Africa and Zimbabwe, and a working and eco-tourism development. engage the Ministry in a Wildlife document on Illegal Ivory Trade and Policy Review. The draft policy Control of Internal Markets. The KWS paper has important provisions that Rhino Program developed a working Liberia address human wildlife conflict, document on Black Rhinoceros Export wildlife utilization, compensation, Quotas for Namibia and South Africa. Commercial Forestry, organizational arrangements for Community Empowerment devolving wildlife management, To advance forest sector reform at and Conservation and institutionalizing international a national level, USAID partnered biodiversity management conventions. with the Ministry of Environment Liberia’s natural resources have USAID support also helped the and Natural Resources to establish been a key source of conflict and KWS to upgrade the Smartcard and develop the Kenya Forest Service corruption in the past, but now revenue collection system (now called (KFS) - a state corporation that the Government of Liberia has the ‘SafariCard’), which is expected to replaced the Forest Department in opportunity to ensure that natural boost Wildlife Service revenue by an February 2007. The Agency funded resources contribute meaningfully additional $2 million per year, to be a Forestry Transaction Advisor that to the nation’s development reinvested in biodiversity conservation assisted the KFS with formulating and improved governance while in and around parks and reserves. the Service’s first annual budget, conserving species and ecosystems.

USAID’S BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY PROGRAMS, FY 2007 19 FISHING ON LAKE PISO: Many communities in Liberia depend on healthy fish populations for food and income.

Photo: Diane Russell, USAID

MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE LIBERIA FOREST INITIATIVE IN 2007

• Completion of the Ten Core Regulations that guide forest management planning, pre-qualification, contract management and forest products and fee payments;

• Drafting the Code of Harvesting Practices for logging contracts in Liberia. The Code assures low impact logging and adherence to best forest management practices;

• Support to the FDA to prepare, advertise and provisionally award six Timber Sale Contracts as a pilot test for the new legal framework for commercial logging. Each contract is a total of 5,000 hectares and for a duration of three years;

• Successful negotiation, award and start-up of the Chain of Custody Contract through a Public-Private Sector Partnership Agreement for monitoring movement and payment of all forest products fees related to commercial logging activities;

• 153 people received USG supported training in sustainable forest management and implementation of the Code of Harvesting Practices;

• 200 people trained in the new forestry law and regulations by implementing partner Environmental Law Institute; and

• 50 FDA employees trained on commercial forest contract preparation, advertisement and award of contract.

20 AFRICA USAID initiated the Liberian around the park. In its first year, the USAID activities in Liberia are Forestry Initiative (LFI) to reform the CCC program identified development transitioning from an “emergency institutional and financial management priorities in each community and response” phase to planned of the Forest Development Authority provided training in project and development activities. As such, the (FDA); establish transparent natural resources management to Mission has initiated an Environmental forest management contract 30 members of the Community Threats and Opportunities Assessment allocation, administration and fee Development Committees. to be completed in 2008. The payment mechanisms; develop Community Watch Teams of 15 to assessment is first and foremost a tool an appropriate legal framework 25 members were also established in to facilitate Mission planning and for contract management; and each community in order to monitor decision making. It will also be an increase democratization in forest the movement of people in and out educational tool, informing Mission management. LFI assists in developing of the park and report issues to the staff, the Government of Liberia and policies for the “3 C’s”: commercial FDA. It is hoped that lessons learned others on present trends and recent forestry, community forestry and from this program can be replicated in data on Liberia’s tropical forests, conservation. The USDA Forest other key biodiversity areas of Liberia. biodiversity and environmental issues. Service (USFS), funded by USAID, spearheads the LFI by providing The Land Rights and Community The Sustainable and Thriving day-to-day program support, training Forestry Program (LRCFP), initiated Environments for West and technical assistance to Liberia’s in December 2007 with FY 2007 African Regional Development FDA. This is a unique program funds, assists forest-dependent (STEWARD) program, managed that pools the strengths of both the communities in high biodiversity by USFS International Programs State Department and USAID to zones of Sinoe and Nimba Districts. in collaboration with USAID, ensure the success of the program. Given that Liberia’s rich natural will play a supportive role in the resources have historically only implementation of the Liberia To conserve biodiversity in post- benefited a small number of Liberians, Mission’s natural resource management conflict Liberia, USAID supports this program addresses fundamental and agricultural activities, and help the Civilian Conservation Corps inequities and helps foster better inform a new activity designed to (CCC) Program implemented governance of forests and natural improve livelihoods within small scale by Conservation International in resources in Liberia. Specifically, the farming and fishing communities. association with Action Aid Liberia, LRCFP will support the FDA and FY 2007 funds are also supporting in which rural Liberians are benefiting its partners in the development of a climate change assessment by the from conservation through community a law governing community access World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) action in and around one of the rights to forests and the regulatory and the Centre for International highest priority protected areas in the framework required to implement it, Forestry Research (CIFOR) Upper Guinean Forest Biodiversity and provide technical assistance to the within the Consultative Group for Hotspot: Sapo National Park (SNP). new national Land Commission to International Agricultural Research The CCC Program is building on help develop key policies, regulations (CGIAR) to evaluate the potential established community development and processes to establish transparent, for conservation financing through efforts in and around SNP to improve equitable and technically sound land carbon markets, determine the and diversify livelihoods of over tenure and property rights systems issues and potential impacts related 15,000 Liberians. It provides positive in Liberia, particularly as these affect to a growing biofuels market, and incentives for conservation through community management of forests. identify adaptation measures that participatory rural development, The program also will build the will help people and ecosystems improved park management capacity of communities and their adjust to global climate change. For and infrastructure, and the Sapo governmental and non-governmental more information on STEWARD Community Development Fund, partners to develop, manage and and CGIAR, see the chapter on which supports sustainable livelihoods support community forestry programs. Centrally Managed Programs.

USAID’S BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY PROGRAMS, FY 2007 21 Madagascar

Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Management of Forests

Madagascar is one of the world’s top three environmental conservation priorities, but the country’s biodiversity and forests are at risk from threats such as slash and burn cultivation, illegal logging, and illegal mining. Since 1989, USAID has supported the development and implementation of the Madagascar National Environmental Action Plan, which prioritizes the reduction of poverty through sustainable natural resource management, environmentally sensitive development, and conservation of the country’s unique biodiversity. USAID takes a holistic approach to this plan, balancing support for protected areas and forest stewardship with efforts that link community-based natural resources management to farming systems which reduce the pressures on biodiversity through improved agricultural production, livelihoods and food security. THE MILNE-EDWARDS SIFAKA is one of a dozen species of lemur found in The U.S. continues to be the Ranomafana National Park, primary donor in support of Madagascar. The eastern forests of the country contain the President of Madagascar’s 72 species of endangered commitment to triple the coverage mammals, including at least 25 lemur varieties. of protected areas by 2011. In

Photo: David Haring 2007 alone, USAID supported the creation of 735,049 hectares of new protected areas under temporary status, bringing the percentage of biodiversity rich habitats represented in protected areas to 95.6 percent. On June 26, 2007,

22 AFRICA the UNESCO Committee on World a key role in the establishment of transfer its forest management Heritage Sites inscribed Madagascar’s co-management structures for these vision to the field through national, Atsinanana (eastern) rainforests as parks and biodiversity corridors regional and communal forest zoning a natural World Heritage Site, a through the empowerment of local plans. Building on prior efforts, validation of USAID’s investment in communities. Dialogue among the Mission continues to ensure this region. USAID has helped finance extractive industry sectors (mining, that the forest zoning process is the development of six protected petroleum, and forestry) was decentralized, refined, and modified areas within the Atsinanana belt promoted to resolve land use conflicts to reflect wider participation. In of forest, involving delimitation of in priority conservation areas. 2007, assistance was provided to the park boundaries and compensation Service to generate and manage forest negotiations with locals. Today, USAID is working to ensure information, helping redefine its surrounding communities have limited sustainable financing of Madagascar’s central role as a research and forestry user-rights within park boundaries, environment program. One extension service in an increasingly and 50 percent of visitor revenues pass component involves building up decentralized forestry sector. directly to bordering communities. the capacity of NGOs to attract and manage funds for conservation FY 2007 funds provided USDA USAID is currently active in a projects. The Agency also supports Forest Service technical assistance consultative process to give legal development of an ecotourism in the implementation of a new protection to the two largest policy to connect private sector system for auctioning off logging biodiversity corridors, Ankeniheny- investors with local communities permits, as well as efforts to better Zahamena and Fandriana-Vondrozo, in and around protected areas. monitor and control illegal trade of totaling one million hectares. An Other sustainable financing endangered species while promoting Agency analysis conducted in 2007 opportunities being considered the sustainable use of plants and clearly shows a decrease of annual include payments for environmental wildlife. With support from USAID/ deforestation rates of primary services (such as the voluntary carbon Madagascar, Malagasy enforcement biodiversity-rich forests from 0.46 market), biodiversity offsets, and officers conducted several successful to 0.26 percent in the Ankeniheny- dedicated visitor /airline taxes. seizures of illicit ebony and rosewood Zahamena corridor; and from 0.84 destined for international markets. to 0.17 percent in the Fandriana- In the forestry sector, USAID support Vondrozo corridor. In addition to is focused on restructuring and Not all forests and biodiversity exist measuring deforestation rates, USAID/ revitalizing government environmental in the country’s growing protected Madagascar also helped establish and forest agencies that are critical areas network. Recognizing this, the the first system of satellite fire alert to improving forest management in Agency supported the development and monitoring in the country, primary, secondary and plantation of norms and technical guidance to which has resulted in a much faster forests. Activities also promote private operators in order to improve response time in government efforts the involvement of all interest the sustainability and oversight of to address fires in forested zones. groups to improve environmental harvesting permits issued by the governance and stewardship. The Malagasy Forest Service in non- At a national level, USAID helped stabilization or increase of forest cover classified natural forests. It also the Madagascar government develop contributes to achieving biodiversity provided support for sustainable a guide and software that aids conservation, climate change, and household energy projects in the city management planning and social and economic growth objectives. of Fort Dauphin and surrounding environmental impact assessments areas in the southeastern part of for different categories of protected USAID/Madagascar provides support Madagascar, reducing dependence on areas. The Agency is also playing to the Malagasy Forest Service to firewood and other natural resources.

USAID’S BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY PROGRAMS, FY 2007 23 A BULL ELEPHANT just prior to his capture and transfer to the Majete Wildlife Reserve in southern Malawi. USAID helped move a herd of 70 elephants to the reserve, and continues to help surrounding communities benefit from wildlife conservation.

Photo: Curt Reintsma, USAID

Malawi USAID/Malawi is addressing these The other, much larger program challenges through two programs. is ‘Community Partnerships for Natural Resources Management The smaller of the two works to Sustainable Resource Management’ and Biodiversity Conservation restore, develop and manage the long- (COMPASS II). Tasked with a neglected Majete Wildlife Reserve, in mandate to enhance household Despite its small size, Malawi has a partnership with the Stichting African income through participation in remarkable range of biodiversity and Parks Foundation. The Foundation community-based natural resource ecosystems. This “warm heart of Africa” has worked since 2003 to restock the management (CBNRM) initiatives, on the southern end of the Great reserve with species that once lived COMPASS II activities focus Rift Valley has a varied landscape of there: black rhino, buffalo, waterbuck, on expanding livelihood options mountain massifs, montane grasslands, bushbuck, eland, hartebeest, zebra, and enterprise opportunities. The evergreen forests, miombo woodlands, bush pig, impala, nyala, and sable. program has resulted in better lakes, lagoons and extensive wetlands, In 2006, USAID assisted with one managed forests, healthier fisheries, important to migratory birds and of the most important and difficult cleaner water and wealthier people endangered species. A large proportion restocking projects: relocating a herd at sites around the country. Program of the population depends upon the of elephants to the park. At the end successes from FY 2007 include: direct use of natural resources for their of 2007, the reserve had at least livelihoods, threatening the nation’s 1,900 large mammals, including 73 • About 260 producer groups biodiversity. Widespread poverty elephants. Animal populations are comprising 2,000 households combined with lack of information steadily increasing, and improved now engage in small-scale and alternatives have further fueled management and community commercialization of select natural the rise in pressure exerted on collaboration has reduced incidences resources-based products. the country’s natural wealth. of bushfires and poaching.

24 AFRICA • NRM and biodiversity conservation training reached 1,246 people, and an additional 500 participants were trained in business development and management.

• Support for 350 hours of media time, primarily through Choma Chobisika, a popular nationally broadcast weekly radio program focusing on unveiling “hidden treasures,” helped increase awareness of new opportunities and practices for increasing income from the country’s natural resources.

COMPASS facilitation helped link honey, mushroom, dried fruits, and fish producers to eight commercial Photo: Diane Russell, USAID processors and buyers, which resulted INNOVATIVE PARTNERSHIP: This traditional healer in Dogon country, Mali, is also a non-traditional stakeholder in conservation efforts: in their signing 154 sales agreements several medicinal plants in the region are endangered. Tourists flock to purchase natural resources-based to this area to experience its unique culture, art and architecture. USAID is working to make traditional livelihoods more sustainable products from smallholders. The while expanding tourism to include important conservation areas. total cumulative revenue received by households from participating in CBNRM activities was $809,573 to take an active role in managing Mali in FY 2007. Such commercial and regulating their fishery. approaches have persuaded rural Community Management communities to shift away from In Nyika National Park, COMPASS, of Agroforestry Parklands subsistence-level extraction of in partnership with the Department of and Sustainable Tourism natural resources to profitable asset Parks and Wildlife, worked with eight management of those same resources. smallholder beekeeping enterprises Mali is notable for its agroforestry comprised of 80 clubs and about parklands, which contain up to 40 or Around the 1000 km2 Lake Chilwa, 1,600 members to establish a total 50 woody species in mixed farmland, an internationally important wetland, of 148,000 hectares of community- fallow and pastoral areas. It is also COMPASS is working with the managed apiaries within and outside famous for “Dogon Country,” a Department of Fisheries to transfer the park boundary. Central to the World Heritage Site due to its cultural many fisheries management functions success of this marriage of natural and biological value. USAID/Mali from government to local fishermen resources-based enterprises and supports an integrated program associations. Moving ownership of the biodiversity conservation are resource of natural resource conservation, fishery to the people directly benefiting use agreements, which provide a sustainable agriculture and forestry, from the industry is expected to result legally binding mechanism for local and rural livelihood development. in healthier fish populations and people to harvest resources from protect biodiversity in the lake. By within protected areas while sharing Parklands in Mali’s savannah regions the end of 2007, some 61 community responsibility for management are dominated by the shea tree, whose fisheries organizations comprising and conservation of the area. nuts produce a high quality oil and more than 4,600 fishermen had begun butter used in cooking, cosmetics,

USAID’S BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY PROGRAMS, FY 2007 25 and medicinal ointments. Shea butter to biologically significant sites and Mozambique is a primary ingredient in many of species. Conserving Dogon Country’s the most expensive facial creams and unique biodiversity is a key objective Conservation through Public- has been an economic boon in other of this activity, to be achieved through Private Partnerships parts of West Africa. Unfortunately, a participatory and interdisciplinary shea nuts in Mali are mishandled at approach resulting in sustainable USAID/Mozambique’s biodiversity the time of gathering to the point agriculture and sustainable tourism activities are implemented as part where prices received are a fraction of enterprises. For example, the program of its program to increase exports, what could be earned. This disconnect will work with traditional healers’ which has three components: trade, in the supply chain makes Mali groups to conserve and sustainably business environment, and tourism. less competitive in international manage key plant resources including A major thrust of the tourism effort markets for shea butter. Programs Acridocarpus monodi, a threatened is to identify, protect and restore promoting shea cultivation have not medicinal plant endemic to Dogon Mozambique’s natural resources and targeted the gathering or storage country. In addition, the program biodiversity, the foundation of a of nuts, where women participate will work with the Dogon traditional successful, sustainable and responsible and stand to gain the most. leadership, the Bara Hogon, to tourism industry. In FY 2007, regenerate and sustainably manage biodiversity funding was dedicated to To address this issue, USAID/Mali woodlands and other important conserving Lake Niassa (also known supports Peace Corps volunteers habitats in common property areas. as Lake Malawi), restoring Gorongosa located throughout the country’s National Park, and establishing parklands, who work with rural An ecotourism route is being a public-private partnership to populations to increase income developed that highlights the unique maintain water quality in Pemba generation from improved gathering ecosystems of the area including a Bay, the third largest in the world and preservation of nuts, and promote large forest, an area that harbors the and now under considerable threat. improved parkland management endemic and threatened ronier palm, practices. Peace Corps works a watering ground for migratory Through a Global Development in partnership with the Institut elephants, and an “oasis” in the Alliance (GDA) with the Worldwide d’Economie Rurale, expanding semi-arid terrain where water flows Fund for Nature (WWF) and Coca their current parkland biodiversity year-round and sacred crocodiles Cola, USAID is establishing a management program. Adding are found. Guides will be trained to national reserve on Lake Niassa. The value to shea and other parkland provide tourists with information reserve will protect the lake’s unique species should increase benefits to on Dogon Country’s biodiversity, ecosystem, including the world’s land owners and managers, while and communities will be trained only surviving freshwater corals, over providing incentives for better in biodiversity conservation both 1,000 species of fish (700 of which management and conservation. within natural areas and on farmland. are endemic), as well as rich bird life. The waterways of this zone support The proposed area of the park would The Mission is launching a sustainable crocodile, bird, amphibian and cover Lake Niassa and shoreline from tourism program in the drier Mopti fish populations under threat from Metangula to the Cobwe area, with Region focusing on Dogon Country, two aggressive exotic plants, Pistia wildlife areas totaling approximately already Mali’s number one tourist stratiodies and Typha angustifoila, and 100,000 hectares in the remote destination. The program aims to the project will help the communities northern and central areas of Lago alleviate poverty and minimize land to remove or control these species District. Terrestrial areas will be use conflicts by improving the natural and conserve the threatened species. gazetted as either reserve or buffer resource base upon which livelihoods Ecotourism actions along this zone, depending on community and and cultural traditions depend, route will be supported by other stakeholder negotiations. WWF has increasing agricultural productivity conservation and management already starting defining the park and conserving biodiversity by giving actions with communities and determining land ownership recognition and economic value and government agencies. throughout the area. In addition to

26 AFRICA the biodiversity benefits of clear use boundaries, establishing land tenure should encourage conservation- related investment in the area. Once the Lake Niassa Reserve is declared, USAID expects rapid development of sustainable tourism, community involvement in tourism, and community management of natural resources in the reserve, including monitoring and enforcement activities.

Gorongosa National Park is a valuable natural asset and former major tourist attraction, once boasting the highest concentration of wildlife in Africa. Sadly, park infrastructure was destroyed and most of the wildlife was poached during Mozambique’s 30-year civil conflict. In addition, nearby Mount Gorongosa, a vital source of water for the park and critical to its ecosystems, is rapidly Photo: Paul Airoldi being destroyed by deforestation. The CICHLID DIVERSITY in Lake Niassa (a.k.a. Lake Malawi) is an entire ecosystem will be affected if evolutionary marvel and a conservation dilemma. Hundreds of species of Mount Gorongosa loses its forests. To cichlid fish are found there, each adapted to a particular food, substrate and depth. USAID supports efforts to establish a reserve that protects address this, USAID/Mozambique the biodiversity of Mozambique’s portion of the lake and adjacent land. is implementing a GDA with the Carr Foundation to protect the forest and other unique ecosystems The third area of focus for USAID/ created by too many competing in and around the park, conserve the Mozambique is Pemba Bay, which interests: management of the bay is biodiversity, promote energy efficiency, is highly threatened by watershed currently the responsibility of Pemba provide education and training, and degradation due to deforestation Municipality, the administrations of promote ecotourism and scientific and the collapse of several feeder two districts, and the Ministries of research. Carr took over the long rivers, increasing silt and salinity Environment, Fisheries, Tourism, term management of the Gorongosa which threatens marine life. At the Agriculture, and Defense. National Park in 2005, and in late same time, expanding agricultural 2007 signed a 20-year agreement with activity has added nutrients to the USAID’s Northern Arc Project, the Government of Mozambique, bay, causing a proliferation of harmful implemented by Nathan Associates, which gives it responsibility for algae. Further stresses linked to the is working to overcome Pemba Bay’s bringing the park area back to its growth of the city of Pemba place management challenge by establishing former condition. Restoration rare marine species at risk, including a public-private partnership activities and ultimately tourism will increased waste water pollution responsible for keeping the bay clean. boost the economy in one of the and destruction of critical habitat With executive power delegated under poorest regions of the country, while in mangrove and coral reef zones. Mozambique law, core members will at the same time conserving one of the Vital steps toward correcting these include the tourism industry, WWF most unique ecosystems in the world. destructive trends are unlikely to (which assists with the administration be taken due to a regulatory void of Quirimbas Park, along one side

USAID’S BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY PROGRAMS, FY 2007 27 of the bay), various fisheries, as well is arguably the most far-reaching and the net national return to the as the Ministry of the Environment and successful application of this Namibian economy was almost $34 and municipal governments. Under practice. LIFE, started in 1993, has million in 2007. With a financial this new authority, by conducting built the technical and institutional incentive to conserve biodiversity, baseline biological surveys, water capacities of Namibian organizations wildlife conservancies in northwest quality assessments, mapping of key and local communities to implement Namibia have overseen dramatic marine habitats and watersheds, a sustainable, national CBNRM increases in important game species. and long term monitoring, public program which has addressed land In one area, springbok have increased education and conservation efforts degradation and desertification, from less than 1,000 individuals in can be implemented to target the human-animal conflict, and 1982 to 139,000 individuals in 2006. primary threats to the health of Pemba overexploitation of wildlife and Bay and its plant and animal life. plants, improving the quality of After 14 years of the LIFE project, land and lives for a significant the Namibia National CBNRM proportion of the country. Program grew from an embryonic idea for a sustainable future to a The promise of CBNRM is this: mature, nationwide conservation and by devolving responsibility for and development movement that involves ownership of natural resources one out of every eight Namibian from national governments to citizens. As of March 2007, a total local communities, the resources of 50 communal conservancies will be managed at the lowest were registered with the Namibian cost by the people most invested government, comprising 118,704 in having them managed well. km² and more than 230,620 To this end, USAID and partners Namibians: over 14 percent of the Photo: USAID/Namibia provided assistance to Namibian land surface and nearly 13 percent GAME COUNT: A global communities in registering themselves of the Namibian population. An positioning system (GPS) and local knowledge of the land are as conservancies, thereby gaining estimated 20 to 30 more conservancies key tools for tracking wildlife and conditional use rights over wildlife are still under development. estimating wildlife populations. Over the past 14 years, USAID and other natural resources, including helped rural Namibians acquire the right to retain the income from the authority and training needed sustainable use of these resources. Nigeria to sustainably manage and benefit from wildlife. In one area, springbok have increased from less than Communities participating in Conserving Forests by 1,000 in 1982 to 139,000 in 2006. CBNRM through LIFE have seen Improving Farming benefits increase exponentially, with Namibia income rising from $165,000 in USAID promotes sustainable 1998 to $5.5 million in 2007. These agricultural practices in Nigeria Improved Rural Livelihoods benefits are derived from a diverse set through MARKETS (Maximizing through Natural Resources of enterprises including community Agricultural Revenue and Key Management managed campsites, craft sales, guiding Enterprises in Targeted Areas), a $25 services, tourism lodges, trophy- million program which has introduced Community-based natural resources hunting concessions, live game sales, a number of eco-friendly innovations, management (CBNRM) is a part and in-kind benefits from game meat including crop rotation with of many USAID programs, but consumption. Revenues generated leguminous crops, the use of organic USAID/Namibia’s Living in a by affiliated tourism companies were fertilizer, micro-dose fertilization Finite Environment (LIFE) project approximately $12.4 million in 2006, and integrated pest management.

28 AFRICA In FY 2007, a small component of Rwanda’s water, and feed the Nile and projections by 124 percent. Monthly the MARKETS project was focused Congo River basins. This mountain monitoring by park staff, geographic on stimulating sustainable agriculture rainforest is a biological treasure, with information system (GIS) analysis, in buffer zones surrounding several more than 75 mammal, 278 bird, 120 and reporting of illegal situations national forest reserves in Nigeria’s butterfly, 100 orchid, and 200 tree by the public has helped park northern savannah zone, which are species, many of which are endemic. management receive and respond to under pressure from unsustainable information rapidly, controlling threats extraction of fuelwood and bushmeat, USAID’s efforts in Nyungwe support before they have major impacts. as well as tree clearing for the three components of an integrated expansion of farms. Fuelwood program for biodiversity conservation, To promote ecotourism, the project extraction targets parkia, tamarind ecotourism development and public intends to transform NNP into a and mahogany trees, while hunting health. Local populations surrounding competitive tourism destination by has reduced populations of Roan the park are targeted for conservation antelope, warthog, hyena, Tantalus awareness, income generation and and Patas monkeys, and several duiker health activities to jointly accelerate species. By applying agricultural rural economic growth and improve efficiencies and market links to biodiversity conservation in and farms in ecologically important around the national park. areas, it is hoped that farmers will earn a higher, steadier, legal income Under the conservation component, and thereby reduce their illegal the project works to mitigate impacts on forests and wildlife. threats to biodiversity in key sites around the park. Activities include: strengthening management capacity of Rwanda the Rwandan Office of Tourism and National Parks in NNP; developing Photo: USAID/Rwanda ProfitableE cotourism sustainable financing mechanisms for HANDICRAFT DEVELOPMENT through Improved is one of the income generating NNP; monitoring key species, illegal activities which USAID will support Biodiversity Conservation activities and ecotourism impacts; through a small grants program. Here, a women’s association in implementing a community outreach the Banda sector adjacent to Rwanda is the most densely populated program including biodiversity Nyungwe National Park exhibits country in sub-Saharan Africa, yet conservation awareness campaigns; their handicraft products, including embroidery inspired rural areas are characterized by rolling mainstreaming environmental and by the biodiversity of the park. hills of farms and villages which often sustainable use issues into District end abruptly at the boundaries of Development Plans; and, designing a national forests and parks. Support for pilot implementation plan for buffer increasing both the number of visits biodiversity conservation by USAID/ zone management in two selected to the park and tourism receipts. Rwanda is focused on the Nyungwe pilot zones. As a result of these Activities include: developing Forest National Park (NNP) and efforts, especially public awareness Nyungwe and community ecotourism surrounding buffer zones, in the campaigns and training of students, products; upgrading ecotourism southwestern part of the country. church leaders and conservation infrastructures and services; marketing Chosen because of a distinct and clubs, biodiversity threats such as fire, Nyungwe ecotourism; developing significant biodiversity, the forest also poaching, and mining were reduced and implementing water and serves a critical watershed function by 28 percent. Biophysical condition small–scale energy pilot activities; within the Albertine Rift: rains was improved in about 725 hectares of and, identify markets and develop in Nyungwe supply 70 percent of biologically significant areas, exceeding businesses for natural products,

USAID’S BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY PROGRAMS, FY 2007 29 arts and handicrafts. Solid progress Senegal USAID provided NRM training to is being made, as the number of 5,517 people: forest guards learned tourists rose from 3,088 in 2006 to Community forestry, patrol techniques, and community 3,981 in 2007. Associated revenue International Markets members and local government also increased in this period by 188 and Local Benefits representatives were trained in how to percent, from $92,166 to $173,273. enforce local laws and manage conflict. USAID/Senegal’s biodiversity The healthcare component of this activities are implemented mainly In addition to improving sustainable project is an important benefit to through an agriculture and natural management of natural forests, communities around NNP which resources management (NRM) Wula Nafaa works to increase are changing their activities to program known locally as Wula revenues from natural forest products reduce negative impacts and support Nafaa (“Benefits from the Bush”). and non-traditional agricultural a growing tourism industry. The The program was conceived to products in communities living program strengthens clinical and draw maximum benefit from around forests. Marketing of natural community capacity to provide a synergies among NRM, economic products resulted in at least 14,565 continuum of care for maternal and development, and good governance. people increasing their income from child health, and promotes family This “Nature, Wealth and Power” sustainable NRM. It also helped planning and prevention of HIV/ approach supports activities that people all along the value chain AIDS. These activities address increase productivity of the resource networks of high-value agricultural long-term challenges of population base and conserve biodiversity, bring commodities, benefitting 2,651 growth while helping local people significant economic benefits to local enterprises. Building the knowledge take advantage of direct and communities and national accounts, and capacity of the businesses and indirect employment opportunities and strengthen governance to ensure individuals involved in these value which arise from ecotourism. transparent decision-making and fair chains resulted in a 183 percent and equitable distribution of benefits. increase in 2007 exports over 2006, Although the first-year targets for a total value of $3 million. To for biodiversity conservation and Wula Nafaa works with local assist with regeneration of marketable ecotourism were both exceeded, governments to end open access plant species that do not naturally there is still a long way to go to to resources and ensure locally regenerate at a rapid rate, USAID transform Nyungwe into a competitive controlled management of forested partnered with 60 community- ecotourism destination and reach the areas through the development of based organizations to establish end results of the project. Next steps sustainable, legally recognized NRM local tree nurseries and plantations include a study to assess the feasibility plans. The program targets the most for 7,000 karaya gum trees, 3,000 of a visitor interpretation center and biodiverse terrestrial region in Senegal, baobab, and 3,800 palm oil trees. other nature-based attractions such dryland forests in the South of the as canopy walkways, observation country, of which only two percent Wula Nafaa helped local producers towers and marsh trails, with the is protected throughout Africa. export 265 tons of karaya gum to goal of increasing the number of Europe for a value of $1 million, and visitors and improving the visitor In FY 2007, the program was 392 tons of raw cashew nuts to India experience. These infrastructure instrumental in helping establish for a value of $216,000. Support investments, if effectively designed, community-managed NRM plans, for market studies on products and built and operated, can provide authorized through local conventions, processes such as nere (a local spice), social, economic and environmental for a total of 114,094 hectares. USAID charcoal transportation by train, benefits to Nyungwe and surrounding also supported the development of and cashew processing techniques communities for generations to come. four forest management plans covering have led to an increase in market 117,921 hectares. As a complement opportunities that facilitate new to forest management planning, contracts and increase revenues. A

30 AFRICA Photo: Richard Nyberg, USAID/Senegal KOUSSANAR FOREST GUARDS: In 2007, USAID supported the development of forest management plans which maximize productivity, limit access to forests, reduce herder/farmer conflicts, and establish a guard system to ensure that forests are protected and vegetation is regenerated.

total of 971 natural or non-traditional involving hunting concessions, forest forests in 2008. Forest communities agricultural enterprises, involving surveillance, forestry taxation, and with approved management plans 2,289 women and 2,825 men, have others barriers that threaten the will now be able to produce charcoal increased their total revenues from long-term availability of natural instead of only the powerful charcoal $423,000 in 2006 to $760,000 resources. After years of USAID cartel, whose profits mostly went in 2007, a 79 percent increase. investments in community forestry to people outside of the forested and governance, 2007 marked a regions. Local charcoal workers are USAID support for broad policy turning point in charcoal policy earning about three times what they dialogue among communities, in Senegal. With USAID support, did for every sack of charcoal, and government, and the private the Ministry of the Environment significant revenue is now collected sector has contributed to seven has adopted policies that require all by local governments that will be new policy advances and reforms charcoal to come out of managed reinvested into forest management.

