Preserving Tropical Forests
USAID Helps Developing Countries Protect Land
USAID fights for people's land rights and help reduce environmental damage in developing countries. Their environmental programs protect the earth's biodiversity.
Tropical forests are essential for human survival and yet we continue to destroy them. They give us food, water and many plants are used in medicine. Since plants store carbon, they help keep our air clean and regulate the climate.
Forests also provide habitats for wildlife and contribute to our water supply. Destroying our forests then contributes to pollution and climate change, pushing both people and animals out of their homes.
Logging and Conflict
Logging tends to increase along with conflict so USAID works to support programs around the world that assist people who are in conflict. Many of them make a living off natural resources because trees are quick and easy to harvest. Militias, rebel groups and governments use logging to finance war.
Timber that is harvested to pay for war is often called “conflict timber”. Exploiting and destroying forests takes its toll and although some is converted to agriculture, wildlife, people and biodiversity suffers to such an extent that animals go extinct.
- Indigenous groups continue to fight for their rights for traditional land territories worldwide. They have been intimidated with violence and/or their land becomes so polluted and destroyed that they have no choice but to move or become destroyed themselves.
Cambodia
The war in Cambodia is an example of land rights being ignored because timber was used to finance the conflict. According to a USAIDS report on biodiversity conservation and forestry programs, in the last decade 1.7 million of Cambodia’s people who were dependent on the forest are suffering in poverty because of war and their land being exploited and destroyed.
In FY 2005 USAID helped raise awareness bringing communities together, to resolve conflicts and conserve land that was left in Cambodia. This particular project helped save over one million hectares of land where endangered animals also live.
A successful project in Tanzania that led to biodiversity:
In Tanzania over 25,000 women were introduced to jobs such as seaweed farming and beekeeping. Seaweed is used for food, fertilizers, health supplements and beauty treatments. Farming seaweed helps reduce the pressure off fish farming. With USAID’s support 1.86 million dollars was generated in Tanzania with these ventures in FY 2005.
- USAID supports many other programs and people that reduce conflict and environmental degradation in developing countries. With their help, more can regain their land rights reducing conflicts before they start. Protecting our earth's biodiversity is in everyone's best interest.
International publicity also helps because with more people aware of their plights, the less likely companies and governments will continue poor practices. Since USAID supports both sustainable and economically viable agriculture, farmers are also more likely to get ahead.
For more information on USAIDS environmental programs see U.S. Agency for International Development .
Source: USAID’s Biodiversity Conservation and Forestry Programs Report, FY 2005
