Message from the Administrator

I am pleased to share with you USAID’s new Biodiversity Policy, which builds on our Agency’s long history of conserving a global biological heritage for future generations and reflects our recognition of the essential role that healthy natural systems play in advancing resilient societies and ending extreme poverty. This Policy provides a blueprint for how we will work to achieve our vision of conserving biodiversity for sustainable long-term development.

Today, at least 1.6 billion people worldwide rely on forests for some part of their livelihood, and about 2.6 billion people in developing countries depend on fish for protein and income. The poor management of both forests and fisheries means that these precious resources will not meet human demand over the long term – compromising global food security and straining the resilience of these systems and society. Unbridled exploitation is also leading to unprecedented rates of species extinction.

These trends threaten the ability of families to lift themselves out of extreme poverty and communities to protect against economic or environmental shocks. With this new Policy, we are harnessing the power of innovation and proven approaches to effectively protect and manage the environment that supports us – the fertile farms, water basins, and clean air that will sustain our growth and spur our prosperity for generations to come. The Biodiversity Policy represents our recommitment to conserve some of the world’s most cherished resources, including swift action to stamp out global wildlife trafficking. It also emphasizes a new focus on integrating biodiversity into our broader mission, through evidence-based approaches and high-impact  partnerships that will deliver meaningful results.

The development of this Policy was analysis based and participatory through several rounds of review that culminated in a public consultation period. The Policy has benefited greatly from this level of expert engagement, consultation, and transparency, and we are proud to be heeding President Obama’s call for open government. We consider the stewardship of nature a critical
and effective strategy for achieving equitable and sustainable development results. With this Policy, USAID is well positioned to chart a development path that nourishes, rather than depletes, natural capital. Achieving this vision will require creativity
to address our world’s most pressing conservation problems; it will require us to act decisively in the face of uncertainty and work across traditional divides to create new pathways to sustainability.

Rajiv J. Shah
Administrator

Readmore: http://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1865/USAID%20Biodiversity%20Policy.pdf