USAID’S BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY PROGRAMS, FY 2007 31 Photo: Paul Elkan and J. Michael Fay, WCS WHITE-EARED KOB leaping across the grasslands of Southern Sudan. USAID-supported aerial surveys confirmed that a migration of kob, tiang (a large antelope) and Mongalla gazelle is still intact after decades of civil conflict. Over 1.2 million animals move through the Boma-Jonglei landscape of Sudan each year.

Sudan of a Comprehensive Peace Agreement to govern effectively. USAID’s Sudan which established a power-sharing Transitional Environment Program Capacity Building and government, created an interim sub- (STEP) supported these developments Landscape-Level Conservation national Government of Southern in the environment sector, funded the Sudan (GOSS), and set forward a first inventories and analyses of forestry The conflict between the Government time table for much of southern and wildlife resources since war broke of Sudan Armed Forces and the Sudan to determine its future: to out in 1983, and established Forestry Sudanese Peoples’ Liberation Army remain part of a unified Sudan, or to and Wildlife Conservation Training (SPLA) led to extensive displacement forge a new nation in East Africa. Centers at Kegulu and Boma to and devastation of human populations advance the capacity of environmental across much of southern Sudan over a In its first years, GOSS has made managers in government, civil society period of 22 years. In January 2005, impressive strides in establishing the and the private sector. In FY 2007, the civil war ended with the signing institutions, laws and policies required STEP focused on training GOSS staff

32 AFRICA in environmental impact assessment, and encouragement of the public and numbers are comparable to those forest inventories, and management private sectors to invest in tourism. In recorded in the 1980s, and vie with planning; training park managers and March 2007, GOSS formally agreed the annual circuit of wildebeest rangers; and developing programs to for the Wildlife Conservation Society and zebra in the Mara-Serengeti minimize oil extraction impacts on (WCS) to lead these conservation ecosystem as the greatest migration the environment. The Mission also efforts in the Boma-Jonglei landscape, of large mammals on earth. supported groundbreaking aerial a large swath of Southern Sudan east surveys, and started a new project to and south of the Nile River to the While significant biodiversity survived regulate logging in a rational manner border with Kenya and Ethiopia. years of war, there is growing concern and avoid conflict, starting with a teak plantation in the southwest. “ Our wildlife (fauna and flora) is a national natural The importance of sound natural wealth and heritage that should be preserved, protected, resource management to GOSS is demonstrated by the establishment propagated, managed and utilized sustainably for the of the Ministry of Environment, present and future generations of Southern Sudan…” Wildlife Conservation and Tourism President Salva Kiir Mayardit, April 10, 2006 (MEWCT), which receives a considerable portion of the sub- national budget. MEWCT directly manages over 13,000 game wardens Through an interagency agreement as to whether it can survive the peace. and protected area managers, drawn with USDA, USAID/Sudan provided Since 2005, oil concessions have from among the ranks of de-mobilized FY 2006 funds to WCS to undertake been signed, significant investments SPLA soldiers. Several of the higher- an extensive aerial wildlife survey in infrastructure have been made, level officers have been trained over much of Southern Sudan in and thousands of internally displaced through USAID support to the January and February of 2007. The persons have begun to return and Boma Wildlife Training Center, but findings of the survey were beyond settle across large tracts of the Boma- there is a tremendous need for more all expectations, demonstrating Jonglei landscape. Oil companies training at all levels. The Mission that substantial numbers of wildlife are becoming active in ecologically continues to support this important throughout these remote grasslands sensitive areas of Jonglei, with institution, with emphasis on training continue to thrive despite years of concessions opening across many the vast number of mid-level officers civil conflict, with the exception of of the migration corridors and and rangers in order for them to buffalo and hartebeest, which declined within several protected areas. Roads fulfill their mandate of protected significantly. The endemic Nile lechwe being built for the development of area management in the field. was found to persist, and lions and the region are proceeding without wild dogs survived in good numbers. adequate environmental planning GOSS has prioritized wildlife Elephant populations were found to and management; it is likely they conservation as a key component of its have increased in the Sudd wetlands, will rapidly become conduits for national development strategy. In April exceeding previous estimates by 50 the commercial bushmeat trade 2006, the President of Southern Sudan percent with a population of about and threaten the long term viability cited the urgent need for wildlife 6,000 animals. Most astounding, of protected areas and wildlife protection activities, development the annual migration of white-eared populations. Through continued and rehabilitation of national kob, tiang and Mongalla gazelle in support for WCS, USAID is working park infrastructure, education and Boma and Jonglei was found to be to develop land use plans and awareness campaigns, transboundary substantially intact, totaling more sustainable economic activities in this conservation and wildlife enforcement, than 1.2 million animals. These magnificent yet fragile landscape.

USAID’S BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY PROGRAMS, FY 2007 33 USAID has helped the Government of Tanzania make measurable improvements in sustainable livelihoods so that community based conservation becomes, and remains, the driving factor in protecting the country’s unique ecosystems.

Targeted training was provided in FY 2007 to 18,500 people (48 percent women) to enhance their participation not only in conservation, but also in deriving tangible benefits from natural resource management (NRM) to support socio-economic development at the local level. As a result, 187,500 people (45 percent women) realized Photo: USAID/Tanzania increased economic benefits. Activities NO BUFFER ZONE exists between unsustainable farming practices are as diverse as ecotourism, seaweed and Gombe National Park, isolating the chimpanzees made famous by farming, beekeeping, and specialty Jane Goodall’s groundbreaking research in the 1960s. USAID supports the Jane Goodall Institute’s work promoting community based forest coffee cultivation and marketing. Six management, including reforestation, in communities around the Park. of 16 pilot Wildlife Management Associations attained user rights, enabling them to enter into contracts Tanzania to destructive forest harvesting and with the private sector for engaging fishing practices. USAID/Tanzania in sustainable tourism enterprises. Targeted Landscape seeks to link biodiversity conservation Policy interventions resulted in more Conservation through a with economic opportunities in than 140 key policy instruments, Livelihoods Approach targeted ecosystems by decentralizing including the Environmental decision-making related to natural Management Act regulations, Tanzania has some of the richest and resources and economic sustainability. integrated coastal management most diverse natural resources in the action plans, and land use plans. world, including mineral wealth, By the end of FY 2007 a cumulative freshwater and marine resources, area of 4.4 million hectares was The Sustainable Coastal Communities and an abundance of wildlife. The placed under improved management and Ecosystems (SUCCESS) project country still has extensive natural as a result of USAID support. This and the Sustainable Environmental land cover, mostly savanna, miombo significant area covers five critical Management through Mariculture woodland and montane forest, ecosystems, including a newly Activities (SEMMA) project continued in addition to scattered patches supported landscape centered on to work jointly to apply an integrated of lowland forests. Nevertheless, Ruaha National Park in the transition coastal management policy framework a number of serious threats to zone between miombo woodlands and conserve biodiversity in Tanzania’s biodiversity and sustainable use of and open savannah, along with endangered coastal ecosystems, resources exist, from indiscriminate threatened coastal areas, dry savannah including highly threatened mangrove expansion of agriculture, forest steppe, diminishing wetlands and an forests. SUCCESS strengthened encroachment, wildlife poaching ever-shrinking chimpanzee habitat. conditions for sustainable economic and other unsustainable practices Throughout these landscapes, growth using a community

34 AFRICA participatory approach involving National Park using a participatory, Uganda comprise one of the last technical assistance and training of integrated conservation-enterprise- great repositories of biodiversity in 3,000 people, as well as equipment health approach to promoting East Africa. Their mixture of forests, to promote mariculture activities. community-based NRM. They rivers, and wildlife mark them as an strengthened Gombe’s ranger patrol area of exceptional biological value. Africare’s Ugalla Community capacity through the provision Yet the area is being threatened by Landscape Conservation Project and equipping of ranger posts, rapid population growth, armed (UCLCP) worked with the Division and promoted community based conflict, wildlife trade, illegal of Wildlife to strengthen biodiversity forest management including logging, petroleum development and conservation in the Ugalla Game land use planning, reforestation habitat encroachment. Endangered Reserve and strengthen community- and sustainable production and species, such as the mountain gorilla, based organizations, as well as expand trade in forest products. lion, elephant, and chimpanzee are under intense pressure from these threats. In response, USAID/ Targeted training in FY 2007 resulted in 187,500 people Uganda works with partners in the (45 percent women) realizing increased economic Ugandan government, international benefits from natural resource management activities conservation organizations and local communities to better conserve and as diverse as ecotourism, seaweed farming, beekeeping, manage natural resources, and better and specialty coffee cultivation and marketing. understand the connections among economic development, traditional livelihoods and biodiversity across NRM micro-enterprise opportunities The Wildlife Conservation Society these important landscapes. and improve the livelihoods of over (WCS) strengthened biodiversity 80,000 adult villagers. UCLCP conservation in and around Ruaha One of the major results achieved in supported community based National Park using community 2007 was a collaboration between agroforestry, as well as monitoring participatory approaches. In FY the Government of Uganda and the and patrolling activities to reduce 2007, it provided training, technical Government of Southern Sudan illegal or destructive logging and assistance and other capacity building to create conservation landscapes poaching of wildlife. Over 600,000 measures. WCS worked to broaden for peace along the shared border. hectares of miombo woodland is now community opportunities in NRM The program also increased habitat under conservation management. (including agroforestry), improve under improved management in the agricultural production systems, endangered Albertine Rift ecoregion, The African Wildlife Foundation and support the establishment of and improved economic benefits for continued to support conservation in sustainable microenterprises. communities, such as the production the Tarangire/Lake Manyara ecosystem of 600 tons of Arabica coffee in the by addressing key environmental Rwenzori buffer zone. In FY 2007, threats including agricultural Uganda the program maintained 107,238 encroachment, declining livestock hectares of selected biologically productivity, and inequitable sharing Reduced Environmental important habitats and 98 producer of benefits with communities whose Degradation and Critical organizations were strengthened, livelihoods depend on resource use. Ecosystems Conserved for a cumulative total of 260 organizations representing 11,250 The Jane Goodall Institute The Albertine Rift landscape in individuals since the program began. worked to promote biodiversity western Uganda and several smaller conservation in areas around Gombe isolated landscapes in northern

USAID’S BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY PROGRAMS, FY 2007 35 THE HIPPOPOTAMUS IS A KEYSTONE SPECIES, whose digestive system transforms grass into food for fish. Healthy inland fisheries often depend on healthy hippo populations. Despite a recent anthrax outbreak that killed over 200 hippos in Queen Elizabeth National Park, and a reputation for having tasty meat, Uganda is a stronghold for these giants, with an estimated population of 10,000 animals.

Photo: Mike Colby, USAID

Wildlife in Ugandan parks continued individuals, consistent with historic significantly: Murchison Falls National to thrive in FY 2007. A USAID- population numbers from the 1960s. Park visitation increased 37 percent, supported census of the mountain Budongo Forest chimp-trekking rose gorilla population in 2007 registered Tourism is an indication of 130 percent, and Bwindi National a 10 percent increase over the last biodiversity program impact, and in Park visits grew by 20 percent. census conducted in 2001. Elephant recent years visitation has increased Healthy, protected wildlife populations populations in Queen Elizabeth along with growing (or stable) and diverse landscapes make Uganda National Park and Kidepo National wildlife populations. From 2006 a competitive tourist destination, Park number approximately 4,000 to 2007, tourist visits in protected which will stimulate the local and areas in the Albertine Rift increased national economy for years to come.

36 AFRICA USAID country and regional programs funded significant biodiversity conservation and forestry programs in nine countries Asia throughout Asia in FY 2007.

Asia’s varied landscapes support an incredible diversity of life. From the roof of the world to the bottom of the Mariana trench, this continent and associated tens of thousands of islands contain 75 percent of all known coral species and untold numbers of vertebrate and plant species, many unique to only one river, forest, or island.

Population growth, misguided policies, corruption, unsustainable practices and natural disasters are some of the major threats to conserving natural resources in the region. Marine and terrestrial habitats have been destroyed or degraded due to illegal logging, destructive fishing overconsumption and trafficking USAID addressed these issues practices and pollution, and wildlife for food, medicine, pets and pelts. through its regional and bilateral are being driven to extinction by This section describes how programs in FY 2007.

SUNSET ON A SPECIES With a total population of less than 100 individuals, the future of this Mekong River dolphin is bleak. A ban on the use of gill nets has reduced accidental deaths, but juvenile mortality has increased in recent years for unknown reasons. USAID supports measures to protect the Mekong River Basin and its wildlife, from conserving forest corridors in the central highlands of Vietnam, to empowering communities threatened by dams in Cambodia.

Photo: Daniel Milder

USAID’S BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY PROGRAMS, FY 2007 37 ANE Regional Program graduate-level academic training in In the Greater Mekong Region, the United States for host-country USAID’s Asia Regional Biodiversity Support for Emerging participants. The program includes: Conservation Program (ARBCP) aims Conservation Needs pre-departure activities, placement to restore and maintain ecosystem assistance, mentoring, and follow up connectivity and function in The Asia and Near East (ANE) support for participants once home. biodiversity corridors and landscapes; Regional Program responds to In FY 2007, TFL funded biodiversity promote sustainable financing for emerging conservation needs through conservation studies by a graduate biodiversity and natural resource support for innovative programs in student from the Philippines. The conservation; improve the livelihoods the field and graduate-level training participant will gain technical and of the rural poor; and strengthen opportunities in the United States. leadership skills in conservation, environmental governance and An environmental advisor and other as well as a deeper understanding institution building. The program experts also provide ongoing technical of American values and culture. is implementing a site-specific pilot assistance to bilateral and regional biodiversity corridor in the Dong Nai programs in Asia and the Middle Watershed and surrounding areas in East, from Morocco to Indonesia. Regional Development Vietnam, and sharing lessons learned Mission for Asia with other countries in the region. Almost 80 percent of the program’s biodiversity resources were transferred Wildlife Law Enforcement and Since receiving approval to implement to overseas Missions in FY 2007. Improved Forest Management activities in Vietnam’s central The Regional Development Mission highlands in FY 2007, ARBCP has for Asia located in Bangkok received Southeast Asia includes many of the improved management of 172,000 $400,000 to support the Responsible world’s most diverse and endangered hectares of the Dong Nai River Basin Asia Forestry and Trade (RAFT) ecosystems. Asia’s deforestation rate is conservation landscape through the Alliance implemented by The Nature three times the world average, and the development of 13 Community Conservancy. USAID/Cambodia rate of biodiversity loss in the Mekong Conservation and Development accepted $325,000 in support of the River Basin is faster than anywhere else Plans and Community Conservation Biodiversity and Grassroots Advocacy in the world. Countries in the Basin Units in the buffer zones around Program implemented by East-West are actively constructing roads, dams, Cat Tien National Park. To finance Management Institute. USAID/ irrigation systems, and navigation conservation and improve livelihoods, Philippines received $450,000 to waterways that have significant ARBCP helped amend the national support design and implementation transboundary impacts on the Taxes and Fees Law to include of the multilateral Coral Triangle environment and river livelihoods, and Payment for Environmental Service Initiative. For more information that contribute to regional conflict. (PES) mechanisms in support of on these activities, see the relevant The region is also a global hotspot for Vietnam’s Biodiversity Law, and Mission reports in this chapter. illegal timber trade and the poaching, established two pilot sites to achieve trafficking and consumption of PES, ecosystem connectivity and The remainder of non-staff biodiversity illegal wildlife parts and products. In livelihoods improvement goals. funds went to Training Future Leaders response to these biodiversity threats, PES market feasibility studies were (TFL), a new cross-sectoral program USAID’s Regional Development conducted to identify potential that builds upon previous long-term Mission for Asia (RDM/A) has environmental service buyers, training efforts. Reinvigorating long- launched initiatives to support including the Ho Chi Minh City term training is a USAID priority biodiversity corridors in the Mekong Water Supply Company, the Province for Asia, as former participants tend River Basin, and strengthen wildlife of Lam Dong, and Mekong Travel. to be the best development partners law enforcement and sustainable, legal and often lead reform efforts in their logging throughout Southeast Asia. USAID assists members of the countries. TFL supports long-term, Association of South East Asian

38 ASIA ILLEGAL LOGGING: This barge in Indonesia is piled high with logs from illicit forestry operations. USAID’s Responsible Asia Forestry and Trade (RAFT) Alliance works to promote legal timber trade in Southeast Asia through economic incentives, standards for legal forest products, and promotion of reduced impact logging.

Photo: Charles Barber, USAID

Nations with a Support Program for from Cambodia, Vietnam, Lao WEN. The success of ASEAN-WEN maintaining National Task Forces PDR, the Philippines, Thailand and has made it a model for the South and a regional Wildlife Enforcement Indonesia. During this period, more Asian Cooperative Environment Network (ASEAN-WEN) to counter than 30 wildlife law enforcement Program (SACEP) to combat wildlife the $10 billion black market in actions occurred across ASEAN trafficking in the South Asia Region. wildlife trade that threatens global biodiversity, endangers public health, ASEAN-WEN coordinated USAID’s Responsible Asia Forestry and undermines economic well- and Trade (RAFT) Alliance contributes more than 30 major wildlife being. Through the establishment directly to the ASEAN–US Enhanced and training of inter-agency Task law enforcement actions Partnership, which calls for sustainable Forces, ASEAN-WEN provides across Southeast Asia forest management, including activities the means for government agencies in FY 2007, confiscating which combat illegal logging and the to respond effectively to illegal hundreds of live animals and destruction of forest resources. RAFT wildlife trade occurring between is a public-private sector alliance countries via intelligence exchange countless animal products. that aims to transform the market and joint cross-border operations. for tropical timber by improving countries. Other major activities the sustainable management of In FY 2007, the ASEAN-WEN included establishment of the forest resources and biodiversity, Support Program provided training Program Coordinating Unit (PCU) promoting legal timber trade through in nature crime investigation, species in Thailand for an initial two years, market-based incentives and credible identification and wildlife law to more and the launch of the “SOLD-OUT” standards for legal and conflict-free than 650 personnel from member public awareness campaign against products, strengthening environmental countries, including law enforcement illegal wildlife trade in Thailand, governance and institutions, and and customs officers, cargo-handling which generated over 200 media promoting regional cooperation on personnel, prosecutors and judges stories on wildlife crime and ASEAN- forest management and trade.

USAID’S BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY PROGRAMS, FY 2007 39 RAFT signed an MOU with 14 Marco Polo sheep. Much of the rest conducting extensive surveys of fauna forest enterprises in 2007, with of the land was historically forested and flora in the three regions, working commitments to improve forest with native pine, oak, poplar, willow, with the Afghan government and management in approximately 1.1 pistachio and olive trees, but in many others to draft effective conservation million hectares of tropical forest, areas is now degraded due to decades laws and implement regulations, and initial improvement achieved of civil conflict, poor management, and promoting community-based in 600,000 hectares. The Program and drought. Restoring native forests natural resource management concluded a stakeholder agreement and conserving remaining areas of (CBNRM) by establishing well- for the finalization of the Indonesian high biological value are critical to governed and technically capable Legality Standard, and applied the sustainably developing Afghanistan. community organizations. Standard’s principles and criteria in Vietnam and Malaysia. RAFT also In 2005 and 2006, USAID initiated Results in one area in FY 2007 are mobilized community participation a program to strengthen the capacity illustrative of the program overall. in a number of NGO-led initiatives, of government and other stakeholders The community-based Band-e including the multi-stakeholder to improve biodiversity conservation Amir Protected Area Committee revision of the High Conservation Value Forest Toolkit for Indonesia, and “ Due to involvement of powerful people… and harvesting the development of a Reduced Impact pistachio nuts before ripening, the quality and quantity Logging (RIL) Training Manual for Sabah in Malaysia. The Program also of pistachio was very low. Sometimes people could not trained 54 people in participatory even sell their pistachio nuts at the bazaar… In the planning and conflict management, last two years, many merchants come to the villages RIL and forest policy. RAFT asking for pistachio nuts. Most families bring their continued to engage with stakeholders in the region, such as the Indonesian pistachio nuts to sell during bazaar day in Eibak city.” Forest Concessionaires Association, Haji Abdul Samad, Head of Madrassa to leverage policy changes which Forest Management Committee promote improved forest management.

and natural resource management was formed to protect the six lakes Afghanistan (NRM) in three areas of biological considered to be Afghanistan’s greatest significance. The Wakhan Corridor is natural wonders. With committee Woodlands Restoration and a thin finger of mountainous terrain collaboration, the Band-e Amir Conservation of Key Areas bordering Tajikistan, Pakistan and Management Plan was completed China, containing some of the last and prepared for submission to the Afghanistan is at the convergence relatively pristine wildlife populations National Environmental Protection of Mediterranean, Tibetan and and habitats left in Afghanistan. The Agency (NEPA), whose approval Himalayan vegetation types, and Hazarajat Plateau has some of the is a prerequisite for declaration as towards the Pakistan border is most important existing and potential a national park. This management influenced by the monsoon. This protected areas in Afghanistan, such as plan influenced a draft of rules geography and the country’s great the Ajar Valley Wildlife Sanctuary and and regulations for protected areas altitudinal range support a high the lakes of Band-e Amir. The Eastern around the country, which has diversity of plants and wildlife. About Forests complex has the last remaining been approved by the Ministry of 75 percent of the total land area is arid conifer woodlands in the country, Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock rangeland, supporting wild ungulates important for both biodiversity and is now being reviewed by the and about 22 million head of livestock. conservation and economic Ministry of Justice. WCS is also High mountain zones are home to development. USAID partner Wildlife assisting the Afghan government the endangered snow leopard and Conservation Society (WCS) is

40 ASIA to nominate Band-e Amir as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

USAID supports a program to promote CBNRM for improved livelihoods in mountain communities which complements WCS’s work in the biologically significant Wakhan Corridor. There, Afghans are being introduced to regional innovations and linked to peer networks, with the goal of building their capacity for policy research, analysis and monitoring. Demonstration sites will be established in three communities representing two agro-ecological zones to showcase social, technical and institutional best practices in CBNRM and conserving sensitive biodiversity in this area.

