The US Foundation for Natural Security and Counterterrorism
For decades, the US government has played a leading role in global conservation to protect the world’s most important ecosystems and safeguard natural resources.
© James Morgan / WWF-US
The US Foundation for Natural Security and Counterterrorism is designed to build on this legacy of leadership. What’s more, every federal dollar it spends toward protecting nature will count triple, by leveraging additional dollars from private and philanthropic sources at a 2-to-1 match.
The congressionally chartered foundation, formerly known as the US Foundation for International Conservation, was enacted into law in 2024 with WWF support. Through public-private partnerships, it will help maximize the return on US government investments as we work to halt nature loss around the world.
© L-N / Shutterstock
© Copyright 2017 David Frey
Why is protecting nature around the world important for the US?
When we protect nature, we protect ourselves. The food we eat, the water we drink, and the air we breathe all depend on the health of ecosystems at home and across the globe.
The world is less safe when food and water scarcities spark conflict and when criminals profit from stealing wildlife, fish, and timber. Failure to protect these natural resources and the systems that sustain them threatens America’s economic and national security interests around the world.
The US therefore has a clear interest in promoting conservation in developing countries, which are home to some of the world’s most vibrant ecosystems like the Amazon, the Congo Basin, and the Coral Triangle.
Ensuring the sound management of protected and conserved areas in these places doesn’t just protect natural resources we all rely upon, like wood, rubber, fish, and more. It protects local livelihoods, national economies, and the reliability of complex global supply chains—including those involving US companies.
Why is the Foundation needed?
Halting the loss of species and critical habitats worldwide will require collective ramped-up commitments from governments, civil society, and the private sector.
The US Foundation for Natural Security and Counterterrorism will leverage federal investments to bring significant additional funding to the table for long-term environmental conservation. Every federal dollar invested by the US Foundation for Natural Security and Counterterrorism will need to be matched by two more in private sector or philanthropic funding. This unique approach promotes conservation built to last and helps make federal investments go further.