100 conservation projects seek new funders after USAID's closure
Dismantling the U.S. aid agency removed nearly $1 billion from global conservation and environment funding, stalling wildlife patrols and forest monitoring.
The shutdown of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has stalled or collapsed conservation projects from Kenya to Bangladesh, and 100 former USAID-backed projects are now searching for new funders, according to a new analysis.
President Donald Trump's dismantling of the agency removed nearly $1 billion from global conservation and environment funding. In fiscal year 2024, USAID spent $366 million on biodiversity conservation and $257 million on climate adaptation.
The report, by consultancy One Earth Partners, draws on interviews and surveys with 150 people familiar with the agency's work in Bangladesh, Peru, Kenya, Colombia and Vietnam. USAID had trained officials in Colombia and Peru to track Amazon deforestation by satellite and supported anti-poaching work in Mozambique's Gorongosa National Park.
Kenya was hit especially hard. Daniel Sopia, who heads the Maasai Mara Wildlife Conservancies Association, said his group lost a five-year, $6.5 million grant, laid off 10 staff members and cut its budget by 72%.
Some organizations have replaced the money through other governments or private donors.
This brief is based on reporting by Rhett Ayers Butler, published Oct. 6, 2026, in Mongabay, drawing on reporting by Ashoka Mukpo. Read the original: https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/10/100-conservation-projects-are-looking-for-funding-after-usaids-closure/
This article was produced with the assistance of AI tools and reviewed by an editor before publication.