Capacity building for NEPA is a priority to ensure implementation of its responsibilities under the Photo: Wildlife Conservation Society Environment Law signed in HIGH LIFE IN BAND-E AMIR: The Marco Polo sheep, an endangered species found in the mountainous Wakhan Corridor of Afghanistan and adjoining March 2007. Support includes regions of China, Pakistan and Tajikistan, is under serious threat from environmental impact assessment poaching and uncontrolled trophy hunting. USAID supports designation of Band-e Amir as a National Park and UNESCO World Heritage Site training, enhancing compliance with to protect the wild sheep, snow leopards, and six mountain lakes. international treaties, public education and outreach, environmental regulation and financing, and a $1 provinces surrounding Kabul which suffered for decades from overgrazing, million small grants program for uses a community-based approach unmanaged and damaging pistachio biodiversity-focused CBNRM. to establish agroforestry enterprises harvests, and cutting of pistachio and promote forest and watershed trees. Healthy woodlands can As the government works to establish management. By establishing woodlots reduce erosion and desertification, security and public services, returning and nurseries of indigenous tree and conserve watersheds in refugees with no livelihoods or species, and introducing new methods water-scarce Afghanistan. homes are overexploiting forest to manage and market trees, the resources to build houses, cook project aims to increase tree cover USAID supports the Provincial food and heat their homes. To make and introduce a sustainable source of Reforestation and Integrated matters worse, flooding in 2007 revenue for impoverished farmers. Environmental Protection Project, in the mountains north of Kabul a major component of the UN destroyed an estimated 70,000 trees. In addition to reducing pressure World Food Program’s Green Woodlots are part of the solution, on natural forests with woodlots, Afghanistan Initiative, which develops as they are economically viable reforestation of wild pistachio community and private nurseries, agroforestry enterprises which can woodlands is a priority of the Afghan provides agroforestry training, and reduce pressure on natural forests for government because of their significant funds pistachio tree planting. In fuelwood and construction materials. economic and biological value. These terrain that is mountainous and USAID supports a project in the unique woodland ecosystems have rugged, with security problems

USAID’S BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY PROGRAMS, FY 2007 41 in many areas, the project targets strict wetland conservation measures the most accessible 50 hectare and sustainable fishing practices; patches of pistachio woodlands. and equitable commercialization Communities have volunteered of fisheries. MACH continues and are committed to maintaining to work in three large freshwater and guarding the reforested areas wetlands covering 25,000 hectares. through an MOU signed by Village Within this area, 20,921 hectares are Environmental Committees, the covered by approved management local Ministry of Agriculture, and plans and interventions undertaken USAID’s implementing partner. by 16 Resource Management Photo: Patrick Smith, USAID Organizations (RMOs) composed The Afghan Conservation Corps DOMESTIC TOURISM: of fishers and farmers, landless and This member of a Resource (ACC), a national employment Management Organization elites, men and women: anyone program funded by USAID, has watches birds in one of the with an interest in the sustainable many sanctuaries established established Forest Management by the MACH program. use of these wetland resources. Committees (FMCs) to conserve USAID and private sector investments in Bangladesh’s and manage pistachio woodlands wetlands and national parks MACH has helped establish 80 in Samangan province in north- have helped boost nature wetland sanctuaries, restore habitats, tourism by both international central Afghanistan. Community visitors and urban residents. and ban destructive resource conservation of pistachios in this extraction practices. The greatest region has resulted in improved impact of the wetland program has pistachio forest management and poorly considered mandates. The open been on fish, with several locally increased economic return to local water fishery has declined steadily scarce or lost species recovering, and people, and could be a model for over the last 20 years, and per capita total fish populations increasing. all pistachio areas in Afghanistan. fish consumption among the poorest The value of the fish catch in the Following FMC protection, pistachio people has declined 38 percent since three wetlands more than doubled harvest management and replanting, 1995. After decades of commercial between 1999 and 2005, to about 40 to 50 percent increases in harvest and illegal forest exploitation, $7.7 million. Other aquatic resources and revenue have been realized in the Bangladesh also has the smallest per account for an additional $2 million past two years. Seeing these positive capita protected forest area in the annually. Restoration of swamp results, other communities have world. USAID is currently working forest and riparian plantations of approached the ACC about helping to reverse these trends with two field native trees provide wildlife habitat, them in the same way. Community activities: Management of Aquatic environmental services, and an management of forest lands is now Ecosystems through Community income for local communities. a tenet of the Forest and Range Husbandry (MACH), which focuses Department of the Ministry of on freshwater wetland conservation, In one major wetland, a 100 hectare Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock. and Co-management of Tropical area was set aside as a sanctuary Forest Resources in Bangladesh managed by an RMO for the benefit (Nishorgo Support Project), which of the whole wetland system. In Bangladesh conserves tropical forest areas. addition to fish diversity increasing, the winter water bird population Co-management of Wetlands Initiated in 1998, MACH is notable increased from about 300 birds of and Tropical Forests for its three-pronged approach to 16 species in early 2004 to almost improving fisheries management: 7,000 birds of 33 species in early In Bangladesh, ecosystems have been good governance measures via 2006. USAID interventions also degraded and biodiversity lost due to communities and local government successfully reintroduced 28 species shortsighted practices, policies that co-managing local fisheries; an of native fish and 47 species of native deter community participation, and ecosystems-based approach with plants back into their natural habitat.

42 ASIA These fishermen catch more fish with less work thanks to sustainable fishing practices and co-management plans introduced under the MACH program.

Photo: Patrick Smith, USAID

FISHING EFFICIENTLY In the mid 1990s, Chenguria, a small fishing village in northern Bangladesh, saw a precipitous decline of not only its chief source of food, but also its livelihood base. Fisherman Wahab Ali recalls how he spent 15 hours a day with his net, with little reward. “I couldn’t collect even one kilogram,” he says. Today, following investment by USAID’s MACH program, village catch levels are restored and local fishermen are profiting from the return of rare species that had disappeared due to overexploitation, shrinking habitats, and pollution. Chenguria is not an isolated success story: its return to modest prosperity is replicated in 110 villages across three Bangladeshi wetlands, directly benefiting 184,000 people. Wahab’s experience echoes what is heard today in these wetland villages: “Now I fish only eight hours a day,” he says, “and my catch is larger than before.”

For more information on the MACH program, see Chapter 3 of World Resources Report 2008, available at www.wri.org.

In response to dwindling forests and responsibilities: a permanent voice in Government recently approved protected areas, USAID initiated the both conserving and benefiting from the sharing of pilot park entry Nishorgo Support Program in close the protected forest areas. The quality fees with the Councils that are co- partnership with the Bangladesh Forest of protected areas has improved in managing them. In 2007 a sixth site, Department (FD). Nishorgo started in tangible ways: trails, information the Modhupur National Park, for 2003 with five pilot landscapes around kiosks and interpretive information decades a place of violent conflict five protected areas with a combined are present at all pilot sites; forests among the FD, local settlers, and total land area of over 135,000 that were slowly disappearing are now indigenous communities, was added hectares. Official management plans returning to health; and key indicator in response to a request from the are being implemented that give eight species are thriving. Conservation highest level of the government. Councils in the five landscapes, and enterprises have expanded, including the 235,000 people they represent, eco-cottages, eco-guides, and export Domestic tourism in Bangladesh is “co-management” rights and quality handicrafts. Critically, the growing exponentially, and Nishorgo

USAID’S BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY PROGRAMS, FY 2007 43 helps poor residents benefit from Cambodia many of which were rehabilitated tourists’ desire to experience nature at a USAID-supported animal inside their own country. Visitors to Grassroots Advocacy and rescue center. 193 families received one USAID pilot site increased nine- Controlling Wildlife Trade assistance to establish alternative fold from 2005 to 2006, and four-fold livelihoods, with 87 families earning again in 2007. A park that had some The ability to make quick profits more than $40 per month, 612 300 visitors per month in 2005 is on from natural resources, combined hectares of forest preserved, and track to attract 15,000 per month with poor governance and land- over 30 hectares of forest replanted. in 2008. “Nishorgo Conservation grabbing, severe poverty, and Law enforcement support, remote Partnerships” was recently developed weak infrastructure is translating sensing and demarcation activities to attract investment in protected into uncontrolled extraction and helped conserve 764,669 hectares of areas by the private sector, which has destruction of Cambodia’s forests forest and demarcate 70 kilometers already contributed to publishing a and wildlife. USAID supports a of protected forest boundary. brochure about Bangladesh’s parks, multifaceted initiative to protect and and funded a nationwide architectural manage Cambodia’s natural resources. USAID/Cambodia continued its competition to design visitor centers. Program on Rights and Justice (PRAJ), In partnership with WildAid, USAID implemented by partner East-West As a direct result of USAID support, helps communities develop livelihood Management Institute since 2004. the FD has brought more areas into alternatives to slash-and-burn PRAJ has four main components: (1) its protected area system, and over agriculture. Consumers are encouraged help communities develop their own 1,700 FD and community members to stop buying wildlife products tools for surveying and monitoring have been trained on various aspects through public education activities, biodiversity and threats; (2) build of protected area co-management. such as an environmental awareness alliances across geographical areas More than 40,000 community bus (The Kouprey Express) that travels related to biodiversity and natural members are now receiving direct the country, and education events in resource rights; (3) assist communities economic benefits. Fifty eco-tour collaboration with the Association and networks to produce and guides have been trained, and there of Buddhists for the Environment. distribute their own videos and other has been a ten-fold increase in the Government law enforcement media materials with conservation number of visitors to protected areas. capacity to counter the illegal wildlife and biodiversity themes; (4) enhance trade is strengthened through forest the emerging network’s ability to USAID/Bangladesh’s forest ranger training, a telephone hotline respond to biodiversity-related conservation program strikes a for reporting wildlife traffickers, a threats and conflicts. Together balance between nature tourism and media campaign, and monitoring of these components are designed to the productive household activities restaurants against serving illegal game address major threats to biodiversity, and enterprises that complement meat. USAID also supports remote such as mining, illegal wildlife conservation. Social forestry sensing to monitor forest cover and trade, natural resource concessions plantations and mixed species help demarcate land use boundaries. (including logging), hydropower plantations intended to benefit dams, and loss of community land. rural households also contribute to The results of this program are storing carbon. The program recently impressive. In FY 2007, public PRAJ continued its support for developed and is beginning to market awareness activities resulted in a 90 capacity-building workshops and a a package of carbon offset credits percent reduction of outlets selling Community Peacebuilding Network to the “voluntary” carbon market. wildlife meat in four cities from the (CBN). In FY 2007, one workshop These credits are an additional baseline measured in 2005-2006. led CBN to launch a national petition potential source of revenue that Support for rangers resulted in the calling for the end of illegal land USAID is working to harness and apprehension of 225 wildlife traffickers concessions; CBN also assigned a channel to local poor stakeholders. and the rescue of endangered animals, working group to plan coordinated

44 ASIA in FY 2007, designed to strengthen the community voice in advocacy for environmental protection and protection of natural resource rights. The project was founded on the belief that biodiversity requires popular support for its preservation and that forest communities themselves are often the best defenders of the resources upon which they depend. Helping communities preserve their land and natural resource rights in border areas gains their commitment to be good stewards while creating buffer zones for biologically important areas. Since the project was launched, it has provided funding to six Cambodian NGOs to support advocacy and protection efforts. One of the NGOs, Youth Peace Council Network (KYSD), trained and placed four youth volunteers in rural communities to provide support to community networks. In its first year, PRAJ aims to support at least five advocacy campaigns and protect at least one million hectares.

Indonesia

Natural Resource Management Photo: Martin von Kaschke, WWF and Orangutan Conservation NO FISHERMAN’S TALE: This large catfish caught in northeast Cambodia is no match for the Mekong Giant Catfish found in the same waterways. The Mekong River basin is home to at least 1,300 species Indonesia is a highly diverse island of fish, a level of diversity rivaled only by the Amazon basin, which country with a large number of encompasses an area six times larger. Aquatic resources account for up to 80 percent of the animal protein consumed in the region, and species found nowhere else on earth. the fisheries of the Mekong are valued at over $1.5 billion annually. Rapid urbanization, encroachment on protected areas, and conversion of forests to agriculture are destroying complaints against illegal concessions. are expected to have a devastating habitats and threatening ecosystem Many CBN affiliated groups effect on fragile Cambodian function and species survival. signed a letter to the Mekong River ecosystems and endangered species Commission to halt plans for dams on like the Mekong River dolphin. USAID/Indonesia’s Environmental the Mekong, including one in lower Services Program (ESP) works with Laos and another between Kratie and PRAJ also initiated a new Biodiversity national park managers, community Stung Treng in Cambodia, which and Grassroots Advocacy Project groups and other government and civil

USAID’S BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY PROGRAMS, FY 2007 45 society organizations in watersheds across Java and northern Sumatra to develop and implement collaborative management agreements that lead to habitat restoration through reforestation with native species. Such agreements include agroforestry systems with native fruit trees, as well as food crop production in replanted forests until canopy cover is closed. This approach leads to habitat and ecosystem restoration in and directly Healthy forests along the Tanjung Puting river in Indonesia. adjacent to national parks and other Photo: Don Bason, OCSP protected areas, providing food and cover for many species as well as biodiversity corridors that link fragmented habitats. These community PALM OIL IN PARADISE? partnerships stimulate sustainable Tanjung Puting National Park in Central Kalimantan is home to alternative livelihoods based on many endangered species, including proboscis monkeys, gibbons and biodiversity conservation objectives. orangutans, clouded leopards, and over 200 species of birds. USAID partners World Education and Orangutan Foundation International (OFI) are working to protect these animals and their habitat from ESP also supports community-based illegal logging, illegal mining and conversion to palm oil plantations as part of the Orangutan Conservation Services Project. land rehabilitation field schools in and around high biodiversity areas, an The encroachment of palm oil plantations is the most serious threat to the park. Forest clearing on all sides could turn the park into an approach that has now been adopted island in a sea of oil palm monoculture, or worse: some Indonesian by the Ministry of Forestry. In FY palm oil companies have requested and received government 2007, a cadre of 36 field assistants permits to create palm oil plantations inside the park boundaries. facilitated 152 such field schools in Palm oil is an ingredient in thousands of processed foods and personal as many communities. In addition, care products, and can be used to make biodiesel. Well-managed palm oil plantations are important to the livelihoods of millions, but rising prices ESP worked with the Ministry to for this commodity have led to unsustainable growth. Many new palm oil strengthen policy and build human plantations are developed without the consent of the national government or local people, and are the primary driver of forest clearance in Indonesia. resources for local, community- based collaborative conservation management for 44 National Parks across Indonesia. Over the past year, ESP facilitated the rehabilitation of Forest area which was converted to oil palm plantation at the boundary 13,092 hectares of degraded land, of the Tanjung Puting National Park. improved management of 31,517 Photo: DR . Jamartin Sihite, OCSP hectares of high conservation value forest, and developed 26 policies recognizing community tenure and access rights for improved conservation and forest management. In Aceh province, ESP continued land rehabilitation activities in coastal areas and coastal watersheds impacted by the 2004 tsunami, working with over 20,000 local people.

46 ASIA USAID’s work has resulted in strong conservation financing, strengthen supports park patrols, prevention of community networks supporting partnerships and coordination of illegal extraction of natural resources, agroforestry, reforestation, and stakeholders, and raise awareness capacity building with the Park biodiversity conservation activities. about orangutan conservation issues. authorities, fire suppression and In the province of East Java, support In FY 2007, OCSP improved the prevention, and the application of for the Bumiaji Land Rehabilitation management of 243,000 hectares geographic information systems to Movement integrated biodiversity of biologically significant forest help in monitoring and management. conservation work into watershed within Kalimantan and Sumatra, and management activities. In and around provided training to 194 individuals In northern East Kalimantan, OCSP Raden Soerjo Grand Forest Park in natural resources management is supporting improved management (RSGFP), the program brought and/or biodiversity conservation. of forest habitat within 50,000 together stakeholders and revived hectares of production forests. This a Javanese tradition of seedling In northern Sumatra, OCSP has led to effective forest management cultivation and tree planting to began developing a conservation and reduced habitat loss, illegal rehabilitate severely degraded land. blueprint with wide stakeholder logging and hunting. Further south ESP also supported a Pride in Conservation campaign for six villages “ The fate of the orangutan is a subject that goes surrounding RSGFP, improving to the heart of sustainable forests... to save management of the buffer zone around the park. Across Java, ESP the orangutan we have to save the forest.” facilitated 22 agreements between Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, community groups and state forest President of the Republic of Indonesia company Perhutani, resulting in the rehabilitation of more than 5,500 hectares of degraded forest support to conserve the forests in the province, OCSP is working in the island’s upper watersheds. of West Batang Toru Forest to assist the Kutai National Park Block. This plan will help three Authority and two timber plantations In FY 2007, using FY 2006 funds, districts to manage approximately surrounding the park, Sinar Mas USAID initiated the Orangutan 76,000 hectares of protected and and Sumalindo, to devise a plan to Conservation Services Project (OCSP) commercial forests containing an protect both the Park’s forest habitat with the objective of safeguarding estimated 380 orangutans, along and the orangutan found inside endangered orangutans and their with Sumatran tigers and a variety both the Park and the plantations. tropical forest habitat. OCSP is a crisis of other endangered animals. response program that aims to reduce Two of the four large companies Through OCSP, USAID participated or eliminate threats to orangutans, working in the area, the Agincourt in a multi-stakeholder process such as conversion of forests to oil Gold mine and the Teluk Nauli which resulted in a national plan palm plantations and other agriculture, logging company, are participating to ensure long-term survival of the unsustainable logging, and wildlife in the process and have indicated orangutan. This Indonesia Orangutan trafficking. OCSP works to strengthen that they will respect the results. Conservation Strategy and Action conservation practices, enforcement Plan, signed into policy by the and spatial planning at selected sites In Central Kalimantan, OCSP Minister of Forestry on December in Sumatra and Kalimantan (Borneo). is implementing an integrated 3, 2007, aims to stabilize orangutan While engaging local communities in conservation and development populations and habitat by 2017. The conservation activities, the program project to protect orangutan habitat, President of Indonesia demonstrated also operates at a broader scale to working to improve the management the country’s highest level of support improve enforcement of existing laws of 401,600 hectares of critically for the plan by launching it at a that protect habitat and orangutans, important orangutan habitat in high-profile media event at the create a mechanism for long term Tanjung Puting National Park. OCSP UN Climate Conference in Bali.

USAID’S BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY PROGRAMS, FY 2007 47 ANTI-POACHERS: Women Community Forest User’s Group members remove an animal trap placed by a wildlife poacher in Bardia District, Nepal.

Photo: USAID/Nepal

Nepal 2,000 civil society groups in six sustainable resource management community forestry program districts; and good governance practices that Strengthened Community three buffer zones of biologically give them ownership over common Natural Resources Governance significant sites (Shey Phoksundo property resources. These actions, National Park, Langtang National Park while contributing to sustainable The forests of Nepal provide food, and Kangchenjunga Conservation forest management, also translate fuel and lumber critical to local Area); and four urban centers into greater awareness by grass roots livelihoods, as well as tremendous strategically important for policy organizations of their rights within biological diversity. Overexploitation advocacy campaigns (Nepalgunj, the democratic process, leading to of forest resources, illegal trade in Pokhara, Itahari and Kathmandu). a stronger civil society as a whole. wild plant and animal products, overgrazing, and fire are among Known as “SAGUN” – Strengthened Through SAGUN in FY 2007, the major threats to Nepal’s forests. Actions of Governance in Utilization USAID supported mobilization of Political and social conflicts related of Natural Resources – USAID’s anti-poaching units, participatory to access and control over forest program employs accountable, biodiversity monitoring, community- resources, high levels of poverty and transparent and participatory based insurance for livestock illiteracy, and a lack of awareness management approaches for predation, herder education and of environmental issues exacerbate sustainable community forest awareness programs, development the situation. In response, USAID/ management. It promotes practical and updating of snow leopard Nepal’s natural resource governance ways to educate forest user groups habitat maps, construction of watch program works with approximately and have them actually exercise towers, support for eco-tourism, and

48 ASIA construction of bio-fencing at the forestry program districts and four With USAID support, the ‘Federation buffer zones of biologically significant urban centers. It reached 193,549 of Community Forestry Users Nepal’ areas. 15,830 hectares of forest area people with training opportunities, (FECOFUN) continued its leadership were officially turned over to local workshops, advocacy campaigns, to promote the rights and aspirations communities for management in a observation trips, and education of over 14,300 member groups sustainable manner. SAGUN raised classes focusing on sustainable forest in the country. It organized 222 awareness of good governance among management. Over 10,000 hectares advocacy campaigns and mass rallies buffer zone user groups, eco-clubs, of community forests were brought in different parts of the country to students and mothers groups. It under improved management, with re-establish democratic rights of forest increased the technical, organizational, silvicultural operations resulting in users curtailed by various authorities managerial and advocacy capacity of 25,556 metric tons of forest products including the Army, forest mafias, and 869 community user groups and has harvested in a sustainable manner local political leaders. FECOFUN led to greater citizen participation for subsistence and sales. Hundreds partnered with key political parties in buffer zone development. These of forest user groups demonstrated and civil society leaders in Nepal, groups brought 376 hectares of high capacity and accountability with and mobilized hundreds of users in buffer zone forest under improved annually audited accounts, preparation favor of the restoration of democracy management with the active involvement of 4,145 households, USAID support for community conservation in and forest products were harvested in Nepal led to 15,830 hectares of forest being officially a sustainable manner for subsistence and sales. In addition, buffer zone turned over to local communities for sustainable groups prepared and implemented management, and helped restore forest use rights for management plans and anti-poaching disenfranchised rural people throughout the country. activities which have resulted in reduced human and livestock pressure in the parks and conservation areas. or revision of forest operational plans and peace. Government authorities and constitutions, and provisions now recognize the need to hand over Participatory biodiversity monitoring ensuring equitable distribution more community forests to local in the community forest plots of benefits derived from forest user groups in the Terai plains, have and buffer zone sites has shown resources. SAGUN helped to prepare abolished Value Added Tax imposed positive changes. Despite the fragile and implement 146 livelihoods on the sale of forest products, and have security situation, conservation improvement plans targeting poor invited FECOFUN representatives areas as well as community forests community members for economic to join in several monitoring visits plots are becoming an attraction empowerment. The program also related to illegal logging, wildlife for local and international visitors involved 65,807 Janajatis (ethnic poaching, and representation of because of the unique flora and minority group members) and reached Dalits and ethnic minorities at the fauna regenerated in the area. 17,419 Dalits (disadvantaged low caste state’s decision-making bodies. members) through various training FECOFUN was invited to review SAGUN also has a forestry programs, workshops, and advocacy and provide input to Nepal’s Three- component. In FY 2007, USAID campaigns encompassing messages Year Interim Plan and participated assistance helped 815 community of social inclusion and sustainable in a dozen meetings of Government forest user groups to build their forest management. These groups of Nepal’s Parliamentary Committee internal organizational capacity provided funds to support livelihoods for Natural Resources Management. for good governance, livelihoods improvement, children’s education, improvement, and policy advocacy and other community development campaigning in six community needs in 305 poor households.

USAID’S BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY PROGRAMS, FY 2007 49 Photo: B. Cabrera, USAID SEA PATROL: When officially declared a Marine Protected Area (MPA) in 2002, Bilangbilangan East Marine Sanctuary at Danajon Bank, Philippines had an extremely high percentage of dead coral and almost no high-value fish species. USAID helped strengthenM PA enforcement and management, including the use of strict “no take” zones. Illegal fishing is now under control, coral is recovering, and fish abundance and diversity have increased.

Philippines in the early 1900s to just 17% (5.3 a broad range of activities to conserve million hectares) in the late 1990s, biodiversity, with assistance centered Local Conservation and deforestation continues today on improving national and local Succeeds with Improved primarily due to illegal logging and governance and capacity to sustainably Governance, Land Tenure conversion to agriculture. Likewise, manage key natural resources. 70% of coral reefs have been Considered among the world’s centers destroyed, and destructive fishing In FY 2007, USAID achieved of species diversity and endemism, practices threaten food security. continued progress in addressing the Philippines’ forest and coastal- Pollution from inadequate solid waste degradation of the Philippines’ marine resources are critical to both management and untreated wastewater valuable terrestrial and marine economic growth and human health. from a growing human population is biodiversity assets. An overall However, forest cover has declined a priority threat to both biodiversity cumulative total of 401,889 hectares from about 70% (21 million hectares) and human health. USAID supports of forestlands and municipal waters

50 ASIA have been placed under improved city markets and a slaughterhouse government ownership. Part of this management. USAID trained 3,182 in Dumaguete, Calbayog, and strategy includes decentralizing people (including 969 women) to Iloilo, now discharge cleaner water forest management authorities and improve resource management skills into their coastal ecosystems. responsibilities to local resource and raise environmental awareness. managers. In FY 2007, numerous This training helped lead to the In the predominantly Muslim South, partnerships came together under adoption of 123 ordinances, which Mindanao island LGUs adopted 20 co-management agreements in turn legitimized conservation areas culturally appropriate environmental between communities, LGUs and further encouraged community governance using Al Khalifa, a and the Philippines Environment support for biodiversity conservation guidebook on environmental Department, which together placed in 130 local government units protection and development based 92,756 hectares of forest under more (LGUs). Benefits are accruing to on Islamic principles. Islamic legal effective, collective management. LGUs, including tenured property authorities helped develop and review rights, reduced illegal logging and this USAID-funded guidebook, and Through co-management, LGUs are destructive fishing practices, increased endorsed it for wider application. able to demonstrate to constituents citizen involvement, and improved On the island province of Tawi-Tawi, the benefits of having secured property local government capabilities to LGUs adopted a fatwa (religious rights, reduced illegal logging, deliver environmental services. edict) for marine environmental increased citizen involvement, and conservation. A survey of LGUs improved delivery of services, such as With USAID investment, 15 LGUs in 2007 found improvements in agricultural extension, construction were able to divert 25 percent or more an environmental governance of farm-to-market roads, and waste to recycling and composting facilities, rather than polluting An overall cumulative total of 401,889 hectares of biodiversity rich rivers and coastal forestlands and municipal waters have been placed ecosystems. Thirty-nine hotels and resorts in the high biodiversity coastal under improved management. USAID trained 3,182 areas of Panglao, Palawan, Puerto people (including 969 women) to improve resource Galera and Batangas are working with management skills and raise environmental awareness. LGUs to reduce pollution of their coastal ecosystems by establishing wastewater treatment facilities and index over the 2006 baseline, provision of seedlings for agroforestry. reducing generation of solid wastes suggesting better functionality, USAID remains actively engaged and impacts on target biodiversity. transparency, accountability in discussions on a new, national, Environmental user fees paid by and level of participation in ten-year community-based forest tourists fund some of this work. environmental programs. management plan, which would keep communities, local governments USAID also supported the pilot Small-scale illegal logging and and NGOs at the forefront of testing of wastewater treatment conversion of natural forests to forest management by instituting facilities in local government farmland due to migration and poverty regional and provincial mechanisms enterprises such as public markets continue to threaten biodiversity and for multi-stakeholder planning, and slaughterhouses, which annually the livelihoods of over 20 million implementation and monitoring. discharge thousands of tons of upland Filipinos dependent on untreated effluent directly into marine forest resources, as well as coastal Effective enforcement of forestry and freshwater bodies. As a result of people and marine life downstream. laws in the Philippines is critical for USAID’s efforts, the public market in USAID supports efforts to place conserving forests. USAID made Muntinlupa now discharges acceptably open-access forest areas under clear further progress in galvanizing once- clean water into Laguna de Bay, the tenure and to improve management fragmented government environmental country’s largest freshwater lake, and of areas already under private or law enforcement units into a more

USAID’S BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY PROGRAMS, FY 2007 51 Photo: Development Alternatives, Inc. CORAL REEF CO-MANAGEMENT: Marine scientists are training local community managers in the Philippines to evaluate the health of their marine protected areas (MPAs) and make management adjustments accordingly. Participatory monitoring of MPAs, with the results analyzed by local people, is one of the good governance practices encouraged by USAID. harmonized and coordinated on the PTFCF Board of Trustees. In East Timor, Malaysia, Papua New interagency network. As part of these 2007, the PTFCF made 20 grants Guinea, and the Solomon Islands. efforts, the Agency helped standardize valued at over $740,000, for activities Covering some 5.7 million square enforcement training modules and such as forestry law enforcement, kilometers, the Coral Triangle harbors operations protocols in wildlife, mangrove forest rehabilitation, over 600 coral species, more than forestry, fisheries, and pollution, which protected area development, and half of the world’s coral reefs, 3,000 helped to control environmental tree nursery development. USAID species of fish, and the greatest extent crimes across the country. assistance to PTFCF also resulted of mangrove forests in the world. in the confiscation of 50,000 board A new multilateral Coral Triangle Through the Philippine Tropical Forest feet of illegal timber from poachers. Initiative (CTI) seeks to address Conservation Foundation (PTFCF), threats to the region’s extraordinary established under the U.S. Tropical The Philippines is a nation of islands marine biodiversity. USAID Forest Conservation Act, USAID enveloped by the “Coral Triangle,” supported design of the Philippines supports innovative forest conservation the epicenter of marine life and component of CTI in 2007, with initiatives of local NGOs by providing biodiversity on the planet, which also implementation of conservation technical assistance and leadership includes all or parts of Indonesia, activities expected in 2008.

52 ASIA USAID country and regional programs LATIN AMERICA AND funded biodiversity conservation and forestry activities in over 15 countries throughout Latin America and the THE CARIBBEAN Caribbean in FY 2007.

The countries of Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) collectively contain nearly half of the world’s birds and amphibians and one third of all plants, including about half of all tropical forests. The eastern slope of the Andes Mountains is the single most biologically diverse area in the world, while the Amazon River drains the largest rainforest on the planet.

Overfishing, illegal logging and conversion of forests to agriculture are among the major threats to natural resources in the LAC region; species, or seasonal natural disasters Brazil has the highest biodiversity of such as forest fires and hurricanes. any country but also the highest rate USAID partnered with governments, of deforestation. Certain countries conservation organizations, indigenous are particularly affected by narcotics communities and the private sector growers and traffickers, invasive to address these issues in FY 2007.

ON THE ROAD TO IROKRAMA: The enthusiasm and tenaciousness of “birders” make them well-suited to paving the way for ecotourism in Guyana, an ecological gem at the crossroads of the Amazon and the Caribbean. This group of journalists and tour operators made an impromptu stop on route to Iwokrama Forest during a familiarization tour organized by USAID.

Photo: Martina Miller

USAID’S BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY PROGRAMS, FY 2007 53 LAC Regional livestock density of less than one partners, USAID is supporting Sustainable head of cattle per six hectares, which biodiversity conservation in the Development Program significantly reduces their impact on Amazonian portions of Colombia, vegetation. Together, these agreements Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. ICAA’s The Latin America and Caribbean will help conserve approximately goal is to build capacity and (LAC) Bureau’s regional biological 30,000 hectares in the Cotopaxi commitment across the Andean- conservation strategy works to secure National Park and 12,000 hectares Amazon Basin for effective stewardship the region’s natural wealth as a basis in the Antisana Ecologic Reserve. of the basin’s nationally and globally for sustainable development. Seven important biological diversity and environmental specialists support PiP supported the completion of environmental services. In FY 2007, an this strategy by providing technical the report “Priorities for Marine extended design phase was completed assistance to Missions and by Conservation in South America,” and field implementation began. assisting the Bureau in meeting its which for the first time identifies environmental compliance obligations. coastal and marine conservation ICAA has already generated FY 2007 was the final year of the long- priorities through science-based and a number of results: running Parks in Peril program (PiP), highly participatory processes that and the first year of field activities have followed consistent methodology • In Bolivia, a base-line deforestation for the Initiative for Conservation across six countries in South analysis in four protected areas in the Andean Amazon (ICAA). In America. The resulting information confirmed that forest cover loss collaboration with the USDA Forest establishes a baseline on which to is statistically lower in protected Service (USFS) and Department of build future marine conservation, areas and a titled area within State, the LAC Regional Sustainable adaptation, and management efforts. Tacana indigenous lands than in Development (RSD) program helped adjacent, non-protected areas; build capacity in Central America for In the forestry sector, PiP facilitated trade in sustainable wood products, the formation and initiation of Local • In Peru, ICAA brought together implementation of the Convention Forest Management Committees indigenous communities, on International Trade in Endangered (LFMCs) in Cockpit Country, neighboring community Species of Flora and Fauna (CITES), Jamaica. A launch ceremony attended associations, and high-level and other environmental aspects of by members of the 88 communities government authorities to the Central America – Dominican in Cockpit Country and the Minister establish exclusion zones to protect Republic – United States Free of Agriculture marked the start of co- forests from ongoing production Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR). management of a forest reserve and its operations and to grant concessions resources among LFMCs, the Forestry that will resolve a long-standing Parks in Peril Department, and partner The Nature title request for native lands. Conservancy. LFMC committees have In its last year, the PiP program been involved in the review of the • In Ecuador, local partners have assisted members of Fundación Martha Brae Forest Management Plan, formed a public-private alliance Páramo in the Condor Biosphere which includes forest management with the Ministry of Tourism Reserve in Ecuador to sign an and biodiversity conservation, as well and National Tourism Chamber agreement to cooperate with the as sustainable livelihood strategies to promote sustainable tourism, landowners of El Tambo, Santa and proposed projects for funding. improving livelihoods while Rita and El Porvenir ranches, in conserving natural resources. which landowners agreed to not Initiative for Conservation Detailed profiles of ICAA’s burn the páramo vegetation in areas in the Andean Amazon sustainable tourism pilot surrounding high montane forests operations were highlighted on and other natural plant formations. Through ICAA, a collaboration with the government’s official tourism They also agreed to maintain a more than 20 local and international web site (www.purecuador.com),

54 LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN CAPACITY BUILDING: A Honduran enforcement officer participates in a Tri- National CITES workshop in El Salvador in February 2007.

Photo: Humane Society International

as well as a promotional booklet that support of CAFTA-DR environmental made towards several objectives, such was translated into six languages and objectives, including training sessions as improving rescue center capacity distributed to tourism wholesalers on trade in sustainably produced wood to receive and rehabilitate wildlife, and outfitters around the world. products and correct implementation and planning a regional workshop of CITES; initiatives promoting on best practices for management of CAFTA-DR support for CITES trade, diversification and biological wildlife confiscated under CITES. diversity in cacao landscapes; and As the United States expands trade workshops on sustainable tourism. The Department of State used and investment ties under Free Trade additional CAFTA-DR funds to Agreements (FTAs), it also seeks to In collaboration with the Department support a series of workshops designed protect the environment and promote of State, USAID provided CAFTA- to improve the implementation of sustainable development. One priority DR environmental cooperation funds CITES and the coordination of area of concern is the potential for to four U.S. NGOs to work in Central enforcement across Central American increased illicit and unsustainable America on regulatory compliance borders. Over 100 people from international trade in endangered with CITES, environmental Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, flora and fauna. In FY 2007, LAC/ enforcement, and endangered species Honduras and Nicaragua participated RSD programmed several activities in habitat management. Progress was in five workshops in 2007.

USAID’S BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY PROGRAMS, FY 2007 55 NIGHT WATCH: This large female leatherback turtle now has nothing to fear when she lays eggs on Rosalie Beach in southern Dominica. Poaching of sea turtles and their eggs has been dramatically reduced by a USAID-supported, non- invasive research and monitoring program in which communities and tourists are invited to watch conservation in action.

Photo: Carol Guy

Caribbean Regional of Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts and The objective of the COTS program Program Nevis, St Vincent and the Grenadines, is to help OECS countries to succeed and St. Lucia, plus UK territory in an open trade environment in National Investments and Montserrat – with support for which their economic futures are Natural Assets Protection appropriate policy and governance ultimately linked to the ability of the systems, conservation measures, and region to protect its rich biodiversity USAID’s Caribbean Regional Program information tools. The Program endowment and fragile ecosystems. works to protect the biodiversity and provides support to OECS countries One target for COTS activities is the natural environment of countries in under the Caribbean Open Trade Codrington Lagoon on the island of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean Support (COTS) program, and Barbuda, which was recently declared States (OECS) – the countries of through a recent initiative launched a National Park. The largest sanctuary Antigua and Barbuda, Commonwealth with the Secretariat of OECS. in the world for the Frigate Bird

56 LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN (Fregata magnificens), it is home to can be implemented in collaboration program focuses on strengthening an estimated 170 species of birds. with coastal communities and the legal framework for the six Codrington Lagoon also serves as ‘voluntourism’ groups. independent countries of the OECS, a breeding ground for several types site management, improvement of of fish and lobsters, making it an In the last twenty years, demand for the private sector understanding of important socioeconomic resource organic medicinal plants and herbal their role in protecting a biodiversity, for the people of Barbuda. USAID is teas has grown on the island and and a public education program helping respond to the breaching of throughout the world, providing a on biodiversity conservation. the dune that closes the lagoon on one viable economic opportunity to the side, which threatens the integrity of poorest of Dominicans, the Kalinagos, Central America the lagoon’s ecology. The Agency is or Carib people. Kalinagos also see and Mexico Regional also helping prepare a Development this as a way to retain their knowledge Program and Management Plan for the Park so of traditional medicine. COTS is it can transition from a merely legal supporting the Kalinago Heritage Watershed Conservation, entity to a fully-fledged protected area. Society to curtail unsustainable Sustainable Fisheries and wild plant harvests and develop a CITES Compliance In Dominica, USAID supported sustainable economic activity that the development of a five-year can ensure the quality and quantity The USAID Central America and management plan for Morne Diablotin of plants the market requires. Work Mexico (E-CAM) Regional Program National Park, to cover the period is being done according to U.S. was initiated in El Salvador in 2005 2008 to 2013. While the Park is a standards, in case the Kalinago and 2006, replacing the Central spectacular wilderness area with many people decide to ramp up production America Regional Program managed rivers and mountains and impressive and exports in the future. for many years by USAID/Guatemala. primary forest rich in wildlife, its E-CAM supports many activities management plan expired three years One of the biggest threats to critical which help prepare Central American ago. A revised plan is critical given the marine habitats in Dominica is countries for the challenges related role of Morne Diablotin in protecting quarrying for sand and stones. COTS to Central America – Dominican the Red-necked and Imperial parrots continued support for a program Republic – United States Free and their habitats. Consultations were started in 2006 to institute both Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) conducted with communities near environmental management systems implementation, such as improved the park to ensure the continuing for the quarry industry and changes environmental compliance and support of local citrus producers for in environmental policy. USAID practices. In the areas of biodiversity the conservation of the parrots. helped develop regulations for and forestry, E-CAM contracted quarry operators, increase political Chemonics International in June One of the key threats to sea turtles support by showing the impact of 2007 to improve management and in Dominica is poaching on beaches quarries on marine and freshwater conservation of two critical watersheds during nesting season. USAID biodiversity, build the capacity in the Central American Region. supported a pilot activity in 2006, required to enforce the regulation, spearheaded by the Wider Caribbean and develop a monitoring program for CAFTA-DR activities build the Sea Turtle Conservation Network freshwater streams and marine habitats capacity of environmental authorities (WIDECAST) in collaboration with impacted by quarry operations. to enforce Multilateral Environmental the Dominica Forestry Division, which Agreements, especially the Convention showed that local communities could In addition to COTS activities in on International Trade in Endangered be mobilized for conservation. USAID Barbuda and Dominica, USAID Species of Wild Fauna and Flora built on this success in FY 2007 began a biodiversity program for the (CITES). For example, USAID by developing a national sea turtle entire region in FY 2007, working supported the design and publication research and monitoring program that through the OECS Secretariat. The of operational handbooks for CITES

USAID’S BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY PROGRAMS, FY 2007 57 enforcement by customs officials governments in fisheries enforcement use of secondary forest products in in CAFTA-DR countries, with and compliance, trained fishing and Honduras. USFS trained Honduran, particular emphasis on a wildlife port authorities to understand the Nicaraguan, and Guatemalan trade permit system. A total of 74 threat of marine invasive species, agencies on improving environmental customs officers, police officers and taught them to recognize the assessment procedures in the and other key officials were trained pathways by which species are forest sector, and updated forest at bi- and tri-national borders on transported (such as ballast water). policy and planning in Honduras CITES implementation procedures and Guatemala, while building using the published operational USAID/E-CAM has also engaged the institutional capacity to address handbooks. USAID also reviewed technical expertise of the USDA Forest sustainable forest management and the operation of rescue centers in Service (USFS) to achieve CAFTA-DR combat illegal logging. These actions the region, whose role confiscating natural resource management goals. will help support implementation wildlife is key to strengthening the of international obligations under enforcement and compliance processes CITES, as well as national laws. of CITES. This diagnostic established challenges and lessons learned on the In the new program to improve two management of animals, and provided critical watersheds, a total of seven recommendations for improving land use plans and four protected endangered species conservation. area plans are being implemented in two biodiverse transboundary Overfishing has been identified as watersheds: Cahuita-La Amistad-Rio a major threat to the health and Cañas-Bocas del Toro watershed on biodiversity of the Meso-American the Costa Rica-Panama border, and Reef. In support of the Environmental the Gulf of Honduras watershed, Cooperation Agreement under which includes Belize, Guatemala CAFTA-DR, USAID supported work Photo credit: Peter Keller, USAID and Honduras. USAID is establishing by World Wildlife Fund (WWF) WELCOME TO SANSANPOND public-private alliances to increase to transition the lobster fisheries SAK WETLAND: USAID revenues for sustainable management supports management planning in Honduras and Nicaragua away for protected areas like this one of these protected areas, and with local from unsustainable practices and in Panama, in the Cahuita-La stakeholders is considering methods Amistad-Rio Cañas-Bocas del an overcapitalized fleet that have Toro watershed which straddles of raising park management funds decimated lobster stocks over the past Panama and Costa Rica. by collecting local fees or taxes. 20 years. WWF’s ecosystem-based approach used zoning to provide The watersheds activity includes protection for nursery areas, and USFS works with local government, a small grants program to engage applied a complementary scheme to civil society and the private sector to local people in conservation. In FY ensure that fishing methods and gear address illegal logging, support trade 2007, USAID approved a grants types are compatible with the habitat in forest products that are produced manual and applications were in which they are used. Together, these sustainably, develop sound forest accepted and evaluated according will allow lobster stocks to recover policy, practices and institutions, to an approved work plan. The first while maintaining fishing livelihoods. and improve the economic and grant was awarded to a civil society To reduce sea turtle bycatch, USAID environmental viability of natural participation program to clean the funded the National Oceanic and resource-based livelihoods. In FY beaches of Puerto Barrios, Guatemala. Atmospheric Association (NOAA) 2007, USFS completed training This activity raised environmental to promote the use of turtle excluder of 90 border officials in wood awareness among communities in the devices on shrimp trawlers and (especially mahogany) identification area, and resulted in the development the use of circle hooks in long-line in Nicaragua and Honduras, and of a beach monitoring program. fisheries. NOAA built the capacity of supported sustainable community

58 LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN Bolivia LCP succeeded in establishing an practices, helps to monitor tourism agreement between key stakeholders to the region, promotes tourism of Landscape Conservation on the official delimitation of the the destination to various national Program and Sustainable Carrasco National Park, and gains and international markets, and Forestry were also maintained in strengthening encourages best practices that improve participatory management in the the quality of the tourism experience Bolivia is extraordinarily rich in Pilón Lajas indigenous territory and while at the same time ensuring globally important biodiversity, biosphere reserve. LCP also helped economic, social and environmental but these resources are under to develop one of the country’s first sustainability of the initiatives. extreme pressure from unsustainable Indigenous Education Programs, management which directly which attempts to promote In the forestry sector, USAID supports threatens the country’s economic educational goals of numeracy, literacy the work of many partners to increase development. USAID/Bolivia’s benefits received by communities Landscape Conservation Program from forest resources. The Nature (LCP) is working to conserve the Conservancy implements the Bolivia biologically significant Amboro- Forestry Program, which works to Madidi corridor on the eastern establish regulatory oversight and slopes of the Andes Mountains by technical and business norms in engaging with municipalities and forest management throughout the communities and generating incentives production chain, creating exports for sustainable natural resource and jobs associated with a sustainable management. Improving the capacity forestry sector. An Interagency of civil society, strengthening the Agreement between the USDA Forest government’s institutional capabilities Service (USFS) and USAID enlists and focusing on the inclusion of USFS technical assistance focused on indigenous and rural populations BIRD’S EYE VIEW: A pair developing wood processing protocols, are critical to achieving these goals. of scarlet macaws flies over wood analysis, training in integrated the forest canopy in Madidi National Park. USAID fire management, and sustainable Within LCP, a partnership with supports conservation of forestry road rehabilitation and the forest corridor between local and international NGOs led Madidi and Amboro protected construction. A Global Development by Conservation International, there areas, which in 2007 resulted Alliance with the Tahuamanu Group, in a new 616,643 hectare has been renewed effort to work municipal protected area. a Bolivian company, is constructing at the municipal level to help local a log collection and wood processing governments meet their increasing center in Cobija to fill a gap in the responsibilities related to local and critical thinking skills integrated production chain for wood products. planning, territorial management with the T’simane-Mosetene’s own and economic development. As indigenous knowledge, culture, Efforts in FY 2007 strengthened a result of this work, Bolivia’s language and conservation values. indigenous communities’ ability to largest municipal protected area participate in local, regional, and (over 600,000 hectares), Pampas In collaboration with the World national chains of production, and del Yacuma, was created in 2007. Tourism Organization, LCP helped to receive fair compensation for USAID also worked with a number to develop and implement a program their products and services. USAID of key biodiverse municipalities to called “Destino Verde” which networks improved 16 indigenous community develop land use zoning plans that ecotourism-related businesses in forest operations and facilitated promote conservation. It is hoped key municipalities of northern La contracts of over $900,000 this year. that best practices in “green” planning Paz. The program helps small and Overall, there was a 55% increase in identified as part of this activity can medium-sized businesses to have family income generated from forestry be replicated throughout the country. better operational and planning activities in monitored sites in 2007.

USAID’S BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY PROGRAMS, FY 2007 59 Effective use of an illegal logging Brazil Technical support and advocacy by information system, developed in USAID partners was instrumental in 2006 with USAID support, reduced Sustainable Forest the creation of a 15 million hectare the overall deforestation rate from Management and Protected mosaic of conservation units in Pará .75 to .50 percent in 2007. In order Areas Development State, the largest in any tropical forest to further prevent illegal logging, in the world. Located in a region USAID/Bolivia is undertaking a pilot Brazil contains most of the Amazon infamous for violent land conflicts project that will test a cost-effective rainforest within its borders, and is and illegal logging, the mosaic will bar-code method for certifying the without equal in overall biological link existing reserves to form a vast legal origins of wood right through the diversity. Deforestation for logging preservation corridor the size of supply chain, from forest to customer. and agriculture are a persistent Alabama. Furthermore, partners Preliminary results of biodiversity threat to plants and wildlife, even have secured protection of nearly monitoring in 2007 indicate little in protected areas. The overall goal 2,800,000 hectares of the Xingu impact on the diversity of species and of USAID/Brazil’s Environment Indigenous Park in Mato Grosso state. the number of individuals within Program is to significantly increase managed forests. Furthermore, the the area of the Brazilian Amazon Partner Imazon has developed state- rate of deforestation in managed under sustainable forest management, of-the-art technology for mapping forests is significantly less than in through support for national parks deforestation and forest degradation, non-managed forest areas. As a and well-managed forests. Some enabling complete and full satellite complement to certification, USAID 6,848,500 hectares of Amazon monitoring of the entire Brazilian helped gazette 400,000 hectares of forest has been put under improved Amazon and monthly, near-real land into municipal forest reserves, management with USAID support. time estimates of deforestation. This preserving a working forest and system ensures social control and the associated biodiversity, carbon USAID’s pioneering efforts to increases government accountability sequestration and economic benefits. mitigate climate change, preserve by enabling open and transparent biodiversity and advance the interest access by the general public. A number of new public-private of indigenous peoples in the Amazon partnerships were initiated in are bearing fruit. Achievements USAID has also taken bold steps to 2007, including: creation of a in forest monitoring, landscape tackle changes in the Brazilian Amazon wood processing center with the management and planning, and as export-based agribusiness gains a Carpenters’ Union of El Alto; community empowerment – coupled foothold and expands on land until organization of community-based with increased law enforcement by recently covered with tropical forests. harvesting and related enterprises; the Brazilian government – have In Mato Grosso state, USAID supports and a national inventory of Brazil caused deforestation rates to drop for conservation of Amazon forest nut trees. An annual Wood Business four consecutive years (25 percent biodiversity by helping agricultural Roundtable supported by USAID in 2006 and 20 percent in 2007). producers and commodity traders generated $18 million of business The Government of Brazil recently comply with Brazil’s strict conservation intentions of which community reported that while the pace of overall set-aside laws. The model for this forestry groups made up $3 million. deforestation continues to decrease, activity is Lucas do Rio Verde, where Training was provided to 947 deforestation in protected areas the whole municipality has pledged to people in topics such as best forestry increased 6.4 percent in 2007, with comply with conservation set-asides management practices and business one out of five harvested trees coming and USAID funds help map out farm- administration. Wood processing out of areas where logging is illegal level compliance options. USAID/ companies that implemented various or strictly regulated. Armed with this Brazil also supports efforts to replicate best practices this year achieved information, USAID continues to this success in the ranching sector. productivity increases ranging prioritize protected area development from 70 percent to 225 percent. and management in Brazil.

60 LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN Colombia

Stronger National Parks and Sustainable Development

Colombia is one of the ten most biodiverse countries in the world, but a growing population and expanding agriculture – including illegal crops like coca – threaten this natural heritage, with roughly 30 percent of Colombia’s biological diversity lost in recent decades. USAID’s environment program in Colombia works to strengthen national parks, promote sustainable use of natural resources among indigenous groups in national park buffer zones, and INFORMATION MANAGEMENT: Community and small scale forest management plans (blue and purple dots, respectively) are clustered develop the commercial forestry sector. where roads and rivers make the Brazilian Amazon accessible. USAID partners have modeled the impact of timber harvest and In December 2007, USAID fire risk in the Amazon, which help to define management plans for new areas of sustainable forest use. High-quality scientific completed two years of support to information like this map is useful to the regulation and practice CORPACOT, a Colombian NGO of forest management by the new Brazilian Forest Service. helping the Colombian National Parks Unit strengthen its management presence in select national parks, In FY 2007, USAID provided training countries participated in the 1st provide staff training in improved in biodiversity conservation and Pan Amazonia Products Fair. management methodologies, and forest resources management to 2,168 conduct environmental landscape people, primarily farmers, loggers, Intensive long-term monitoring planning with local communities in local government officials, and NGO and experimental studies at six and around parks. The Mission also technicians. An additional 744 small sites in Pará and Acre states were supplied the National Parks Unit farmers, rural workers and other continued in 2007, while a new with resources critical to monitoring inhabitants of the Amazon’s forests and silvicultural experiment was developed and enforcement activities, including waterways received direct economic to study sustainable production new trucks, boats, motorcycles, out- benefits from USAID assistance. of non-timber forest products. board motors, and computers, and The ecological information being a limited amount of reconstruction Communities and businesses are collected is important for improving of degraded infrastructure. These demonstrating what can be achieved understanding of Amazonian forests activities have allowed Colombia’s with USAID support. Sustainably and commercial species’ response to Parks Unit to provide better field harvested, community-managed logging. This data has been critical presence and management at many timber generated over $180,000 in for proposing improvements to national parks, improving both revenue in 2007, and local producers forest management systems based biodiversity conservation and the have gained access to emerging on reduced-impact logging, and in quality of tourist experiences. markets for sustainable forest goods influencing public policy focused and services. Region wide, over 250 on stimulating adoption of sound USAID continued support for a small businesses from six Amazonian forest management practices. project working with indigenous

USAID’S BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY PROGRAMS, FY 2007 61 of agroforestry practices. Efforts to improve management of natural forests focus on the biodiversity-rich Chocó region of western Colombia, where USAID is assisting Afro-Colombians and indigenous groups to develop and manage 150,000 hectares of natural forest. The forestry component of the MIDAS project is expected to create approximately 21,000 forestry sector jobs and develop 67,500 hectares of new forest plantations.

Another Mission program, Areas de Desarrollo Alternativo Municipal (ADAM), works with an indigenous Photo: Jerry Bauer, USDA Forest Service group engaged in managing 1,200 KEEL-BILLED TOUCAN: This raucous bird adds color to lowland rainforests from Mexico south to Colombia and Venezuela. USAID hectares of pine plantation in the support to the Colombia National Parks Unit and communities highlands of south-central Colombia. surrounding protected areas is securing a home for toucans as well as endangered species such as the giant armadillo and mountain tapir. Both MIDAS and ADAM put professional forest management practices in place where none existed previously, preserving groups and small farmers in National areas. Local infrastructure initiatives biodiversity while building the Park buffer zones. The main goals such as potable water, a health clinic, economy through carefully managed of the program are to build the and communal houses have also natural and plantation forests. resource management capacity encouraged indigenous groups to of these stakeholders and offer reestablish their ancestral presence economic alternatives to unsustainable in some buffer zone areas. This is a Dominican Republic exploitation of natural resources. positive conservation outcome, since Activities include support for micro- these communities tend to have a Increased Institutional Capacity enterprise, handicraft production, and lower impact on natural resources for Environmental Protection ecotourism, as well as socioeconomic than migrant farming families. dimensions of conservation in buffer The Dominican Secretariat of the zones such as land tenure and titling, Forests are largely an untapped Environment and Natural Resources and actions to address population economic resource for Colombia, (SEMARN), a cabinet level ministry, migration and gender issues. with forestry contributing less than requested USAID policy assistance 0.5 percent of GDP even though to enable effective management of This program has allowed indigenous more than half the country is biodiversity resources. The Mission and campesino communities in covered in natural forest. USAID’s responded by working with SEMARN the buffer zones of Alto Fragua/ Increased Investments for Sustainable to prepare environmental sub-sector Indi Wasi National Park, Nevado Alternative Development program laws and implement regulations; to de Huila National Park, and Sierra (MIDAS, in Spanish) works to prepare and implement environmental Nevada de Santa Marta National develop the forestry sector through standards and norms; to improve Park to develop more sustainable better management of natural protected area management; livelihoods, thereby taking pressure forests, increased establishment of to promote clean production off of the neighboring protected plantations, and wider implementation technologies; to strengthen municipal

62 LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN NATURALISTS IN TRAINING: Workshop participants learn to Ecuador describe biodiversity and other natural features in the caves of Los Conservation of Indigenous Haitises National Park, in Samaná Bay, Dominican Republic. Land and Rights

Photo: USAID/Dominican Republic Ecuador’s rainforests have the highest known density of biodiversity of any country in South America, with up to 300 tree species per hectare at sites in Yasuni National Park. The country also has the highest human population density on the continent. USAID/ Ecuador is working with communities, local and national governments, and NGOs to develop strong institutions and conservation incentives to protect biodiversity and improve livelihoods. Activities cover three geographic areas: lowland indigenous territories, the Galapagos Marine Reserve, and the Tropical Andes.

USAID programs in Ecuador have environmental units; to provide for the enforcement of environmental significantly reduced the rate of habitat training to national, regional and norms, including protecting species loss (primarily deforestation), which in municipal staff; and to enhance civil under CITES, with accompanying tropical countries is the leading source society participation in protecting the instruments for assessing damage of greenhouse gas emissions. At the environment and protected areas. and assigning fines for infractions. end of 2007, 1,260,375 (terrestrial) and 13,000,000 (marine) hectares Considerable progress was made with USAID supported an environmental were under improved management respect to environmental regulation at enforcement training session with as a result of USAID activities. The municipal levels. USAID participated 48 participants in March 2007, and program’s major accomplishments in the review of the Vision for Coastal an eight-day workshop on naturalist came as a result of its diverse alliances. and Marine Resources Regulation, and interpretation for park guides in In the 2.4 million hectare Condor worked closely with public and private September 2007. The latter session Podocarpus-El Condor Biosphere sector counterparts in preparing this provided additional training and Reserve, a complex of private lands important document for publication. practical experience to the team and federal protected areas, USAID A sectoral law for coastal and marine of local technicians that has been and its partners reduced the rate of resources was drafted and submitted to trained periodically to provide habitat loss by 88%, and maintained the SEMARN Secretary for approval advanced tourist education focused on 768,364 hectares of natural vegetation in January 2007, and a resolution biodiversity in protected areas. This in five protected areas. Ecuador’s to approve the Strategic Plan for the technical group is especially important national government gave legal title Dominican Biosphere Reserve was to the sustainable development of 35,000 hectares to indigenous signed on April 11, 2007. From 2006 of ecotourism, and effective Cofan partners. With subregional and until the end of 2007, USAID also management and co-management local governments, USAID helped supported every stage of preparation of protected areas and reserves. regulate burning of grasslands and through approval of new regulations natural woodlands in the 1,459 km2

USAID’S BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY PROGRAMS, FY 2007 63 before closing out in 2007. Overall, USAID and its partners demarcated 552 km of territorial boundaries, strengthened indigenous rights to ancestral lands by helping secure legal title, and physically protected natural resources in a total of 1,008,465 hectares. In January 2007, after investments by USAID, definitive boundaries were established for a 780,000 hectare protected area for the uncontacted Tagaeri-Taromenane people, safeguarding this vulnerable WILD SPECTACLED BEAR indigenous group and the natural from Maquipucuna reserve, resources on which they depend. in the western Andean slopes of Ecuador. Photo: Katie Schill Deep in the forest, legal rights must sometimes be proactively defended. CAIMAN teamed with a local NGO to create the Cofán Forest Guard Program, in which well-trained and PEACEFUL COEXISTENCE: In the town of Cangahua, in the buffer zone equipped indigenous guards are of the Cayambe Coca Reserve, many residents are newly transplanted effectively deterring illegal activities from other areas in order to take jobs in the area’s flower industry. This area is also home to the threatened Andean (Spectacled) bear, a within Cofán territory and mitigating livestock predator. To reduce conflict with the bear, Cangahua residents old external pressures. The guard program and new were asked to remove their livestock from unproductive and fragile high-elevation grasslands; in return, a local community organization provided is so effective that it inspired a them with economic alternatives such as guinea pig raising enclosures and similar program in Chachi territory. park guard employment opportunities. With these livelihood adjustments, the families of Cangahua improved their food security and revitalized the Between the two groundbreaking indigenous culture. Community park guards reduced the number of wild sustainable forest guard programs, fires by 80 percent, and virtually eliminated poaching of spectacled bears. 380,000 hectares of some of the world’s most biodiverse ecosystems municipality of Mejía. The Mission the globally endangered Andean are protected on a daily basis. also partnered with private landowners (Spectacled) bear is no exception. to conserve 65,000 hectares located Thanks to a USAID-supported In FY 2007, USAID supported USDA between national protected areas, in conflict management plan, there Forest Service (USFS) assistance to which the landowners committed have been no bear attacks on cattle, several indigenous and community personnel to a new control and nor have any bears been killed, forestry groups in Ecuador, including monitoring program that has reduced in the project area since 2006. EcoMadera Verde Project, Fundación illegal hunting and fishing, as well Jatun Sacha, Servicio Forestal as burning of Andean grasslands. A key USAID strategy for improving Amazonico, and federations of Awá, forestry and conservation outcomes Chachi, and Shuar people. Activities In addition to stemming habitat loss, is to help indigenous groups acquire included a training workshop on USAID addresses less visible threats management rights for their territories. the business of forestry (including to wildlife. Human-animal conflict The Mission’s Conservation of saw mill operations), and a meeting is a factor in conserving many large Indigenous Areas Program (CAIMAN) to promote sustainable forest mammals, especially predators, and achieved several impressive results management and networking among

64 LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN Photo: Peter Keller, USAID BIODIVERSITY MONITORING: USAID promotes environmental best practices in coffee farms in the El Imposible/Barra de Santiago and Rio Grande de Sonsonate watersheds of El Salvador, such as growing coffee under the shade of native trees. Bird diversity is a reliable proxy for overall biodiversity in these agro-ecosystems, and annual bird inventories indicate that these efforts are working. community foresters. USFS also USAID helped the Galapagos end. With this in mind, program provided an on-the-ground assessment National Institute develop software partners raised $3.5 million for of production and marketing to manage the Park and growing the continuation of work in the capabilities, refined marketing threats linked to immigration. The Condor Biosphere Reserve during goals, and identified new marketing Islands are particularly prone to alien the next two years. The endowment opportunities for EcoMadera Verde. invasive species, and the Agency of Quito’s Water Protection Fund played a pivotal role in eradicating reached $5 million, financing annual The Galapagos Islands are one of Tilapia (Nile Perch) discovered in watershed conservation investments Ecuador’s biological gems, but on a small lake before the fish could for at least 80 years. In FY 2007, June 28, 2007, UNESCO’s World cause irreversible damage. the fund supported the planting of Heritage Committee declared the 700,000 native trees, and paid for an Galapagos National Park and Marine For USAID’s achievements to be environmental education program that Reserve as “threatened.” In order to sustainable, local organizations must reached 6,000 children, 120 teachers conserve this ecosystem of global have the capacity and financing and over 100 elementary schools. ecological and historical importance, to thrive long after programs

USAID’S BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY PROGRAMS, FY 2007 65 El Salvador Protected Natural Areas System, work almost $790,000 for program was started documenting boundaries. participants, while environmental Improved Management This work is at an advanced stage in benefits include reduced soil erosion, and Conservation of the two largest protected areas in the less fertilizer use, and elimination of Critical Watersheds project watersheds. El Salvador’s first pesticides. These buffer zone producers coastal and marine protected area, are having a positive impact on USAID/El Salvador supports the 21,312 hectares of open ocean, coral biodiversity by creating conditions effective management of selected areas reefs and mangrove forests known as for wildlife to use agricultural of high biodiversity importance while Los Cobanos, has now been formally lands as biological corridors. promoting responsible economic declared. In Los Volcanes National growth, through interventions in the Park, project topographic teams are conservation and managed use of surveying and marking the protected Guatemala wildlife, water, forests and other natural area of Izalco Volcano, covering 1,600 resources. The Mission’s biodiversity hectares. In advance of this cadastral Certification of Forestry program focuses efforts on 43 protected work, USAID applied Central and Tourism Enterprises areas, buffer zones, and biological America – Dominican Republic – corridors which are contained United States Free Trade Agreement Part of the Mesoamerican region, within the general boundaries of (CAFTA-DR) funds to environmental Guatemala contains high levels of the two principal watersheds: El education in buffer zone communities biodiversity and endemism. While it Imposible/Barra de Santiago and around the protected areas. is widely recognized that economic the Rio Grande de Sonsonate. growth and poverty reduction in In these same areas, USAID provided Guatemala depend on conserving A biological inventory of the assistance to 718 coffee producers and sustainably managing these watersheds has found large cats, (including 201 women) on 200 natural resources, there is inadequate alligators, unexpected coral colonies, farms and coffee processing plants to political attention and a weak policy bird species and flora new to achieve specialty coffee certification framework to address growing science, and, in general, much wider or “Starbucks verification,” bringing environmental degradation. USAID biodiversity than had been expected improved management of coffee is working with rural enterprises in given the high population density of El farms to more than 7,000 hectares. the forestry and tourism sectors to Salvador. Cross sectional data has been Project-assisted producers anticipate a ensure that investments are made gathered from a sample of coffee farms harvest of 915,000 pounds of certified in an environmentally sustainable (with varying degrees of sustainable specialty coffee, worth an estimated manner and with the objective of practices) located in the watershed, $3.8 million. Besides coffee producers, accessing markets for certified and in order to monitor the impact of over 4,000 residents in the targeted environmentally friendly products. agricultural activities on biodiversity. watershed areas received training in At the policy level, USAID is The effect of best farm practices natural resources management and strengthening the capacity of the can be statistically correlated to the biodiversity conservation in FY 2007. Ministry of Environment to implement presence of birds, a reliable biodiversity and ensure Guatemala’s compliance indicator, so bird inventories are Many coffee growers and small scale- with environmental conditions of carried out on a yearly basis. In scale farmers are located in buffer zones the Central America – Dominican addition to biological monitoring, a of biologically significant protected Republic – United States Free survey of 650 households in buffer areas. In FY 2007, USAID helped Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR). zones has set the baseline for assessing 390 small producers of vegetables, the impact of public awareness on fruits, organic fertilizer and timber The Maya Biosphere Reserve (MBR), biodiversity and conservation. to implement conservation measures the largest intact forest in Central and use clean technology while America and a biodiversity priority For all Government of El Salvador expanding production, mostly for for the region, is under threat from properties to be incorporated into the the domestic market. Sales generated land invasions, drug smuggling,

66 LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN Xate palm fronds being splayed open, sorted, and packaged for shipment around the world.

Photos: Rainforest Alliance MONEY GROWING UNDER TREES

For the Uaxactún community inside the Maya Biosphere Reserve, livelihoods and the health of the forest are intertwined. USAID has partnered with Rainforest Alliance to create incentives for local people to conserve the forest, such as certifying Uaxactún for sustainable timber harvesting. Rainforest Alliance also worked with the community to establish guidelines for the harvest of the xate (SHA-tay) palm, a fast- growing understory plant used in floral arrangements. Thirty million xate fronds are delivered every year to the United States and Canada for Palm Sunday services alone.

Xate collectors are encouraged to aim for quality rather than quantity, cutting only the best leaves and leaving more fronds on the palm. They now sell their leaves for twice as much as they did previously, Xate palm covers the palms are regenerating faster, and fewer ground in many parts of the palms are discarded because of defects. Guatemalan rainforest. Xate exports contribute over $1 million annually to the Guatemalan economy, and sustainably harvesting wild xate generates about 10,000 jobs, mostly for women.

USAID’SUSAID BIODIVERSITYBIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION CONSERVATION AND AND FORESTRYFORESTRY PROGRAMS,PROGRAMS, FYFY2007 2007 67 trafficking in persons, and other tourism, and four women were Guyana illicit activities. USAID supports granted scholarships to participate in a development of a long-term system formal community tourism education Sustainable Tourism and for monitoring and evaluating the program. The handicrafts component Forest Products Marketing area’s ecological integrity, prevention of this program has helped women’s and control of forest fires, and groups to legalize their organizations Guyana is a small country with deterrence of illegal activities. In 2007, and take advantage of new market abundant biodiversity in its vast approximately 200,000 hectares of trends. The Agency also supported the forests. Eclipsed by sun-and-sand land were placed under improved Geotourism Initiative: a charter signed destinations in the Caribbean and natural resources management, by the National Geographic Society, better known eco-destinations in via sustainable forestry practices, the Government of Guatemala, and Central and South America, Guyana certification of forestry activities, and private sector groups to sustain and has been challenged to distinguish improved protection from invading enhance the environmental, cultural, itself in the international tourist communities. The Public Minister historic and scenic assets of the nation. market and capitalize on its natural and Guatemala military are now beauty. USAID supported a market engaged with implementing forestry Sustainable forestry is crucial for analysis which identified “birding” and land rights laws, as are private the MBR, the pine forests in the as a competitive ecotourism niche sector forest concessionaires. Verapaces, and portions of the Western for Guyana: bird enthusiasts are Highlands. The MBR utilizes the often willing to travel to remote Guatemala’s diverse geography, variety globally-recognized community places at great expense to see species of rich archeological sites and colorful forestry concessions model, and on a ‘life list’ of birds. As a result, indigenous products, coupled with boasts nearly half a million hectares the Mission launched the Guyana its proximity to the United States and of area under certified management. Sustainable Tourism Initiative Europe, makes tourism the country’s USAID supports the consolidation (GSTI) in January 2006, to develop largest foreign exchange earner. of business links between certified sustainable birding, nature and Sustainable tourism helps maintain timber producers and buyers, and culture tourism in Guyana through stable populations of critical wildlife helps develop incentives for certified a three-year comprehensive Birding species and can preserve Guatemalan forest management and chain of Tourism Marketing Action plan. cultural patrimony. One of USAID’s custody tracking. In FY 2007, 2.6 activities, Green Deal (Alianza Verde), million board feet of certified and Following extensive consultation supports a program of environmental “in process of certification” forest with tour operators who specialize certification of tourist services, products were sold for $5.1 million. in birding trips and already have a including hotels, guide companies database of loyal customers, GSTI and restaurants. Green Deal also USAID helps open important markets developed a birding website (www. complies with CAFTA-DR’s standards for non-timber forest products from guyanabirding.com), marketing for appropriate labor practices. the MBR. The xate palm can be materials, trade show banners, and sustainably harvested from the forest media and travel trade kits. USAID In FY 2007, USAID promoted the understory, and is sold in North funded the Smithsonian Institution certification of 30 new small and America and Europe as a component to assist with the publication of the medium enterprises and community- of floral arrangements. A total of second edition of the Field Guide based operations under the Green Deal 14,463 xate bunches from MBR were of the Birds of Guyana. Equipped seal, and supported the marketing of sold for $147,948 in 2007. Working with these core-marketing tools, certified venues, improving various towards long-term sustainability, GSTI began supporting tourism web portals and designing fact sheets Agency technical assistance is experts and local beneficiaries to for 13 tourism destinations. Over facilitating offers to support certified, attend trade shows where they met 1,100 people received increased well-managed MBR rainforest in the and established relationships with economic benefits from sustainable voluntary carbon credit market. birding-related tour operators, media,

68 LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN THE HOATZIN, or Canje Pheasant, is Guyana’s national bird. Seeing this animal in May 2008, the value of new trips the wild is a rare prize for generated for 2008 had already birding enthusiasts, as it shares features with the reached $210,000, and discussions Archaeopteryx, an extinct bird are underway for Guyana to host from the time of dinosaurs. Besides the prehistoric the International Conference of the appearance of the adults, American Birding Association in 2011. chicks are born with two claws protruding from each wing, an adaptation to life in flooded A wide variety of international forests. Young Hoatzin drop investors and donors have now into the water to escape predators, then climb back joined USAID in developing birding to the safety of the nest. and nature tourism in Guyana. Photo: Keith Wilson-Davies Financial and in-kind support is being provided to Guyana in several areas that complement the GSTI, including birding guide training, indigenous tourism development, ecotourism best practices workshops, and bird watching equipment.

GSTI is now expanding its focus from birding to include nature and wildlife viewing, eco-indigenous conservation organizations and selected North American and tourism, and volunteer conservation other partners. Through networking European tour operators and media tourism. To support this new and at the British Bird Fair, GSTI’s representatives visit market-ready exciting phase, GSTI is encouraging media consultant was contracted sites across Guyana. Five tours premier birding sites, including by Bradt publications to develop involving a total of 38 operators and Iwokrama Rainforest (a one-million acre preserve managed by Irokrama International Centre featuring a “ Birding Guyana was like birding Eden. The jungle “canopy walkway”), Kaieteur National rainforest was pristine. The birds were varied and Park (containing the world’s highest abundant. The guides were expert and focused. The single drop waterfall), Karanambu accommodations were very comfortable. It was all a Ranch (home of world-renowned giant river otter conservationist Diane bonanza of riches. Who could have asked for more?” McTurk) and the Amerindian-owned Susan Roney Drennan, Surama Eco-lodge. These destinations National Audubon Society, USA almost guarantee an iconic wildlife and cultural experience and are drawing tourists from around the world for the Guyana’s first destination guide, journalists have taken place since opportunity to see jaguar and other released in February 2008. Guyana November 2006. As a result, almost jungle cats, monkeys, macaws, the will present a special Caribbean 40 international tour operators are giant river otter, the giant anteater, theme night at the 2008 British Bird now designing, selling, and leading the giant armadillo, Guianan cock- Fair, a first for this annual event. bird watching and natural history trips of-the-rock and the harpy eagle. to Guyana, and the country has been USAID has sponsored familiarization featured in numerous international Although tourism is on the rise, the (“fam”) tours, in which carefully magazines and newspapers. As of wood products industry historically

USAID’S BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY PROGRAMS, FY 2007 69 has been a steady contributor to Guyana’s GDP. However, exports have been destined to the same buyers, and market expansion is unknown to local processors. USAID’s Guyana Trade and Investment Support program (GTIS, not to be confused with GSTI) has launched a market-led approach to increasing exports and improving value-added wood production in Guyana.

USAID supports trade show participation and joint efforts with the Forest Products Marketing Council (FPMC), an association of forward- thinking wood processors, resulting Photo: USAID/Honduras RAMBUTAN FRUIT is picked when ripe and sold fresh for use in jams in multi-million dollar export deals and jellies. Along with plantain, pineapple, coconut, cedar and mahogany, and investments. In FY 2007, GTIS USAID promotes the use of this fruit tree in buffer zones around protected areas in the North Coast of Honduras. Such agroforestry facilitated a visit by inspectors from systems have less impact on parks than other land uses and often extend the Ministry of Agriculture of the the amount of usable habitat required by creatures large and small. Dominican Republic, whose market will open up to Guyanese wood exports once approval is received Honduras north coast of Honduras under from Dominican authorities. sustainable management. On- Integrated Watershed going activities include protection GTIS successfully leveraged over Resources Management of the core zones against further $370,000 in funding from the human incursions through the Canadian Cooperation Fund and Forests and wetlands hold enormous promotion of environmentally-sound the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) economic and natural wealth in economic development activities, for environmental management Honduras, but they suffer from and monitoring of key species and marketing. WWF, FPMC and drought, fire and illegal activities. by government and civil society the Guyana Forestry Commission USAID’s Integrated Watershed organizations. Following up on the are working to establish a national Resources Management (IWRM) previous year’s guide training, IWRM legal verification system to promote project promotes conservation of provided training and technical sustainable forest management and high-priority, biologically-significant assistance for ecotourism through forest certification initiatives. In protected areas and their buffer zones, the publication and distribution of addition to improving sustainability, maps and characterizes wetlands specialized entrance tickets for the GTIS is helping enterprises make critical to both biodiversity and parks, and prepared theme-oriented more efficient use of their concessions commercial interests, and supports visitor’s plans and environmental by introducing markets for lesser- forest communities with alternatives interpretation. Technical assistance used tree species, and introducing to illicit activities and public awareness was also provided to conserve a innovations that increase recovery about conservation and the law. keystone endemic species, the rates. Nationally, Guyana is shifting emerald hummingbird, and its away from exporting whole logs and In FY 2007, efforts continued critical habitat on the southern tip moving to processing higher value to put over 160,000 hectares in of Pico Bonito National Park. products for export, like lumber. four protected areas along the

70 LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN USAID supports the implementation CAFTA-DR funds are also being used Through IWRM, USFS provides of the Convention on International to provide technical assistance for the hands-on technical assistance Trade in Endangered Species of establishment of improved agricultural and training to the state forestry Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in and agro-forestry management over agency, COHDEFOR, to enhance Honduras. In coordination with the an area of 100 hectares. USAID sustainable forest management. Ministry of Environment (SERNA), is training selected producers in Training topics include forest State Forest Authority/ Honduran improved agricultural practices and inventories, environmental impact Commission for Forest Development methodologies which will increase mitigation in forest management (COHDEFOR), and the Ministry production and protect biodiversity. plans, environmental considerations of Agriculture, USAID has helped The project has established the first in rural road construction and prepare a national strategy and action 50 parcels of agro-forestry systems maintenance, timber value systems, plan for implementing CITES. The which are located in buffer zones of and forest fire fighting. IWRM is also Agency funded the design and printing North Coast protected areas. Parcels promoting sustainable forestry by of 5,000 information brochures and are planted with combinations of such working with local communities to 16 illustrated banners regarding crops as rambutan-plantain-cedar, harvest less-known tropical hardwood CITES in Honduras, which will be pineapple-plantain-mahogany, and species and produce hand-made distributed to customs officials at coconut-plantain-mahogany. Specific furniture and guitar parts, as well the country’s borders, universities, manuals on biodiversity management as in the utilization of non-timber government officials, and NGOs. in the parcels are also being developed. products. Distribution and artisan FY 2007 funds also supported a Under IWRM direction, 100 farmers income from the sale of alternative workshop in March 2008 to train have been trained and are now wood and non-timber forest products local authorities on the Bay Islands implementing agroforestry systems increased 20 percent in FY 2007. In about wildlife issues related to in buffer zones of protected areas. addition, by the end of the reporting CITES and raise local awareness period, nearly 2,500 members of about future activities in the zone. IWRM continues to work toward municipal and community emergency sustainable management of forests committees were trained in disaster Using Central America – Dominican in Honduras through an interagency mitigation, particularly forest fire and Republic – United States Free Trade agreement with the USDA Forest flooding related to deforestation. Agreement (CAFTA-DR) funds, the Service (USFS), which prepared IWRM project is supporting SERNA and began implementing 25 micro- with preparation of a National watershed management plans in FY Jamaica Wetlands Inventory, a high priority 2007. Municipal and community because wetlands are nurseries for partners have been trained by USFS Natural Assets Managed several commercial marine species, to sustainably manage the natural for Rural Development including shrimp, a major Honduran resources on which they depend, with and Sustainable Growth export. In FY 2007, ecological a goal of improving land-use practices consultants collected field data and on more than 66,000 hectares of Approximately 30 percent of Jamaica created a national wetlands map of fragile, steep-sloped land. The project (300,000 hectares) is forested, of nine priority wetlands. Once the final is also training technicians from which ten percent is set aside in report is complete, an interactive local community organization Pico reserves. Many forest reserves are not wetlands map will be created. USAID Bonito National Park Foundation to well protected, with a recent analysis and SERNA are currently exploring facilitate the sale of carbon emissions finding that over 20 percent of reserve the possibility of establishing a reductions to the World Bank’s Bio land is negatively impacted by human National Wetlands Committee to Carbon Fund. Total sales are expected activities, and critical species such create a permanent technical and to reach $3 million, and proceeds will as the giant swallowtail butterfly, scientific authority on wetlands. be re-invested in park management endemic bats, and parrots are in actions at the community level. decline as breeding adults are removed

USAID’S BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY PROGRAMS, FY 2007 71 and forest habitats are converted to agriculture. USAID/Jamaica is responding to these and other threats through an interagency agreement with the USDA Forest Service (USFS) to implement a Protected Areas and Rural Enterprise (PARE) project and Rural Enterprise Agriculture and Sustainable Tourism (REACT) project, both focused on addressing priority HOT TOPIC: Fire is commonly used by threats to Jamaica’s biodiversity. farmers to prepare land for planting, but fires get out of control on Jamaica’s steep slopes. USAID engaged USDA Strengthening local institutions is Forest Service technical assistance to create posters for the “Think a key part of USAID’s strategy in before you burn” campaign, including Jamaica. For example, representatives “Don’t smoke me out,” showing the endemic Jamaican hummingbird. from Jamaica’s Forestry Department

Photo: Diane Russell, USAID participated in a two week tour of Poster: USAID/Jamaica forest operations in the U.S., to help identify staff needs and chart a course for the next five years. Technical assistance to the Forestry Department helped develop a local forest management plan for the Cockpit Country Forest Reserve, and since Local Forest Management Committees (LFMCs) are mandated to co-manage forest reserves, USAID partnered with The Nature Conservancy (TNC) to train LFMC members in areas such as fire prevention and public awareness. The Agency also improved the enforcement capacity of the non-governmental Jamaica Conservation Development Trust (JCDT), reducing forest conversion and encroachment in Blue and John Crow Mountain National Park (BJMNP) with increased patrols and greater cooperation from the buffer zone communities around the conservation site.

Forest reserves are threatened from the inside by man-made clearings and invasive species. With USAID support, approximately 20 hectares of BJMNP are being replanted with native plant species in an effort to

72 LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN seal boundaries that were opened up At the Hope Botanic Gardens and forest management committees by encroachers. Implementation has Zoo, a head-start program for the will launch a river park and a started for Biodiversity Conservation endemic Jamaican Iguana collects heritage tour and trail at the end Management Plans prepared for hatchlings from the wild, rears them of 2008. These FY 2007 initiatives BJMNP and the Hollywell Recreation to maturity in captivity, and then brought at least 100 hectares of Area, which include strategies for returns them to the wild. This reptile land under improved management, controlling non-native species such as is critically endangered, with a wild and will provide economic benefits wild ginger, bracken fern and red bush. population estimated at less than to more than 50 families. 100 individuals due to centuries of Given the extensive use of fire habitat loss and predation of eggs, in protected area buffer zone juveniles and adults by introduced Mexico communities, a public awareness predators such as cats, mongoose campaign dubbed, “Think before and pigs. USAID support is allowing Sustainable Development you burn,” was launched by USAID this priority conservation program and Capacity Building in collaboration with key Jamaica to expand its capacity beyond the for Conservation government agencies. Enforcement 20 hatchlings released per year, with and community outreach officers better enclosures and improved diets. Mexico has the highest diversity of working in the areas received a series reptiles in the world, the highest of six posters, bumpers stickers and Sustainable tourism provides diversity of mammals in the Americas, education material for schools as important livelihood alternatives and very high endemism: 30 percent a toolkit for implementing public for people who might otherwise of its species are found nowhere else. awareness sessions in communities. exploit natural resources. In Jamaica’s In 2007, USAID/Mexico supported a To ensure effective planning and South Coast, sustainable tourism variety of international and Mexican delivery of the messages, guidance destinations were developed through partners to conserve biodiversity and was provided to over 65 people a multi-stakeholder process, resulting maintain rural livelihoods through in developing bush fire awareness in conceptual and business plans for support for local conservation plans and strategies for the effective ecotourism attractions, and assistance initiatives, economically viable and delivery of fire prevention material. to community organization to improve environmentally sound livelihood the production and marketing of alternatives, and increased local Harvesting of medicinal plant sustainable crafts. Visitors will be participation in decision-making. material from forested areas is a able to buy drums made of goat skins major threat in Cockpit Country. and sustainably-harvested wood, With USAID support, The Nature Key ingredients found in over 80 as well as baskets and hats made Conservancy (TNC) worked in percent of medicinal “roots” drinks from alternatives to the endemic and around the Biosphere Reserves are becoming difficult to source, and endangered bull thatch. of El Triunfo and La Encrucijada with a corresponding increase in on the Chiapas coast, where they encroachment into undisturbed forest In the Canoe Valley area of southern introduced sustainable cattle cores. USAID funded the University Jamaica, USAID supported JCDT and management practices and have of the West Indies to propagate the the Bowden Pen Farmers Association implemented community-driven, top ten ingredients used in these to upgrade cabins and nature trails, integrated fire management plans. drinks. The new plants are hardened and prepare conservation plans to Municipalities finalized and adopted in the field and planted by local manage visitor impacts while also sustainable management plans and a community groups in agro-forestry raising revenues. In the buffer zone watershed scorecard for monitoring plots to provide a more accessible of BJMNP, the 200 hectare Bachelor key indicators. In addition, source of roots drink ingredients. Hall Estate received assistance to TNC secured three conservation Farmers involved in the project now rehabilitate cocoa plantations and easements with private land owners have an additional or alternate income develop an overall land management pledging to conserve biodiversity source, with a more consistent supply. plan. In Cockpit Country, two local and maintain forest cover.

USAID’S BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY PROGRAMS, FY 2007 73 Through Conservation International and reserve staff in the Lacandon Plan was officially adopted by State (CI), USAID advanced the design of and Chimalapas rainforests. of Oaxaca government authorities. a biodiversity conservation strategy for the Mexican portion of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) USAID also supported community Usumacinta watershed with federal continued activities in Chihuahua conservation projects in key sites and state government support. They and Oaxaca with USAID support, within priority watersheds through worked to increase capacity among in which communities participated in-country partner Mexican Nature indigenous communities involved in the development of land use Conservation Fund. Eight small in nature tourism as an alternative plans and municipal/indigenous conservation and micro-enterprise to slash and burn agriculture within councils, and fire prevention plans projects resulted in alternative tourism the Lacandon rainforest and its were implemented. WWF also projects, increased female participation protected areas. CI also continued helped establish a new community in natural resource management implementing a fire prevention protected area, and a community- in the Lacandon rainforest, and program through workshops for local based Regional Development Master support to community-based coffee community fire-fighting brigades producers in natural protected areas.

74 LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN Through its Rural Prosperity Initiative USAID continued working in wildfire (RPI), USAID helped local coffee prevention in key biodiversity areas producing communities in high in collaboration with the National biodiversity areas increase their Forestry Commission (CONAFOR) production of sustainable, high quality and the National Protected Area coffee and market their product to Commission (CONANP), through Mexico’s largest coffee exporter. RPI an inter-agency agreement with the found markets for organic cacao and USDA Forest Service. Fire threat introduced new processing techniques was diagnosed in areas affected by which have resulted in Mexico’s first hurricanes in the Yucatan Peninsula, exports of organic cocoa. USAID also and a round of fire control courses supported the development of the first was conducted, resulting in better national policy for tourism in Mexico’s communication and response during protected areas, and strengthened a the 2007 fire season. Collaboration tourism association in which four with CONANP strengthened their tour operators were able to work technical capacities and helped directly with indigenous communities develop a nationwide fire management living in the Lacandon rainforest to strategy for federal protected promote tourism as a sustainable areas, along with two reserve- alternative to forest exploitation. specific fire management plans.

FIRE FIGHTERS: Collaboration with Mexico’s Forestry Agency, In the forestry sector, USAID focused Nearly 80 percent of Mexico’s forest CONANP, strengthened their technical capacities and helped on three areas: 1) strengthening lands are owned by communities, develop a nationwide fire fire prevention and integrated but few of these are implementing management strategy for federal management by communities and sustainable management practices. protected areas. USAID-supported fire control courses trained over government authorities, 2) improving Through a regional agreement with 600 fire fighters and improved forest management and wood the Rainforest Alliance, USAID/ communication and response during the 2007 fire season. processing by communities, and 3) Mexico provided technical assistance Photo credit: USAID/Mexico introducing forest management as to community-managed forests, a sustainable and profitable land improving the management of over use within targeted watersheds. 500,000 hectares of high biodiversity Water pollution, particularly from Through RPI, USAID produced forests in some of Mexico’s most untreated sewage, is the primary business plans and business training important watersheds. Improved threat to the Mexican portion of to five communities that depend on milling techniques increased the the Meso-American reef. Under communal forestry. The Mission also overall quantity of wood cut from a contract with PA Government introduced more efficient milling logs by 36 percent while improving Services, USAID/Mexico and the and extraction processes to increase the quality of boards, resulting State Water Utility for Quintana Roo profits and reduce harvest impacts, in over $1,000,000 in additional (CAPA) collaborated to increase the supported the identification of revenues and significantly less waste. efficiency of 10 of the 24 wastewater new markets, purchased specialized One community signed a contract treatment plants throughout that equipment to help communities worth more than $3,000,000 to coastal state, which includes Cancun add value to their timber products, provide the Oaxaca state government and the ‘Mayan Riviera.’ PA identified and supported the development of with school furniture built from operational, technological and a forest management plan in the sustainably harvested lumber, staffing improvements needed to Chimalapas rainforest of Oaxaca. making it the single largest certified optimize wastewater treatment, which wood contract in Mexico. CAPA will implement in 2008.

USAID’S BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY PROGRAMS, FY 2007 75 SUSTAINING TOURISM: U.S. Ambassador Paul Trivelli celebrates Earth Day at one of Nicaragua’s private reserves, a former coffee estate which now provides critical habitat for migratory and endemic birds. Though an interagency agreement with the U.S. Forest Service, USAID is training local students to be naturalist guides, publishing species lists, and creating sustainable tourism promotion materials.

Photo: Steven Fondriest, USAID/Nicaragua

76 LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN Nicaragua list and manual of threatened and the sales volume and revenue of endangered plants and animals, certified products, build capacity Biodiversity Conservation and with specific reference to those for local Nicaraguan communities Sustainable Forest Certification species impacted by trade; and and organizations, integrate develop a sustainable tourism plan sustainability into the supply chain, Nicaragua is a heavily forested country for communities in and around the and certify biodiversity-rich land. working to balance conservation Datanli-El Diablo Nature Reserve. The economic development goal is to of biodiversity and protected bring new investments, income, and areas with a valuable agroforestry From 2004 to April 2007, USAID employment to rural communities. sector. USAID supports national supported Rainforest Alliance through In FY 2007, five coffee farms received priorities to improve ecosystem a regional program to significantly Rainforest Alliance certification, management and market sustainable promote and increase the sale of totaling 937.35 hectares of land, products through an interagency sustainably produced and certified with sales of $1.7 million. Over 650 agreement with the USDA Forest timber, bananas and coffee from coffee and cacao producers received Service (USFS) and a partnership Central America and Mexico. In agricultural training, 190 small with the Rainforest Alliance. Nicaragua, the project focused on and medium enterprises (SMEs) strengthening the competitiveness and received assistance to improve their In FY 2007, USFS promoted natural sustainability of agriculture and timber management practices, and 140 SMEs areas protection through sustainable operations, fostering new investment participated in activities to strengthen tourism development in Nicaragua’s and trade while supporting practices productivity and competitiveness. national parks. Activities included that benefit the environment, and sustainable tourism assessments and protect the rights and resources of market promotion, the development workers and local communities. Over Panama of technical guides, and training the life of the activity, 77 farms (4 on biological monitoring and banana and 73 coffee) totaling over Conservation of Biodiversity data collection. As a result of this 11,850 hectares received Rainforest in the Canal Zone work, a freshwater fish checklist Alliance certification. The farmers and guide were published, a new participating in the program sold USAID/Panama’s environment ecotourism route was established, over 1.8 million boxes of bananas program works to improve the technical capacity for monitoring and 4,549 metric tons of coffee, with management of the Panama Canal human pathogens in wildlife was gross sales of over $17.3 million. Watershed (PCW) and buffer areas increased, and an assessment and Employment on these certified farms with high biodiversity and socio- technical report on visitors to reached 1,357 permanent workers economic importance. The program protected areas was completed. and 4,396 temporary workers. entered a new phase in 2007, with In forestry, five forest operations a focus on the two most important USFS also prepared for five activities received information on best protected areas in the PCW: Chagres which will assist Nicaragua’s management practices, and 8,034 and Soberania National Parks. These environmental compliance with hectares received certification, with highly biodiverse areas are also critical the Central America – Dominican $15,000 in gross sales of value-added to capturing water, regulating its Republic – United States Free Trade products, namely certified furniture. flow year round (which is especially Agreement (CAFTA-DR). The important to the functioning of the activities are: develop a management A new Rainforest Alliance program Canal), recharging underground strategy for captive reproduction was initiated by USAID/Nicaragua sources of water, and regulating the of Nicaragua’s crocodiles; draft a in August 2006, in order to find biological interconnections between Nicaraguan orchids manual, with viable economic alternatives and groundwater, rivers, and lakes in particular attention paid to CITES create market linkages for sustainably the region. USAID investments species; create a wildlife management produced and certified timber, coffee strategically target unsustainable training program; publish a national and cocoa. The project will increase and illegal resource uses both within

USAID’S BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY PROGRAMS, FY 2007 77 and outside protected areas, and many protected areas, Chagres allows eagles. During its four years, the across a wide range of economic some livestock grazing in order to program bred and raised 34 harpy and social sectors, including forest maintain a rare deciduous forest eagle chicks, of which 29 have clearing, illegal hunting, livestock type found through the Park. reached independence. Overall, production, and gold mining. TPF released 36 harpy eagles in USAID reached an agreement with Panama, trained four staff members USAID and the Panama Canal Panama’s National Environmental in raptor husbandry, and trained 49 Authority established a $2.4 million Authority to develop a visitor services volunteers in Panama (as well as 19 grant fund to protect and restore program in order to develop effective in Belize) in harpy eagle release and systems for managing visitors and monitoring techniques. TPF bolstered improving revenue at protected environmental education to conserve areas like Chagres and Soberania biodiversity at the community National Parks. The Agency also and national level by promoting reached an agreement with the Inter- new attitudes toward harpy eagles institutional Commission for the and other raptors. It also helped Panama Canal Watershed to formulate reduce human-caused mortality of sub-watershed management plans eagles in target areas. The Ministry for natural resources in the PCW. of Education uses a publication Photo credit: USAID prepared as part of this activity to GROWING TOGETHER: Members of several communities Tropical plants are popular in homes teach primary school students about participate in horticulture in the United States and elsewhere, raptors, conservation, and recycling. training with the objective of establishing a nurseries and Panama is a major supplier to network around Chagres this market. In FY 2007, USAID National Park, Panama. evaluated the condition and status Paraguay of six community nurseries and the PCW. Different organizations made recommendations to improve Environmental Policy submitted proposals to implement their operations. Two conferences Development and Law activities to reduce illegal hunting, on plant production and best Enforcement Support improve the information and practices in the horticulture market monitoring systems of protected areas, were conducted for 25 producers Biodiversity and other natural promote best agricultural practices of ornamental and forest plants resources in Paraguay are depleted to preserve biodiversity, improve the to improve their skills, and a by unsustainable activities including management of remaining patches nurseries network was established illegal logging and charcoal of dry forest, improve environmental to better respond to the needs and production, wildlife poaching and governance by establishing opportunities of a larger market. The timber extraction from national parks, watershed management councils, Mission also supported the design, illicit land conversion, and failure by and start eco-friendly businesses. approval, and initiation of a group of farmers and ranchers to comply with nurseries that employs eco-friendly environmental legislation establishing Small grants from the fund financed management practices, which will minimum amounts of conservation the design of three activities to generate 20 permanent employment reserve on agricultural land. USAID/ control and/or eradicate an invasive positions in plant production. Paraguay supports several activities to grass species, Saccharum spontaneum, counter threats to natural resources, from productive areas of the Chagres In September 2007, USAID partner such as private conservation measures, National Park. These activities will The Peregrine Fund (TPF) concluded appropriate environmental regulations complement a sustainable cattle an activity which established best and policies at all levels, technical ranching and agroforestry activity practices for the propagation, assistance to government authorities, developed by USAID in 2007. Unlike release, and monitoring of harpy and replication of successful projects.

78 LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN CONTROLLED BURN: Government and communities in Paraguay use fire as tool for conservation management. Controlled burns reduce the likelihood and severity of wildfires, remove invasive species and encourage new plant growth.

Photo: USAID/PARAGUAY

Many of the most important Services Law creates a system where the Environment (SEAM) increased environmental achievements private land owners that keep more enforcement measures in these supported by USAID in FY 2007 than 25 percent of their property as areas, catching illegal loggers and were in the legal and policy arenas, a reserve will receive compensation. confiscating equipment and logs in such as the extension of the Zero sawmills. USAID also continued a Deforestation Law. Originally passed The Mission also strengthened and third year of support for the Tapyta in 2005, the law is now linked to promoted protection of National Parks Reserve, resulting in a sustainably the Environmental Services Law and and Private Reserves. For example, managed and financially secure remains in force through December USAID funded World Wildlife Fund 5,000 hectare protected area that 2008. The goal of the law is stop (WWF) to demarcate and protect the serves as a corridor for species any forest conversion in the last Caazapa and Ybycui National Parks. moving between two large National remaining seven percent of the highly WWF provided technical assistance Parks, Caazapa and San Rafael. biodiverse and threatened Atlantic to complete the titling process for forest, until appropriate mechanisms the parks, and developed a GIS Through local partner IDEA, USAID are developed to enforce the law and deforestation monitoring system provided legal assistance to SEAM compensate landowners in this area to track illegal logging and prepare in monitoring the current activities who forgo transforming forests to monthly deforestation maps for of nine sawmills caught processing agricultural land. The Environmental authorities. In turn, the Ministry of illegal timber just outside of several

USAID’S BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY PROGRAMS, FY 2007 79 National Parks at the northern end reducing poverty through trade-led logging is a serious issue, USAID’s of the Atlantic Forest. A similar growth. A key component of the program demonstrates that forest monitoring activity was performed for program is establishing market- certification is a strong incentive the construction of a national highway based incentives for biological to manage forests for biodiversity, in the Chaco Region, which was not conservation and sustainable while increasing legal trade and in compliance with environmental management of natural resources, providing income and jobs for regulations. USAID supported the coupled with disincentives for illegal poor and indigenous peoples. development of new internal by-laws activities that negatively impact which increases the speed in which biodiversity and the environment. USAID worked to build the capacity such cases are brought to trial, and of the Government of Peru’s two most provided guidelines for adjudicating important environmental agencies, similar environmental crimes. INRENA (National Institute of Natural Resources) and CONAM USAID supported local partner (National Environmental Council). Desdelchaco Foundation to assist By the end of FY 2007, USAID had private owners with the preparation assisted CONAM and INRENA of management plans for two new in the adoption of 16 new policies, private reserves, bringing ecologically agreements, and regulations to sensitive areas under legal protection. conserve biodiversity and sustainably Desdelchaco is also assisting with the Photo: Julie Kunen, USAID manage natural resources. formal delimitation of the Cabrera LUMBER MILL IN MADRE DE DIOS, PERU: Improved milling Timane National Park, on target techniques help reduce waste INRENA also received USAID for completion in early 2008. and increase profits. USAID assistance to strengthen its oversight supports certification of forests and forestry operations, which and monitoring of parks and forest A Global Development Alliance signed reward sustainable forest concessions in the Peruvian portion between Evensen Dodge International, management with premium of the Amazon basin. USAID trained prices for forest products. local partner Foundacion Moises 94 administrators and technicians on Bertoni and USAID has yielded its management of forestry use rights and first results. Three pilot programs The Peruvian Amazon contains monitoring of biological indicators. were initiated, including one some of the most biologically In FY 2007, INRENA issued 12 which establishes a Green Fund in diverse habitats in the world. To forest concessions for certified Paraguay. The Ministry of Finance protect this biodiversity, USAID sustainable timber production, is supporting the program, which provides incentives for trade in and nine forest concessions for use will make long-term financing forest products from internationally by indigenous communities. available at below-market rates for certified, sustainably managed forests. investment in environmental projects. Technical assistance to certified After two years of USAID support, forestry concessions managed by INRENA successfully completed its private companies and indigenous “management scorecard” in 2007, a Peru communities netted 194,685 new tool for enhancing management of the certified hectares of forest in FY 2007, National System of Protected Areas. Forestry Sector Reform and bringing the two-year total to 604,367 Seventy-four officials from INRENA’s Incentives for Conservation hectares. USAID supported a forest National Protected Area unit received certification activity implemented training on how to use the scorecard, USAID/Peru’s environment program by World Wildlife Fund, and helped which tracks biodiversity and other is linked closely with its trade develop markets for environmentally indicators of conservation progress. capacity building program, and friendly products from the Amazon seeks to conserve biodiversity while basin. In a country where illegal

80 LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN Centrally Funded Programs

EGAT/NRM / spurs innovation and best practices in support to many more Missions. Biodiversity Team landscape-scale conservation at sites Team members provided coordination around the world. Other efforts work or technical expertise for complex Global Biodiversity across sectors to improve conservation regional programs such as the Congo Conservation in areas affected by extractive use, Basin Forest Partnership supported conflict and natural disaster. Team by USAID’s Central African Regional USAID’s Biodiversity Team, in members collaborate with peers within Program for the Environment, the the Office of Natural Resources the NRM office in support of shared Initiative for Conservation in the Management (NRM) of the Bureau conservation goals, and promote Andean Amazon, and the ASEAN for Economic Growth, Agriculture information exchange opportunities Wildlife Enforcement Network and Trade (EGAT), supports Agency for donors and practitioners. support program in Southeast Asia. biodiversity conservation objectives at many levels. Their primary From program planning to design and The Biodiversity Team’s Global responsibility is to assist Missions evaluation, the Team’s biodiversity Conservation Program (GCP) was in programming activities which specialists act as a bridge between initiated in 1999 and is USAID’s advance the biodiversity goals for a Washington and the field, and between flagship biodiversity program. Now country or region, while adhering to EGAT and regional bureaus. In FY in its second phase, GCP supports the requirements of the Congressional 2007, staff provided direct assistance site-based conservation by six biodiversity earmark. The Biodiversity to operating units in Bolivia, Kenya, conservation organizations in 22 Team also manages a partnership with Liberia, Madagascar, Nepal, Panama, countries, as well as a number of six conservation organizations which Rwanda and Uganda, and ‘virtual’ learning activities. GCP focuses on

SPOTTED: In January 2007, World Wildlife Fund (WWF) camera traps in Mondulkiri Protected Forest captured the first known photographs of an Asian leopard with young in Cambodia, corroborating evidence that leopards thrive in the forest. WWF’s landscape conservation program in the Lower Mekong forests is one of 17 programs spanning 22 countries currently supported by USAID’s Global Conservation Program.

Photo: WWF-Cambodia

USAID’S BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY PROGRAMS, FY 2007 81 Global Conservation Program: Phase II Sites (2003 – 2009)* Key:

A GCP brochure listing landscape names and partner NGOs is available at: Terrestrial Areas www.usaid.gov/our_work/environment/biodiversity/gcp.html Marine Areas * GCP began support to an 18th Phase II site in Southern Sudan in FY 2008 GCP Phase 1 Sites (1999-2004)

achieving landscape-level conservation active GCP sites, nearly 14 million the Eastern Steppe of Mongolia results in a representative selection hectares of biologically significant participated in a ranger training of the world’s most biodiverse areas. terrestrial and marine areas came program conducted by Wildlife The program applies a threats-based under improved management in Conservation Society (WCS) approach, identifying priority threats FY 2007. Highlights from this and a local partner. Active ranger to biodiversity and linking them to period are described below. monitoring will expand the network specific conservation actions in a of de facto protected areas on the logical and direct way. Site-specific • In Chitwan National Park and Eastern Steppe by 200,000 hectares. conservation activities are modified adjacent areas in Nepal, World as needed according to the principles Wildlife Fund (WWF) worked • A team of scientists from WWF of adaptive management. GCP also to increase ranger patrols, raise and Conservation International emphasizes sharing of conservation awareness, and engage communities discovered the world’s largest known approaches and lessons learned in response to the poaching of population of grey-shanked douc, between sites and among partners. 20 rhinoceros – 5 percent of one of the 25 most endangered the local population – in 2006. primates, in a Vietnamese GCP program activities include This campaign resulted in the portion of the Lower Mekong community-based natural resources Chitwan Declaration for Rhino River basin. The Quang Nam management; improved protected area Conservation and the apprehension province has agreed to gazette this management; integrated landscape of seven notorious poachers and region as a new protected area. and seascape planning; enterprise- rhino horn traders. Only one based conservation; strengthened rhino was killed in all of 2007. • Building on efforts by The Nature environmental policy and legal Conservancy in the Raja Ampat frameworks; and community training • Twenty-one active community- islands of Indonesia, six new and capacity-building. Across all based conservation groups from Marine Protected Areas (MPAs)

82 Centrally Funded Programs were declared by Indonesia’s available on the USAID website’s Edge” program of Fauna and Flora Minister of Fisheries and Marine biodiversity publications page. International (FFI), which develops Affairs in May 2007, forming rapid response mechanisms in the an MPA network comprising GCP illustrates not only the impact wake of unforeseen threats, natural almost 1 million hectares. USAID can have on achieving disasters and conflicts through its biodiversity objectives around multi-partner Rapid Response Facility • In WCS’ Madidi Landscape of the world, but also the role of the (RRF) for UNESCO World Heritage Bolivia, municipal and local U.S. government in catalyzing and Sites in danger. In FY 2007, significant government officials collaborated to institutionalizing best practices progress was made in site-level design a 37,000 hectare Municipal among conservation organizations. livelihoods initiatives, particularly Tourism Reserve in an area with Internally, GCP provides a valuable at Mount Nimba in Guinea and the healthy jaguar populations. service to USAID Missions and Cardamom Mountains of Cambodia. Bureaus, which can develop their own FFI also supported work around • After years of capacity building stand-alone agreements (consistent Sapo National Park, Liberia which by EnvironmentWorks/ with the overall program) with any is recovering from conflict; in the Vita, community-based forest of the six GCP partner organizations. Golden Stream Watershed Preserve, management groups in the To date, over 50 awards totaling Belize which was damaged by a Philippines are asserting their more than $150 million have been hurricane; and the Aceh Province opposition to mining and using granted to GCP partners. These of Sumatra in Indonesia, one of their success with forestry to programs are funded and managed the areas hardest hit by the Indian demonstrate that mining is neither primarily by USAID Missions. Ocean Tsunami of 2004. The the only nor the best income program developed guidelines which generating option in many areas. In addition to GCP, the Biodiversity will help first responders to better Team supports cross-sectoral initiatives address the short- and long-term • The African Wildlife Foundation such as the Business and Biodiversity needs of people and the biological improved transboundary Offsets Program (BBOP), which resources on which they depend. conservation between Kenya and helps industries and nations plan Tanzania through joint wildlife for “no net loss” of biodiversity USAID’s Capitalizing Knowledge patrols, and empowerment of from extractive activities through Connecting Communities (CK2C) communities on either side improved industry practices and policy program builds on lessons learned of the border to manage and change. In 2007, BBOP worked at and impacts generated by USAID benefit from natural resources. three USAID-funded sites in Africa, initiatives, disseminated via designing tools to measure the impact the FRAME natural resources In 2007, the Biodiversity Team of development on biodiversity management portal. The Biodiversity commissioned an evaluation of GCP’s conservation activities to offset the Team funded CK2C to develop impact on the practice of large-scale impact. BBOP tools, guidelines, a competency-based training conservation, completed in May discussion documents, and reference curriculum for the environment and 2008. The evaluation found that materials are being expanded, refined natural resource management sector. GCP has been effective in addressing and widely disseminated through With this curriculum, a five-day several factors limiting conservation its Web site which responds to the course for Mission environmental at program sites worldwide. GCP also growing interest in biodiversity offsets. officers in the Latin America and influenced the design of conservation BBOP’s learning network doubled Caribbean region was conducted programs at these sites, especially in size this year to 600 individuals in Panama in July 2008. For more the application of threats-based representing over 200 organizations. information on CK2C and FRAME, conservation design and planning see the Land Resources Management at the landscape and seascape USAID provided a second year Team section of this report. scales. The full evaluation report is of support to the “Life on the

USAID’S BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY PROGRAMS, FY 2007 83 EGAT/NRM / The Forestry Team provided direct Forestry Team and virtual field support to USAID Missions and Bureaus in 2007, as Sustainable Forest Management well as technical leadership within USAID, interagency activities, and Forest protection and biodiversity the development and conservation conservation are inextricably linked community. In addition to facilitating because of the role forests play as the and implementing international forest primary habitat for many species. programs, USAID has played a major USAID’s Forestry Team manages a role in advising on U.S. government portfolio of programs which reflect policy actions, particularly as they this relationship, promoting better relate to complex conditions in forest management in areas with the field. Members of the Forestry high biodiversity value. Sustainable Team also represented USAID forestry, agro-forestry, and forest at meetings of the International conservation are the foundation Tropical Timber Organization. for economic growth and poverty reduction in many rural areas, Forest destruction accounts for where more than one billion of between 20 and 30 percent of Photo: Don Bason, USAID Orangutan Conservation Services Project the world’s poorest populations global carbon emissions. In 2007, INTACT TROPICAL RAINFOREST derive food, medicine, fuel, and the UN Framework Convention on like this orangutan habitat in Sumatra is increasingly construction materials from forests. Climate Change began to discuss rare due to logging and the potential to use forests as a conversion to agriculture. In FY 2007, the Forestry Team method of mitigating global climate continued its support of the change, heralding a fundamental The Biodiversity Team also Sustainable Forest Products Global change in how donor agencies such participated in many forums for Alliance (SFPGA), a public-private as USAID (and its cooperating sharing conservation information, partnership in which partners partners) plan and design forestry including meetings of the UN work to advance a new model for programs. This initiative, Reducing Convention on Biological Diversity forest conservation and community Emissions from Deforestation and and the UN Convention to Combat development where sustainable Degradation (REDD), consists Desertification. As a member forest management is rewarded in of a series of international policy of the Consultative Group on the global marketplace. For example, negotiations designed to reduce the Biological Diversity, the Team SFPGA partner World Wildlife carbon emissions associated with represented USAID among other Fund managed a Global Forest Trade deforestation. In order to prepare conservation donors resulting in Network (GFTN) which includes 317 the Agency for working in this new better coordination, best practices sustainable forest products companies policy environment, the Forestry Team exchange, and technical leadership in responsible for nearly $58 billion in funded the Center for International biodiversity conservation. The Team sales each year. Of these, 78 companies Forestry Research to create a set of also supported “New Horizons at the own or manage a combined 27 million training modules that will build Nexus of Conflict, Natural Resources, hectares of forest, with 50 percent of capacity within Missions and partners and Health,” a speaker series funded this area under effective management. to understand the complex and varied jointly by USAID’s Offices of NRM, To date, 174 trade relationships have technical topics related to forests and Population and Reproductive Health, been formed between sustainable climate change. The training modules and Conflict Management and forest managers and sustainable forest provide both an overview and in-depth Mitigation. See the DCHA/Conflict product buyers in the GFTN. analysis of the technical and policy Management and Mitigation portion issues related to REDD negotiations of this report for more information. and policy proposals, forest carbon

84 Centrally Funded Programs measurement and accounting technical assistance and training in framework, an approach developed by techniques, and volunteer and landscape planning and management. USAID and partners which addresses mandatory carbon exchange markets. resource management issues in the USFS helped improve the disaster context of conservation, economic The Forestry Team renewed an assistance capacity of Southeast Asian growth, and improved governance. interagency agreement with the USDA nations, as well as coordination Forest Service (USFS) to improve among these countries on disaster When people who rely on land, forest management around the world. management and control of wildlife forests and other natural resources For example, USFS worked with host- trafficking. Particular attention for their income do not have secure country agencies, non-governmental was given to improving Indonesian property rights, they often engage in organizations (NGOs) and the U.S. capacity to reduce and respond to activities that degrade resources and Environmental Protection Agency in seasonal wildfires. In Jordan, the are not economically viable in the long several Central American countries to Forest Service provided support for run. Lack of secure tenure can also implement environmental safeguards USAID projects focused on improving create conflicts when different groups in the Central America – Dominican protected area management and compete for control over resources. Republic – United States Free Trade restoring critical watersheds. In USAID is working to address this Agreement (CAFTA-DR). This Russia and Eastern Europe, USFS root cause of overexploitation through work involved conducting training provided assistance and training on LRM’s Property Rights and Resource to control the export of illegally a variety of issues, including forest Governance (PRRG) program, a five- harvested timber, as well as building planning and management, protected year initiative started in 2007. PRRG capacity in environmental impact area management, wildfire response, provides practical tools, training and assessment. Elsewhere in Latin and control of illegal logging. technical assistance to US Government America, USFS worked closely staff and decision makers in developing with Brazilian government agencies countries to address land tenure and NGOs to promote reduced- EGAT/NRM / and property rights issues. Specific impact tree harvesting techniques, Land Resources attention is focused on forest and enabling participating companies and Management Team rangeland areas, and conflicts emerging communities to seek independent between agricultural and rangeland certification of sustainable forest Improving Land Management users that degrade biodiversity assets. management. In Bolivia, USFS Policy and Practice provided technical assistance and The LRM Team’s Global Sustainable training for community-based Rural people around the world have Tourism Alliance (GSTA) gives forest management programs. a unique relationship to the land, Missions access to expertise for built on respect and close observation designing sustainable tourism In Africa, the USFS continued its work that comes with daily experience. projects which achieve biodiversity in Liberia under the framework of USAID’s Land Resources Management conservation objectives. In the Liberian Forestry Initiative (LFI), (LRM) Team works to ensure this 2007, GSTA partner The Nature resulting in a contract to establish relationship continues to be mutually Conservancy developed economic and manage a log tracking system to beneficial for people and biodiversity options compatible with conservation be implemented in conjunction with through education and training and tourism for communities near new commercial forestry concessions. in sustainable natural resources protected areas in Ecuador, while USFS also helped design and manage a management (NRM); empowerment strengthening park management new community forestry project which of local people with rights to use and and operations. In Dominican will help Liberia define and protect benefit from forests, fish, water and Republic, USAID promoted land tenure and community rights. wildlife; and conservation enterprises environmental sustainability standards USAID’s Central Africa Regional which provide incentives for good among local hotels to demonstrate Program for the Environment and the stewardship. Many LRM efforts apply “greener” operations, for which Madagascar Mission received USFS the “Nature, Wealth and Power” tourists are willing to pay higher

USAID’S BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY PROGRAMS, FY 2007 85 MAPPING CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACT: The USAID-supported SERVIR earth observation system was used to project the impacts of climate change – specifically, changes in temperature and rainfall – on vertebrate biodiversity in Mexico, Central America and Dominican Republic. The two maps of Central America (with a portion of Mexico) show worst case scenario projections for the decades following the years 2020 and 2050, respectively. Areas shaded purple, red and black indicate where species-rich areas intersect with severe climate change. These and other projections generated using SERVIR will help prioritize efforts to mitigate or adapt to climate change. For example, new protected areas or corridors between areas may be needed to allow vertebrates to move as their habitat relocates or disappears.

Maps created by CATHALAC. Figure adapted from maps in the report Potential Impacts of Climate Change on Biodiversity in Central America, Mexico and the Dominican Republic (2007). rates. GSTA started developing Malawi, South Africa and Zimbabwe; and options for mitigating impacts projects in Mali and Ethiopia, with an international workshop to assess on conservation and communities. implementation planned for 2008. tools for monitoring and responding to biodiversity threats; a workshop Capitalizing Knowledge and The FRAME program managed to exchange knowledge and discuss Connecting Communities (CK2C) by the LRM Team identifies and strategies for marketing natural is an initiative that: (1) identifies promotes best practices in natural products which contribute to and promotes best practices in resource management. FY 2007 biodiversity conservation, poverty management of land, water, forest activities included: a collaboration alleviation and good governance; and and biological resources; (2) provides with IUCN to study and reveal an online forum in which natural web-based tools that improve success in community-based NRM resource managers discussed linkages networking and communication projects in Botswana, Namibia, between HIV/AIDS and conservation, between local communities and

86 Centrally Funded Programs resource managers; and (3) develops application, is being developed into a EGAT/NRM / and delivers competency training for coral reef monitoring tool to highlight Water Team USAID staff managing environment changes in reef ecosystem condition programs. In 2007, CK2C’s activities over time, affected by various Conservation of Coastal and continued to take stock of NRM threats and different management Freshwater Resources impacts in the forest sector, and regimes, at sites around the world. supported NRM champions in USAID’s Water Team provides challenging barriers to scaling up One of the LRM Team’s newest expertise on issues as diverse as those impacts. Lessons from this initiatives is TransLinks, a cooperative drinking water and irrigation, coral body of knowledge were transformed agreement with the Wildlife reef conservation, and sanitation into NRM competency-based Conservation Society, Forest Trends systems. Two ongoing programs training for USAID environmental and Enterprise Works/Vita, developed support biodiversity objectives officers, in collaboration with to promote an integrated approach to through sustainable management of the Biodiversity Team. good governance, poverty alleviation, marine and freshwater resources. conservation, and sustainable resource Although local knowledge is critical use. TransLinks conducts research The Sustainable Coastal Communities to managing natural resources on best practices, capacity building, and Ecosystems (SUCCESS) program in the field, satellite imagery and and technical assistance related to the promotes healthy coastal ecosystems geographic information systems linkages between livestock productivity and sustainable resource management (GIS) are increasingly important and bushmeat consumption, through good governance. SUCCESS tools for planning conservation pastoralist/ indigenous people’s natural develops community-based natural activities, developing environmental resources property rights, and market- resources governance efforts and policies, and evaluating the scope based payments for ecosystem services. uses these to improve policies at the of biodiversity. The LRM Team These activities complement current provincial, national, and regional provided a rapid response mechanism USAID-funded biodiversity projects. scales. Overall, 97,000 hectares for USAID Mission and Bureau In FY 2007, TransLinks completed 13 in areas of biological significance map-making needs, and funded a “special studies” and began research were placed under improved GIS-based conservation assessment activities and case studies at select sites. management as a result of the of African terrestrial ecosystems. SUCCESS Program in FY 2007. They also continued support to the A TransLinks site in Cambodia won Mesoamerican Regional Visualization the 2007 Wild Asia Responsible In Tanzania, the SUCCESS Program and Monitoring System (SERVIR, in Tourism Award and 2008 Equator and its partners – including local Spanish), an earth observation system Prize, for the work of a local NGO bivalve collectors (mostly women) – which provides timely information partner in helping village programs are addressing the accelerating threat and analysis on climate and weather compete in the highly competitive of a depleted bivalve population due trends, fire threats, and other variables tourism industry, and for putting a to over-harvesting on the Fumba for natural resource managers around system in place which pays residents Peninsula, Zanzibar. The waters the world. FY 2007 funds were used to protect the nests of critically around Fumba village are rich with to develop a methodology to assess endangered birds including the Giant fish, coral reefs, and mollusks, but the vulnerability of biodiversity to Ibis (Cambodia’s national bird) and poverty, gender inequality and climate change in Central America, the even rarer White-shouldered Ibis. and local market forces have led to Mexico and Dominican Republic Tourism revenue is contingent upon overexploitation and biodiversity using SERVIR, an approach which adherence to a village land-use plan decline, threatening a valuable will later be applied to Africa and and a no hunting policy. In one village, food and income source for future improve policy decision-making in 33 families increased their income generations. SUCCESS established both regions. SERVIR-Viz, a three- by 67 percent due to the project. a zoning scheme adopted by the dimensional Earth visualization community, with “no-take” zones

USAID’S BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY PROGRAMS, FY 2007 87 FREEDOM: An indigenous leader of the Huambracocha community in Peru prepares to release river turtles into the Huambracocha lake, part of the Pastaza River basin. USAID engages with indigenous people to promote community fisheries management and conserve turtles in this remote area.

Photo: Michael Tweddle

88 Centrally Funded Programs designated during certain periods, biodiversity protection, health, and the Masai Mara National Reserve in and also introduced half-pearl environmental quality with good Kenya and the Serengeti National aquaculture as a more eco-friendly management and business practices Park of Tanzania. In collaboration alternative source of food protein in a way never previously attempted with GLOWS, hotels around (oyster) and income (pearls). in this area, which will help protect Masai Mara began construction of biodiversity for generations to come. wastewater wetlands as a strategy to In Ecuador, SUCCESS is tackling reduce Mara River contamination. threats to biodiversity of the Cojimies In the freshwater sector, USAID’s The Kenyan Ministry of Water estuary, a nesting site for several species Global Water for Sustainability published a draft Catchment of marine turtles. The upper watershed (GLOWS) program works to increase Management Strategy including is a designated protected area, with social, economic, and environmental the Mara, with a strong emphasis significant primary coastal forests. benefits from healthy aquatic on protecting the environmental However, due to overfishing, excessive ecosystems and sustainable water services of the river system. logging and resulting sedimentation, resources management. For the life and conversion of mangrove forests of the project, GLOWS expects Terrestrial biodiversity is high in to shrimp ponds, the estuary’s fishery to achieve improved management several parts of India’s Wakal River resource is in decline and residents face in approximately 2.23 million basin, including the Phulwari even greater poverty. The SUCCESS hectares. In FY 2007, work on Moll Reserve, which harbors program is working to reverse this improved governance, field research, hundreds of species of plants cycle of overexploitation leading information management, and and was recently declared one of to environmental degradation by capacity building continued in three India’s Important Bird Areas by introducing eco-friendly livelihoods biologically important field sites. BirdLife International. GLOWS such as a revived culture of the worked to diffuse Integrated Water native fishchame , home gardening, The Pastaza River basin is important Resource Management (IWRM) and beekeeping for honey. for both terrestrial and aquatic concepts among community-based biodiversity in the upper Amazon. organizations, NGOs, universities, In Nicaragua, SUCCESS focuses on GLOWS supported the creation of local governing bodies, and the general the biodiversity-rich Padre Ramos a database on aquatic biota in the public, laying the groundwork for and Estero Real estuaries, which basin and strengthened collaboration more transformative interventions. together form the most intact coastal with Ecuador’s National Council ecosystem in the entire Gulf of of Water Resources. Skilled U.S. In addition to work at field sites, Fonseca. Biodiversity in the estuary is volunteers under the Volunteers for GLOWS supported students from threatened by poor water circulation Prosperity Initiative partnered with Kenya and Colombia to begin due to sedimentation from Hurricane the Ecuadorian Museum of Natural advanced studies in water resources Mitch and poorly constructed shrimp Sciences for a first biodiversity management at Florida International ponds, sewage and agrochemical water survey in the middle reaches of the University. The program co- pollution, and rapid deforestation of Pastaza River. On the Peruvian side sponsored a short course on IWRM mangrove forests. The program team of the basin, community fisheries for Ecuadorian water managers, works with local and national partners management and turtle conservation and sponsored participants and to implement solutions including activities were promoted among provided instructors for a wetlands various forms of aquaculture, as indigenous communities. management training course in well as national and international Central America. Together, GLOWS niche marketing of local natural The Mara River is the key permanent and SUCCESS co-edited a special products such as fruits and “organic” water source for the open savannah biodiversity issue of Basins and Coasts shrimp. Partners are linking issues of grassland and wildlife protected by newsletter, published in August 2007.

USAID’S BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY PROGRAMS, FY 2007 89 EGAT/Agriculture disease-resistant cacao germplasm, 2007 included on-going work to grafted naranjilla to Solanum hirtum to identify best practices in sustainable Collaborative Research impart resistance to vascular wilt and agriculture, and five long-term research Support Programs (CRSPs) a nematode pest, and identified and awards addressing comparative used pheromone lures to control insect research with activities in ten EGAT’s Office of Agriculture pests of the naranjilla and plantain. countries. Biodiversity activities supports and co-manages two This IPM package has stabilized the include a food security initiative biodiversity-attributable Collaborative cropping system and reduced the in Zambia focused on market-led Research Support Programs need for frequent use of pesticides. conservation for Southern Africa, and (CRSPs) with the EGAT/NRM/ a sustainable natural and biological Land Resources Management team: IPM CRSP researchers also resources training and research the Integrated Pest Management worked to develop an approach to program with sites around the world. (IPM) CRSP and the Sustainable manage Parthenium (Parthenium Agriculture and Natural Resources hysterophorus), a highly invasive species SANREM partners Cornell University Management (SANREM) CRSP. accidentally introduced to eastern and and Wildlife Conservation Society southern Africa from the Neotropics. continued work developing a IPM is the study and application of Parthenium reduces the yield of all participatory socioeconomic model pest management methods which major crops, competes with preferred for food security and biodiversity minimize the use of pesticides pasture species, and when consumed conservation in Southern Africa through a better understanding and by domestic animals, taints their via “Community Markets for manipulation of pest ecology, for milk and meat, reducing their value. Conservation” (COMACO), a market- example by encouraging beneficial It causes respiratory and dermatitis driven approach to conservation in insects, introducing natural predators, problems in humans, and outcompetes Zambia. COMACO improves returns or growing different plants together or native plants, reducing biodiversity. on agricultural investment by helping in succession to keep pest populations The CRSP used a model to predict the farmers receive competitive prices manageable. USAID support to the potential distribution of Parthenium in for their products, by marketing IPM CRSP in FY 2007 addressed eastern and southern Africa, followed products as ‘wildlife friendly’ and by biodiversity in two programs of work. by road surveys in Ethiopia, Uganda, selling when demand is highest. In Botswana, Swaziland and South FY 2007, 296 women and 463 men In Ecuador, the IPM CRSP conducted Africa to map the actual distribution. were trained in conservation farming biodiversity monitoring, beginning A quarantine facility for screening practices to improve production with an assessment of the impacts natural enemies of Parthenium was while reducing impacts on wildlife. of the cacao, plantain and naranjilla established at Ambo, Ethiopia, and In addition, 25 village hunting cropping system on biodiversity. This two natural enemies are being tested at representatives and former poachers cropping system reduces soil erosion a quarantine facility in South Africa. In were trained to become safari hunting and should enhance biodiversity pasture management studies, two plant monitoring scouts. Preliminary in avian migratory corridors and species proved to suppress Parthenium. data show that COMACO market buffer zones near rainforest habitats. Combined, these components of incentives are sufficient both to foster Improving the management of this invasive species management will be sustainable agricultural practices and cropping system can result in increased an effective and sustainable solution to reduce bushmeat hunting, making income and reduced pesticide use, to curbing the biological, health and game-based economic opportunities both of which can be monitored for financial impacts of Parthenium. possible. Researchers are studying impact on biodiversity. Currently the how to scale-up COMACO within crops in the system are severely affected The SANREM CRSP conducts Zambia and across Southern Africa. by pests and diseases threatening research, institutional development, livelihoods and the viability of this and training in sustainable agriculture Indiana University, International Food eco-friendly approach to agriculture. and natural resources management Policy Research Institute, Center for Researchers made progress identifying (NRM). Active research in FY International Forestry Research, and

90 Centrally Funded Programs CACAO BEANS IN ECUADOR are ripe and ready for processing into chocolate. In FY 2007, USAID supported work by the Integrated Pest Management CRSP to assess the impacts of the cacao-plantain-naranjilla cropping system on biodiversity in this country, and to develop disease- and insect-resistant strains requiring less pesticide.

Photo: Satre Comunicaciones

USAID’S BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY PROGRAMS, FY 2007 91 Kenya Forestry Research Institute are identified 25 butterflies, one the genus Triticum, threatened implementing a SANREM project to endemic dragonfly and two beetle by overgrazing and urbanization determine how well decentralization species potentially under threat throughout Syria, Lebanon and and property rights reform policies according to IUCN listing criteria. Jordan. To conserve Triticum and other achieve sustainable NRM to conserve wild relatives of forage species, fruit biodiversity and improve local The Center for International Forestry trees, field crops, and other valuable livelihoods. This research collects Research (CIFOR) program on species, the government of Syria and analyzes data from Uganda, non-timber forest products in designated an initial 2,500 hectares Kenya, Mexico, and Bolivia to Brazil organized a multi-stakeholder of core habitat in 2007. ICARDA identify the institutional conditions workshop on forests and biodiversity is helping develop a management and interactions that will deliver in the country. High level policy plan for this protected area. benefits equitably to local people makers from both the state and while sustaining biological resources. national governments attended to The International Center for Tropical In FY 2007, a National Advisory discuss the links between forests and Agriculture (CIAT) studied the Committee was established in each health and how to build bridges in distribution of wild Phaseolus beans country, and almost 90 community policy and practice between these in Central America, identifying members and researchers were two sectors. The same CIFOR 24 populations of wild beans and trained in tree and soil management, program also produced an illustrated documenting their conservation as well as research methods. booklet on medicinal plants of status in the field. Two populations Amazonia that makes recipes for of a new species of bean (P. common ailments accessible to hygrophilus) were discovered in EGAT/Environment even non-literate populations. the forests southwest of San José, and Science Policy Costa Rica, resulting in a strong The World Agroforestry Centre recommendation to conserve this area. Natural Resources Research (ICRAF) together with Chinese and Climate Change government and research institutions The Desert Margins Program led by worked to identify species for restoring the International Crops Research CGIAR forest ecosystems in the buffer zones Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics The Office of Environment and of protected areas, such as the densely (ICRISAT) is working to arrest Science Policy (ESP) funds applied populated agricultural landscape land degradation in Africa’s desert research in forest management and surrounding the Gaoligongshan margins through demonstration biodiversity conservation through the National Nature Reserve in western and capacity building activities. For Consultative Group on International Yunnan Province. ICRAF selected example, tree planting intended to Agricultural and Natural Resources 20 to 30 tree species indigenous to improve habitat for giraffe populations Research (CGIAR). In FY 2007, 10 each protected area which have high in the Western region of Niger of the 15 CGIAR centers contributed conservation potential and economic is providing improved livelihood to biodiversity objectives, at least value. These trees will create a opportunities for local communities. three of which advanced knowledge framework for restoring the structure in forestry and agroforestry. and functions of the forest, including In collaboration with the World habitat for birds, bats and small Resources Institute and relevant The International Institute of mammals that introduce additional Kenyan authorities, the International Tropical Agriculture (IITA) applied plant species through seed dispersal. Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) the results of over 14 years of published an atlas that overlays arthropod biodiversity assessment The International Center for statistical information on population in West Africa to help produce the Agricultural Research in the Dry and poverty with spatial data on first World Conservation Union Areas (ICARDA) continued to ecosystems and water availability, (IUCN) Red List for Benin. IITA monitor wild forage legumes of wood supply, biodiversity, and crops,

92 Centrally Funded Programs to yield a picture of how land, people and prosperity are related in Kenya.

Bioversity International (formerly IPGRI) completed a study on the impact of climate change on wild relatives of peanut, potato and cowpea, which showed that an estimated 16 to 22 percent of wild species of these crops are likely to go extinct and most species will loose 50 percent of their range size as climates shift.

The WorldFish Center (formerly ICLARM) partnered with Japan to develop the first regional database on coral reef marine protected areas in Southeast Asia. With Conservation International, WorldFish investigated how ecological, socioeconomic and governance factors interact during planning, design and implementation of marine managed areas.

Global Climate Change EGAT/ESP’s Carbon Reporting GIRAFFE: The tallest animal Initiative builds on the earlier on earth is among the many Carbon and Co-Benefits Initiative, species benefitting from CGIAR programs supported by USAID. which developed methodologies to For example, ICRISAT’s Desert geographically model deforestation Margins Program planted trees risk and thus threats to biodiversity to provide food for giraffe and wood for people in western Niger. habitat and sources of greenhouse Photo: Mike Colby, USAID gas emissions from deforestation. Beginning in FY 2006 and continuing into FY 2007, the Carbon Reporting support forest biodiversity activities conceptual and technical approaches Initiative worked to incorporate by providing a climate change to be taken in development of the these methodologies into a user- rationale for forest conservation. reforestation, agroforestry and fire friendly web-based forest carbon management components of the tool, calculator. Users will be able to enter During FY 2007, implementing and made progress in further refining the location, geographic size and partner Winrock International underlying equations. A first version type of forest sector activity and the reached out to regional experts in of the user interface was developed calculator will provide a scientifically Latin America and the Caribbean, and a way to integrate GIS data layers rigorous estimate of the amount of Africa, and Asia to collect information was identified. Further development carbon dioxide emissions avoided on deforestation rates, forest carbon of the interface and functionality as or sequestered through that activity biomass, tree growth rates, and other well as important testing and quality during the year. Having accurate data needed for calculating carbon control are planned for FY 2008. carbon dioxide numbers will further change. The project also clarified the

USAID’S BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY PROGRAMS, FY 2007 93 DCHA/Conflict worked to build the capacity of DRC’s peace-building and stabilization Management and Nature Conservation Service (ICCN) goals and, conversely, to promote, Mitigation to manage and resolve conflicts over environmental sensitivity during natural resources before they escalate. conflict interventions. FY 2007 Conflict and Environment ICCN now maps and analyzes the root meetings in this series addressed causes and consequences of conflict fisheries and conflict, land tenure Scarce or contested natural resources in protected areas and then assembles and property rights in East Africa, are often at the root of civil conflict, protected area authorities and local local natural resource governance, and funds from valuable minerals and communities to devise solutions. and the role of extractive industries in forests have played a role in financing preventing and mitigating conflict. wars. Poor management of natural In Bolivia, USAID promoted conflict resources increases poverty and limits mitigation and reconciliation through opportunities for economic growth, a dialogue between indigenous groups Global Health situation where any political solution and local, regional and national can take hold no matter how short- actors, as well as among indigenous Population, Health and sighted or authoritarian. Conflict can organizations. Progress was made Environment Program be destructive, benign or beneficial towards developing an effective to wildlife and habitats: 22 years of governance system to help mitigate USAID’s Global Health Bureau conflict in Sudan displaced people both existing and potential conflicts, recognizes the links between healthy and allowed wildlife to flourish, but by promoting democratic and people and healthy environments. as refugees return there are concerns transparent decision-making over Forests are often critical providers of for overhunting and deforestation. land and resource use, cost-effective clean and abundant drinking water; In contrast, good management of implementation of decisions, and in turn, disease prevention and good natural resources can prevent or effective land use management nutrition contribute to economic minimize divisiveness and violence; based on principles of biodiversity growth and reduce overexploitation progressive forest management conservation and sustainable of wildlife and trees. The Bureau’s practices in particular are creating use of renewable resources. Office of Population and Reproductive wealth and bringing stability to Health (PRH) funds field programs previously war-torn regions. USAID’s USAID’s Office of Natural Resources and support programs which make Office of Conflict Management Management, the Office of Population biodiversity conservation and forest and Mitigation (CMM) recognizes and Reproductive Health, and CMM management activities more effective. these relationships and in FY 2007 jointly supported “New Horizons supported peace-through-conservation at the Nexus of Conflict, Natural With support from PRH, World programs in eastern Democratic Resources, and Health,” a speaker Wildlife Fund (WWF) and Republic of Congo (DRC) and series which presented a multi- Conservation International (CI) lowland Bolivia, as well as a speaker faceted picture of the links among have been able to provide needed series on the links among conflict, conflict, natural resources and human family planning and reproductive natural resources and human health. health. This series aims to engage health information and services in key stakeholders through creative and around areas of high biodiversity CMM supported peace-building in dialogue and promotes partnerships in Madagascar, Kenya, Cambodia and around protected areas in the and innovation in dealing with this and the Philippines. In FY 2007, Albertine Rift in the DRC, using cross-sectoral area. Seminars encourage 591 new health service providers a conflict analysis and resolution the application of conflict-sensitive were trained to deliver these services approach previously tested in the interventions in the natural resources in remote and often inaccessible Virunga National Park. Implementing and health fields as well as the explicit areas. As a result of having their partner Wildlife Conservation Society use of those interventions to further needs met in these critical health

94 Centrally Funded Programs population of 568,352, and partnered with EngenderHealth to train 168 health center staff in improved counseling and service provision skills.

In Uganda, USAID supported Conservation Through Public Health (CTPH) to add family planning and reproductive health services to their ongoing gorilla conservation activities in two isolated parishes in western Uganda. As a result, 31 health providers received training in family planning and reproductive health, and 26 new community peer educators were recruited. Photo: Daren Trudeau/Institute for Reproductive Health, courtesy of Photoshare CYCLE BEADS: An instructor in the Democratic Republic of Congo explains the standard days method (SDM) for tracking daily fertility using traditional cycle beads. USAID’s Global Health Bureau supports the provision of Tropical Forest family planning and other health services by biodiversity conservation Conservation Act groups, which promotes community cooperation with conservation interventions while helping achieve long-term sustainability goals. Debt-for-Nature Agreements areas, local communities are willing enhancing lives through better health The Tropical Forest Conservation to cooperate with WWF and CI as and access to natural resources. Act (TFCA) was enacted in 1998 to partners in the protection of forest offer eligible developing countries in the Philippines and Cambodia, In the eastern Democratic Republic of options to relieve certain official and six “no-take” marine zones in the Congo (DRC), USAID supported debt owed the U.S. Government and Kenya, totaling 25,952 hectares. the Jane Goodall Institute’s (JGI) generate funds in local currency to innovative approach to community- support tropical forest conservation Global Health Bureau supports the centered conservation in the Graueri activities. The TFCA is an interagency Population, Health, and Environment Landscape. The Community- collaboration within the U.S. (PHE) program, which strives Centered Conservation Program links government jointly managed by to address the impacts of human sustainable development activities USAID and the Departments of State populations on biodiversity by prioritized by the community to and Treasury. In addition to forest recognizing that individuals cannot natural resource conservation. conservation and debt relief, TFCA exercise adequate stewardship over Communities have already contributed is intended to strengthen civil society local natural resources on which land to a network of community by creating local foundations which their livelihoods depend unless their forest reserves linking the national support small grants to NGOs and basic needs for health, nutrition, parks of Maiko and Kahuzi-Biega, a local communities. The program and income are met. PHE seeks UNESCO World Heritage Site and also offers a unique opportunity to simultaneously improve access habitat for important species such as for public-private partnerships: the to family planning and related eastern lowland gorillas, chimpanzees, majority of TFCA agreements to date health services while helping forest elephants, and okapi. In FY have included funds raised by U.S.- communities conserve wildlife 2007, JGI supported 69 war-torn based conservation organizations. and other biological resources, health centers and clinics which serve a

USAID’S BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY PROGRAMS, FY 2007 95 Photo: Scott Lampman, USAID TARSIER: This wide-eyed primitive primate on the island of Bohol, Philippines normally sleeps in the daytime, camouflaged among the brown leaves. Tarsier habitat is better protected thanks to a debt-for-nature agreement between the United States and the Philippines.

As of December 2007, approximately the TFCA programs will together have of high-value tropical forests in Latin $95.4 million in congressionally generated more than $163 million America, including several national appropriated funds have been used for grants and projects to help protect parks and other protected areas. to conclude 13 TFCA debt-for- and sustainably manage tropical nature agreements with 12 countries: forests in beneficiary countries. To The four newest TFCA programs, Bangladesh, Belize, Botswana, date, the local “TFCA Funds” have initiated with Guatemala and Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, awarded 189 grants and otherwise Paraguay in FY 2006 and Botswana Guatemala, Jamaica, Panama (two invested in protected area activities and Costa Rica in FY 2007, are agreements), Paraguay, Peru, and the totaling nearly $18 million, including expected to be fully operational in Philippines. The Nature Conservancy, over $5.9 million in 2007 alone. 2008. As of the publication of this Conservation International and the The collective balance accumulated report, USAID, State Department World Wildlife Fund have contributed in these local accounts exceeds $38 and Treasury Department are in an additional $12.1 million to eight of million. Over the life of the debt various stages of negotiation for TFCA these agreements, enabling more debt swap agreements, they will contribute agreements with Peru and Indonesia. to be treated and in turn generating to conservation and improved more funds for conservation. By 2017, management of nearly 50 million acres

96 Centrally Funded Programs USAID BIODIVERSITY AND FORESTRY FUNDING OVERVIEW

Forestry Budget Global Conservation Program to the Central African Regional supported forest management, Program for the Environment Analysis of FY 2007 conservation or sustainability (CARPE) and its work supporting certification. The Environment objectives of the Congo Basin Forest USAID supported almost $97 million and Science Policy Office and Partnership. Africa Bureau’s Office in forestry activities in FY 2007, Agriculture Office collaborated with of Sustainable Development and of which the vast majority ($89.9 the NRM Office to fund over $3 Missions in Liberia, Madagascar and million) occurred in tropical countries million in applied forestry research Senegal each managed $2 million or had a focus on tropical forests. by universities and international or more in forestry activities. Forestry includes a range of economic research institutes, including a study growth and biodiversity conservation on forests and climate change co- Asia received $23.6 million of overall efforts, including protection of natural financed by the NRM Forestry Team. forestry spending, with large programs forests, sustainable management of in most countries in this region. forests for timber and non-timber The largest share of forestry support Indonesia and Afghanistan account for forest products, reforestation of was provided through Africa regional at least half of the total, for programs degraded lands, the use of woodlots and country programs, which to conserve orangutan habitat, and and agroforestry to reduce pressure managed $34 million (36 percent) of to restore degraded woodlots and on natural forests, and research and total USAID forestry expenditures. pistachio forests, respectively. capacity building activities which Of this funding, almost half went help communities and governments benefit from markets for ecosystem Figure 1. USAID Funding for Forestry by Region in FY 2007* services and certified forest products. Centrally Funded $9,781,039 USAID centrally funded programs supported $9.8 million in forestry Africa work around the world. The Natural $34,013,101 Resources Management (NRM) Office Latin America & managed the bulk of these activities, the Caribbean and applied expert technical assistance $29,462,981 to Missions and international leadership through its Forestry Team, in collaboration with the USDA Forest Service and other partners whom it funded. The Forestry Team continued Asia its support for the Sustainable Forest $23,622,093 Products Global Alliance, and about half of the NRM Biodiversity Team’s * Amounts shown here are from all accounts (DA, ACI, CSH, ESF, and Title II)

USAID’S BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY PROGRAMS, FY 2007 97 Table 1. USAID Funding for Forestry Programs and Activities, FY 2007

FY 2007 Forestry Forestry Overlap Type Funding with of Program Name Program Description in US$ Biodiversity Funds* CENTRALLY FUNDED BIODIVERSITY PROGRAMS EGAT Bureau NRM Office Technical Staff 831,046 831,046 DA NRM - Biodiversity Global Conservation Program - Forest Conservation Activities 1,477,916 1,477,916 DA Business and Biodiversity Offsets; Disaster, Conflict and Biodiversity 175,000 175,000 DA NRM - Forestry Sustainable Forest Products Global Alliance Interagency 1,100,000 1,100,000 DA Agreement with USDA Forest Service Sustainable Forest Products Global Alliance Leader with Associates Award 300,000 300,000 DA USAID - USDA Forest Service Interagency Agreement 865,000 865,000 DA Forest and Climate Project with Center for 200,000 200,000 DA International Forestry Research Agriculture Office Collaborative Research Support Programs 869,300 869,300 DA Environment and Center for International Forestry Research 1,849,000 1,600,000 DA Science Policy Office and World Agroforestry Center Carbon Calculator and Forest & Climate Project 294,000 150,000 DA Other Central Bureaus Democracy, Conflict, Conflict and Environment activities of the Conflict 799,777 799,777 ESF and Humanitarian Management and Mitigation Office Assistance Bureau Global Health Bureau Population, Health and Environment Program 1,020,000 1,020,000 CSH Centrally Funded Programs Total $9,781,039 $9,388,039 AFRICA Africa Regional Office of Sustainable Development support for an interagency agreement 5,893,000 4,158,000 DA with the USDA Forest Service, and the Sustainable Tree Crops program Congo Basin Landscape-level Conservation and Forest Management in Central Africa 16,000,000 16,000,000 DA Forest Partnership / Central African Regional Program for the Env’t Ethiopia Food Security, Forestry and Ecotourism Programs 267,000 0 Title II Guinea Landscape Management for Improved Livelihoods 406,675 169,270 DA Kenya Community Conservation to Carbon Markets 144,000 430,000 DA Community Conservation to Carbon Markets 508,000 ESF Liberia Commercial Forestry, Community Empowerment and Conservation 1,320,780 1,320,780 DA Commercial Forestry, Community Empowerment and Conservation 1,500,000 0 ESF Madagascar Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Management of Forests 3,505,646 3,505,646 DA Malawi Natural Resources Management and Biodiversity Conservation 300,000 0 DA Mali Community Mgmt of Agroforestry Parklands and Sustainable Tourism 100,000 0 DA Mozambique Conservation through Public-Private Partnerships 300,000 300,000 DA Senegal Community forestry, International Markets and Local Benefits 2,000,000 1,000,000 DA Sudan Capacity Building and Landscape-Level Conservation 768,000 0 DA Tanzania Targeted Landscape Conservation through a Livelihoods Approach 1,000,000 1,000,000 DA Africa Total $34,013,101 $27,883,696

98 USAID BIODIVERSITY AND FORESTRY FUNDING OVERVIEW Table 1. USAID Funding for Forestry Programs and Activities, FY 2007 continued

FY 2007 Forestry Forestry Overlap Type Funding with of Program Name Program Description in US$ Biodiversity Funds* ASIA ANE Regional Responsible Asia Forestry and Trade Initiative (RAFT) support 400,000 400,000 DA Regional Development Wildlife Law Enforcement and Improved Forest Management 2,070,000 2,070,000 DA Mission for Asia Wildlife Law Enforcement and Improved Forest Management 100,000 100,000 ESF Afghanistan Woodlands Restoration and Conservation of Key Areas 4,449,390 3,800,000 DA Bangladesh Co-management of Wetlands and Tropical Forests 1,000,000 1,000,000 DA Cambodia Grassroots Advocacy and Controlling Wildlife Trade 2,267,703 2,267,703 DA Indonesia Natural Resource Management and Orangutan Conservation 8,813,000 8,813,000 DA Nepal Strengthened Community Natural Resources Governance 2,500,000 2,500,000 DA Philippines Local Conservation Succeeds with Improved Governance, Land Tenure 2,022,000 2,022,000 DA Asia Total $23,622,093 $22,972,703 LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN LAC Regional Parks in Peril; Initiative for Conservation in the Andean Amazon; Forest 5,248,000 5,248,000 DA products trade assistance to Dominican Republic – Central America – United States Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) signatories Caribbean Regional National Investments and Natural Assets Protection 640,000 640,000 DA Central America & Forest products trade assistance to CAFTA-DR signatories 400,000 400,000 DA Mexico Regional Bolivia Landscape Conservation Program and Sustainable Forestry 3,482,206 3,482,206 DA Brazil Sustainable Forest Management and Protected Areas Development 249,000 249,000 DA Colombia Stronger National Parks and Sustainable Development 7,969,775 2,000,000 ACI Ecuador Conservation of Indigenous Land and Rights 1,520,000 1,520,000 DA El Salvador Improved Management and Conservation of Critical Watersheds 450,000 450,000 DA Guatemala Certification of Forestry and Tourism Enterprises 1,910,000 402,000 DA Guyana Sustainable Tourism and Forest Products Marketing 250,000 0 DA Honduras Integrated Watershed Resources Management 700,000 350,000 DA Jamaica Natural Assets managed for rural development and sustainable growth 380,000 80,000 DA Mexico Sustainable Development and Capacity Building for Conservation 2,439,000 2,439,000 DA Panama Conservation of biodiversity in the Canal Zone 60,000 60,000 DA Peru Forestry Sector Reform and Incentives for Conservation 3,765,000 3,765,000 DA Latin America and the Caribbean Total $29,462,981 $21,085,206 TOTALS TOTAL FORESTRY FUNDING IN FY 2007 $96,879,214 $81,329,644 TOTAL TROPICAL FORESTRY FUNDING IN FY 2007 $89,929,824 $75,029,644

* Development Assistance (DA), Economic Support Fund (ESF), Andean Counterdrug Initiative (ACI), Child Survival and Health (CSH), Emergency Development and Food Assistance (Title II)

USAID’S BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY PROGRAMS, FY 2007 99 Latin America and the Caribbean Funded Programs section of this environmental, economic and social (LAC) programs supported $29.5 report. TFCA funds are appropriated importance of tropical forests. million in forestry activities in directly to and managed by the FY 2007, about 30 percent of all Department of Treasury, with the In the late 1990s, forestry expenditures forestry funding. From policy and exception of FY 2003, when TFCA declined from an all-time high of awareness initiatives which restored funds were appropriated to USAID $130 million in 1995 to less than indigenous land and forest use rights, and then transferred to Treasury half that, on par with the level of to training and equipment for more (note the spike in funding for this investment a decade earlier (or less, efficient milling, USAID provided year in Table 2). TFCA is not listed adjusting for inflation). This was DA funds to a wide range of activities in either the forestry or biodiversity primarily due to USAID budget involving stakeholders of every budget tables for FY 2007. cuts, but also in part because Agency variety. Over one-quarter of LAC priorities shifted. From 2000 to 2003, forestry support was to Colombia, Budget Trends forestry funding averaged about where Andean Counterdrug $85 million per year (adjusting for Initiative (ACI) funds were used Forest management and conservation a one-time Congressional decision to develop the forest products has been an important part of in 2003 to appropriate $20 million industry and provide economically USAID’s mandate since 1986, in TFCA funds directly to USAID). viable alternatives to coca. when Section 118 of the Foreign Since 2004, forestry funding has Assistance Act was enacted and the hovered around $100 million. Because of its leadership in importance of tropical forests to international forestry, USAID hosts development was formally recognized. USAID investments in forestry the Secretariat of the Tropical Forest In the late 1980s and early 1990s, prioritize areas that are biologically Conservation Act (TFCA), which USAID investments in forestry significant, and activities which finances debt-for-nature agreements as activities increased substantially, conserve biodiversity. In FY 2007, described at the end of the Centrally reflecting increased awareness of the $81.3 million of Agency-supported

Figure 2. USAID Funding of Forestry Activities, 1987 to 2007*

140 All forestry Tropical forestry 120 Non-tropical forestry

100

80

60 US$ millions

40

20

0 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 Fiscal Year

* Figures for tropical and non-tropical forestry funding were disaggregated beginning in 2005

100 USAID BIODIVERSITY AND FORESTRY FUNDING OVERVIEW Table 2. U.S. Government International Forestry Funding, FY 2007*

Program or Funding Type USG Department or Agency FY 2007 Funding for Forestry and Forest Conservation (US$ millions) Forestry Activities U .S .Agency for International Development 96 .9 Tropical Forest Conservation Act U .S . Department of Treasury 20 Office of International Programs U .S . Forest Service 6 .88 TOTAL 123.78

* This list is not necessarily comprehensive

forestry work – 84 percent – met the requirements of the Congressional biodiversity earmark. The relatively high levels of funding observed in recent years are largely due to an increase in USAID support for biodiversity activities in forests, including community and indigenous forest management in the Amazon basin, combating illegal logging in Southeast Asia, landscape planning and protected areas in the Congo Basin and Madagascar, sustainable forestry certification in Central America, and reforestation and agroforestry in West Africa and Central Asia.

The need for forestry investments will remain high into the future, as forests once valued only for firewood or lumber are increasingly recognized for their full suite of ecosystem services, important to economic and social development. From storing and cleaning water for communities downstream, to conserving globally important biodiversity including locally important medicinal plants and game, to their potential to sequester carbon and adapt to climate change, forests are an essential aspect of USAID’s portfolio in many countries. Elephants in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tanzania.

Photo: Mike Colby, USAID

USAID’S BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY PROGRAMS, FY 2007 101 Biodiversity Budget Basin, including grants from the Great The largest proportion of Agency Ape Conservation Fund administered biodiversity funds went to Latin Analysis of FY 2007 under a USAID agreement with the America and the Caribbean (LAC), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. with over $60 million distributed USAID provided more financial in FY 2007. About half of these support to biodiversity conservation Over $40 million (22 percent) of funds supported regional and activities in FY 2007 than in any biodiversity conservation funding bilateral programs in the Amazon previous year. Central, regional and was programmed for Asia by country nations of Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, bilateral programs provided $183.7 and regional programs. This is over Ecuador and Peru. The LAC Bureau million for work in Latin America $14 million more than in FY 2006, also made large investments in and the Caribbean, Africa, and accounting for most of the increase terrestrial and marine Caribbean Asia, of which $176.2 million were in overall biodiversity funds. USAID conservation initiatives. Development Assistance (DA) funds. supported priority activities to address wildlife trafficking, illegal logging, There has been a decline in USAID Centrally funded programs supported coral reef protection and recovery, biodiversity activities in Europe and more than $23 million in biodiversity and conservation of endangered the Middle East over the past few activities, about 13 percent of USAID species like the snow leopard and years, with no funding obligated expenditures overall. Central programs orangutan. Indonesia and the in FY 2006 or FY 2007 in these test innovative approaches, and Philippines, both global hotspots regions. Reduced investment is collect and disseminate best practices for conservation, account for over consistent with rising incomes in conservation. They also support one-third of DA expenditures for in countries such as Egypt and activities which address a certain biodiversity conservation in Asia, Jordan, which had biodiversity theme (reducing conflict, enhancing and Afghanistan accounted for programs through FY 2005. conservation-health linkages), over a quarter of expenditures. promote a certain approach (such as landscape-level conservation, or payments for ecosystem services), Figure 3. USAID Funding for Biodiversity by Region in FY 2007* and/or operate on a global level, even in USAID non-presence countries (such as the Global Conservation Centrally Funded Program) due to the regional or $23,334,759 transboundary nature of biodiversity. Africa $59,088,588 The Africa Bureau provided $59 million for biodiversity conservation through four regional programs, 14 country programs and support Latin America & from headquarters. Representing 32 the Caribbean percent of the Agency budget, these $60,669,564 funds financed a number of initiatives including community conservation, Asia ecotourism, and sustainable forestry. $40,609,377 Almost one-third of these funds supported biodiversity conservation and forest management in the Congo * Amounts shown here are from all accounts (DA, ACI, CSH, and ESF)

102 USAID BIODIVERSITY AND FORESTRY FUNDING OVERVIEW Budget Trends than $60 million annually, at times using various biodiversity criteria, exceeding $90 million. Since 1997, including species richness, threat level, USAID has supported biodiversity USAID support for biodiversity and habitat intactness. This strategy conservation activities for more programs has steadily increased with and a strict biodiversity definition than three decades, even before new Congressional directives. ensure that all biodiversity-earmarked the term ‘biodiversity’ was coined. funds support well-designed activities During the early 1970s there was In FY 2004, Congress created a in high-priority locations. In FY 2005 a focus on conserving natural biodiversity earmark of $155 million and FY 2006, the Agency did not forests, primarily through Mission in DA funds. That earmark increased reach the earmark of $165.5 million, funds. In 1986, Sections 118 and to $165.5 million for FY 2005 but in FY 2007 the earmark amount 119 were amended to the Foreign through FY 2007, or $163.8 million was exceeded by over $10 million, Assistance Act, which placed a greater after a rescission for other USG with $176.2 million in DA funds and emphasis on endangered species priorities. The earmark is increasing $183.7 million from all accounts. conservation and tropical forests in by almost $30 million in FY 2008 to U.S. foreign assistance. The FY 1986 $195 million ($193.4 million after In FY 2007, almost 20 percent of the Appropriations Act also incorporated rescission). Since FY 2005, the Agency biodiversity earmark was invested in a $1 million directive for biodiversity has engaged in an annual strategic five ‘megadiverse’ countries: Brazil, conservation. This broadened the budgeting process intended to align Ecuador, Indonesia, Madagascar and scope of the Agency’s biodiversity biodiversity funding with global the Philippines. Three large regional work, and began a long-term trend priorities for biodiversity conservation. programs – Congo Basin Forest of increased USAID investment in The allocation of the biodiversity Partnership / Central African Regional conservation activities. By the 1990s, earmark is based on a participatory Program for the Environment (CBFP/ USAID investments in biodiversity process that ranks countries on a scale CARPE), Regional Development conservation expanded to more from one (highest) to four (lowest) Mission for Asia (RDMA), and

Figure 4. USAID Funding of Biodiversity Activities, 1987 to 2007*

200 All accounts 180 DA funding Non-DA funding 160

140

120

100

80 US$ millions

60

40

20

0 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 Fiscal Year

* All funding accounts displayed . Disaggregated figures for DA and non-DA funding are only available from FY 2001 onward

USAID’S BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY PROGRAMS, FY 2007 103 Table 3. USAID Funding for Biodiversity Programs and Activities, FY 2007

Program Name Program Description FY 2007 Type of Biodiversity Funds* Funding in US$ CENTRALLY FUNDED BIODIVERSITY PROGRAMS EGAT Bureau NRM - Biodiversity Global Biodiversity Conservation 5,033,213 DA Team NRM - Forestry Team Sustainable Forest Management 4,177,214 DA NRM - Water Team Conservation of Coastal and Freshwater Resources 2,461,380 DA NRM - Land Resources Improving Land Management Policy and Practice 3,396,572 DA Mgmt Team Agriculture Office Collaborative Research Support Programs 879,603 DA Environment and Support for Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) and Global Climate 4,650,000 DA Science Policy Office Change activities Other Central Bureaus Democracy, Conflict, Conflict and Environment activities of the Conflict Management and Mitigation Office 20,000 DA and Humanitarian Conflict and Environment activities of the Conflict Management and Mitigation Office 799,777 ESF Assistance Bureau Global Health Bureau Population, Health and Environment Program 1,917,000 CSH Centrally Funded Biodiversity Programs Total $23,334,759 Centrally Funded Biodiversity Programs Total DA $20,617,982 AFRICA Africa Regional Office of Sustainable Development support for biodiversity assessments, technical support to Missions 4,158,000 DA by the USDA Forest Service, and funding for the Great Ape Conservation Fund administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Congo Basin Forest Landscape-level Conservation and Forest Management in Central Africa 16,000,000 DA Partnership / Central African Regional Program for the Environment East Africa Regional Water for Biodiversity in the Mara River Basin 700,000 DA Southern Africa Biodiversity Conservation through Improved River Basin Management 1,728,000 DA Regional West Africa Regional Natural Resource Management Without Borders 900,000 DA Ethiopia Food Security, Forestry and Ecotourism Programs 1,000,000 DA Guinea Landscape Management for Improved Livelihoods 1,000,000 DA Kenya Community Conservation to Carbon Markets 3,490,000 DA Community Conservation to Carbon Markets 141,000 ESF Liberia Commercial Forestry, Community Empowerment and Conservation 4,327,500 DA Madagascar Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Management of Forests 6,926,088 DA Malawi Natural Resources Management and Biodiversity Conservation 1,320,000 DA Mozambique Conservation through Public-Private Partnerships 2,400,000 DA Namibia Improved Rural Livelihoods through Natural Resources Management 1,622,000 DA Nigeria Conserving Forests by Improving Farming 100,000 DA Rwanda Profitable Ecotourism through Improved Biodiversity Conservation 1,795,000 DA Senegal Community forestry, International Markets and Local Benefits 1,000,000 DA Sudan Capacity Building and Landscape-Level Conservation 899,000 DA Tanzania Targeted Landscape Conservation through a Livelihoods Approach 4,082,000 DA Uganda Reduced Env’tal Degradation and Critical Ecosystems Conserved 5,500,000 DA Africa Total $59,088,588 Africa Total DA $58,947,588

104 USAID BIODIVERSITY AND FORESTRY FUNDING OVERVIEW Table 3. USAID Funding for Biodiversity Programs and Activities, FY 2007 continued

Program Name Program Description FY 2007 Type of Biodiversity Funds* Funding in US$ ASIA ANE Regional Support for Emerging Conservation Needs 1,500,000 DA Regional Development Wildlife Law Enforcement and Improved Forest Management 3,548,000 DA Mission for Asia Wildlife Law Enforcement and Improved Forest Management 185,000 ESF Afghanistan Woodlands Restoration and Conservation of Key Areas 11,000,000 DA Bangladesh Co-management of Wetlands and Tropical Forests 2,557,174 DA Cambodia Grassroots Advocacy and Controlling Wildlife Trade 2,665,203 DA Indonesia Natural Resource Management and Orangutan Conservation 8,813,000 DA Nepal Strengthened Community Natural Resources Governance 2,600,000 DA Philippines Local Conservation Succeeds with Improved Governance, Land Tenure 7,329,000 DA Local Conservation Succeeds with Improved Governance, Land Tenure 412,000 ESF Asia and the Near East Total $40,609,377 Asia and the Near East Total DA $40,012,377 LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN LAC Regional Parks in Peril; Initiative for Conservation in the Andean Amazon; environmental compliance assistance to 10,030,000 DA Dominican Republic – Central America – United States Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) signatories CAFTA-DR compliance funds distributed by Department of State 1,500,000 DA Caribbean Regional National Investments and Natural Assets Protection 3,270,000 DA Central America & Watershed Conservation, Sustainable Fisheries and Compliance with the Convention on International 2,220,000 DA Mexico Regional Trade in Endangered Species of Flora and Fauna (CITES) Environmental compliance assistance to CAFTA-DR signatories 550,000 DA Bolivia Landscape Conservation Program and Sustainable Forestry 5,695,206 DA Brazil Sustainable Forest Management and Protected Areas Development 5,355,000 DA Colombia Stronger National Parks and Sustainable Development 2,000,000 ACI Dominican Republic Increased Institutional Capacity for Environmental Protection 904,000 DA Ecuador Conservation of Indigenous Land and Rights 6,144,000 DA El Salvador Improved Management and Conservation of Critical Watersheds 1,419,000 DA Guatemala Certification of Forestry and Tourism Enterprises 1,682,000 DA CAFTA-DR funds for environmental compliance assistance 150,000 DA Guyana Sustainable Tourism and Forest Products Marketing 200,000 DA Honduras Integrated Watershed Resources Management 2,514,000 DA CAFTA-DR funds for environmental compliance assistance 275,000 DA Jamaica Natural Assets managed for rural development and sustainable growth 1,684,826 DA Mexico Sustainable Development and Capacity Building for Conservation 3,424,532 DA Nicaragua Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Forest Certification 1,030,000 DA Panama Conservation of biodiversity in the Canal Zone 3,180,000 DA Paraguay Environmental Policy Development and Law Enforcement Support 630,000 DA Peru Forestry Sector Reform and Incentives for Conservation 4,762,000 DA Forestry Sector Reform and Incentives for Conservation 2,000,000 ACI Latin America and the Caribbean Total $60,619,564 Latin America and the Caribbean Total DA $56,619,564 TOTALS TOTAL BIODIVERSITY FUNDING IN FY 2007 $183,652,288 TOTAL BIODIVERSITY FUNDING IN FY 2007 (DA funds only) $176,197,511

* Development Assistance (DA), Economic Support Fund (ESF), Andean Counterdrug Initiative (ACI), Child Survival and Health (CSH)

USAID’S BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY PROGRAMS, FY 2007 105 Table 4. U.S. Government International Biodiversity Funding, FY 2007*

Program or Funding Type USG Department or Agency FY 2007 Funding for Biodiversity Conservation (US$ millions) Biodiversity Conservation Activities U .S . Agency for International Development 183 .7 Global Environment Facility U .S . Department of Treasury 80 Tropical Forest Conservation Act U .S . Department of Treasury 20 International Affairs Division U .S . Fish and Wildlife Service 10 Office of International Programs U .S . Forest Service 6 .88 Multinational Species Conservation Funds U .S . Fish and Wildlife Service 6 .4 International Conservation Programs U .S . Department of State 6 .35 Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act U .S . Fish and Wildlife Service 3 .94 International Program U .S . National Park Service 0 .85 TOTAL 318.12 * This list is not necessarily comprehensive

Latin America and the Caribbean issues, and non-DA funds), reveals Twenty countries are ranked as Regional Sustainable Development that countries which rank high for having tertiary importance, and 60 (LAC/RSD) program – managed biodiversity importance were more percent of these received support for activities accounting for another likely to receive funding and to biodiversity activities, comprising 17 percent, investing much of their have relatively more funds allocated 29 percent of bilateral biodiversity funds into the highest priority than lower-ranked countries. funds. Of the remaining 113 countries countries, from terrestrial areas in ranked lowest priority for biodiversity, the Democratic Republic of Congo Eight of the world’s ten highest ranked many have endangered species and and Peru to the undersea biodiversity countries and seven of the ten second- places, and important opportunities of Indonesia and the Philippines. highest ranked countries were allocated to improve habitats and management biodiversity funding in FY 2007. These practices to the benefit of wildlife and An analysis of the distribution of first- and second-ranked countries people. Five percent of biodiversity biodiversity earmark DA funds account for two-thirds of biodiversity funding supported activities in to country programs in FY 2007 funding allocated to bilateral missions. these lower priority countries. (excluding regional and central Of the two “megadiverse” countries programs, development assistance which were not funded, Russia appropriated to address Dominican does not receive DA funds, and the Republic – Central America – Democratic Republic of Congo United States Free Trade Agreement hosts CARPE, USAID’s largest (CAFTA-DR) environmental regional environmental initiative.

106 USAID BIODIVERSITY AND FORESTRY FUNDING OVERVIEW ANNEX I . Definitions

Key Issues

The most important definitions related to this report are those which determine if a program or activity meets the USAID definitions for Biodiversity or Tropical Forests, according to Agency Operational Plan and Performance Reporting Guidance:

Biodiversity Key Issue This Key Issue cuts across Functional Objectives and meets a Congressional Earmark. Activities have biodiversity conservation as an explicit objective in natural and managed terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. In addition, activities are identified through an analysis of the threats to biodiversity and have associated indicators for biodiversity conservation. Activities may be site-based or not site specific, such as policy level initiatives. Any site-based work is implemented in biologically significant areas.Ex situ conservation of wild species, and their germplasm, may also be included when explicitly linked to biodiversity conservation.

Tropical Forests Key Issue* This Key Issue provides input to an annual reporting requirement to Congress. Activities aimed at the conservation and sustainable management of forests growing in tropical regions as well as the use of trees in tropical production systems which increase forest cover and improve soil and water functions or other ecosystem services, while contributing to economic growth. Activities include research, analysis, and capacity building to improve planning, protection, and management of natural forests and related benefits including timber, non-timber forest products, wildlife and ecosystems services such as carbon sequestration; rehabilitation of degraded or deforested lands through reforestation or aforestation; establishment of woodlots and agroforestry systems which reduce pressure on forests though alternative livelihoods; and interventions related to processing, trade and markets that have a positive impact on forests. Targeted sites may range from small scale management units to larger scale trans-boundary watersheds and landscapes.

* non-tropical forestry is described in this report for the countries of Afghanistan and Nepal. Activities meet the Tropical Forests definition except for taking place in tropical regions.

USAID’S BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY PROGRAMS, FY 2007 107 Glossary of Terms

Agro-ecosystem A mix of cultivated and uncultivated land (including natural habitat) that functions together as an ecosystem.

Agroforestry Forestry that combines agriculture and forestry technologies to create more integrated, diverse, productive, profitable, healthy, and sustainable land use systems.

Aquaculture The cultivation of aquatic plants or marine or freshwater food fish or shellfish, such as oysters, clams, salmon, and trout, under controlled conditions.

Biodiversity Short for “biological diversity,” it is the variety and variability of life, including the diversity of genes within species, the diversity of species, the diversity of communities and ecosystems, and the diversity of ecological processes.

Buffer zone An area adjacent to a protected area on which land use is partially restricted. This gives an added layer of protection to the protected area while providing benefits to neighboring rural communities.

Carbon sink An area that absorbs more carbon than it releases. Carbon sinks can be found in forests, soils, and the oceans. Carbon sinks help regulate climate by reducing the release of CO2, a potent greenhouse gas, into the atmosphere. The process or service of absorbing carbon is known as carbon sequestration.

Certification An independent, third-party assurance that a forest or forestry/agroforestry operation meets the responsibility standards set by a certification program. Companies apply voluntarily, and the government plays no direct role in the certification process. Timber from forests and forestry operations certified as ‘sustainable’ can command a higher price in the marketplace. Coffee or chocolate from a certified agroforestry operation can be sold for more money because it meets social (eg. “fair trade” chocolate) and/or environmental (eg. “organic” or “shade grown” coffee) responsibility standards important to consumers.

Community-based natural resource management A management and governance structure in which the communities that use or benefit from a resource are directly involved in its management. CBNRM activities may include sustainable resource exploitation, support for small enterprises which rely on the resource (eg. tourism or crafts), enforcement, and benefits sharing.

Conflict timber Timber resources that finance or sustain conflict; alternatively, timber resources that lead to conflict between competing groups or communities.

Ecosystem A dynamic system of interactions among all of the species inhabiting an area and the non-living, physical environment. Ecosystems vary spatially and change with time, and no ecosystem is closed with respect to exchanges of organisms, matter, and energy. Priority areas or sites for conservation exist within ecosystems.

108 ANNEX I . Definitions Ecotourism Responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people.

Endemic species A species that is native to only one geographic area of the world.

Environmental service An ecological process from which humans benefit, also known as anecosystem service. For instance, forests provide several key environmental services such as providing clean water and regulating climate. Financial incentives to conserve the natural resource base required by ecological processes are collectively known as Payments for Ecosystem (Environmental) Services or PES.

Forest concession The award of forest harvesting rights to individuals, private companies and/or communities. In practice, the geographic area in which forest exploitation rights are granted to a concessionaire for a certain period of time.

Land tenure and property rights Land tenure is historically the right to hold and use land on behalf of the State (or the Crown), but today effectively means ownership and is frequently preceded by the word secure. Secure land tenure is ownership with formal title, and protection from taking by the State or other entity without due process and just compensation. Property rights in the natural resources context are assurances that an owner can use or transfer use of trees, fish, wildlife, water or other resources as they see fit, within the bounds of the law and without causing undue hardship on others.

Landscape scale conservation A conservation approach in which activities are planned and managed for an entire ecosystem, watershed or other natural unit based on biodiversity priorities and ecological, social and political factors. Landscape scale conservation emphasizes threat assessment and planning across many development sectors.

Mariculture The cultivation of marine organisms in their natural habitats, usually for commercial purposes.

Microenterprise A small-scale business, often owner-operated with few employees.

Nature, Wealth and Power An approach or framework for achieving successful natural resource management, developed over many years by USAID and partners and formally articulated in a report in 2002. The “Nature, Wealth and Power” approach involves an explicit consideration of the environment, economic flows and governance structures when planning or assessing a natural resource management program.

Non-timber forest product Any organic material other than timber that is extracted from forests for human use.

Protected area An area of land and/or sea dedicated to the protection and maintenance of biological diversity, and of natural and associated cultural resources, and that is managed through legal or other effective means (IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas).

USAID’S BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY PROGRAMS, FY 2007 109 Reduced Impact Logging (RIL) A method of harvesting trees with minimal residual damage and degradation of a forest site, which is achieved through the careful planning and design of the pre-harvest, harvest, and post-harvest stages of timber production.

Smallholder A person owning or renting a piece of land under 50 acres that is used for cultivation.

Sustainable development Development that “meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” (World Commission on Environment and Development). Sustainable development activities are carried out such that natural resources are not depleted and therefore are available for future use.

Sustainable forest management Management regimes applied to forestland that maintain the productive and renewal capacities as well as the genetic, species, and ecological diversity of forest ecosystems (USDA Forest Service).

110 ANNEX I . Definitions

U.S. Agency for International Development 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20523 Tel: (202) 712-0000 Fax: (202) 216-3524 www.usaid.gov