policy

The US Foundation for International Conservation Act

A group of women cross a river in the forest on their way to work in Bardia, Nepal

UPDATE: December 2024

President Biden signed the US Foundation for International Conservation Act into law as part of the annual National Defense Authorization Act.

Thanks in part to the advocacy of WWF and other environmental organizations, this new congressionally chartered foundation will make every federal dollar toward protecting nature count double with additional investments from private and philanthropic sources.

Read WWF’s statement to learn more about how the US Foundation for International Conservation will provide another tool in the toolbox as we work to halt the loss of nature around the world.

Nature is under increasing threat. We need to mobilize significant new resources to stop the alarming scale of species and habitat loss.

The US government plays a leading role in global conservation. WWF has been a strong and consistent advocate for increased funding to support international conservation programs at agencies such as USAID. To meet the extraordinary challenges facing the natural world, we must find innovative ways to bring additional resources to these efforts. That's why WWF supported the US Foundation for International Conservation Act.

Under this new law, which was championed by Sens. Chris Coons (D-DE) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) as well as Reps. Michael McCaul (R-TX), Dave Joyce (R-OH), and Gregory Meeks (D-NY), a congressionally chartered foundation will be created to leverage US government funds to draw additional investments from private and philanthropic donors for conservation efforts in developing countries — including those led by Indigenous Peoples and local communities. Every federal dollar invested by the proposed US Foundation for International Conservation will need to be matched by two more in private sector funding.

73% decline in wildlife species

The average decline in wildlife species populations since 1970, according to WWF’s most recent Living Planet Report.
$100 million per year

The US government funding authorized by the bill for conservation projects around the world.
2:1 match

Every $1 of federal funds would be matched with $2 of private funds for approved projects.

How can this new US Foundation for International Conservation help?

Halting the loss of species and critical habitats will require ramped-up commitments from governments, civil society and the private sector. The US Foundation for International Conservation will leverage US government dollars to bring significant additional funding to the table, directing it towards long-term environmental conservation in the developing world. These added resources can complement the ongoing conservation work of USAID and other federal agencies, ensuring the conditions are in place for success and projects are built to last.

There’s also a national security imperative for the US to promote regional stability in developing countries, which are home to some of the world’s most diverse ecosystems and often heavily reliant on their natural resources for their prosperity and economic growth. By ensuring the effective management of protected and conserved areas in these places, the US is not only safeguarding nature and the livelihoods of local communities. It is also promoting regional food and water security and ensuring sustainable supply chains for US companies.

Effective conservation investments can help advance the US government’s strategic priorities and prevent the rise of instability and future conflicts. After all, natural security is national security.

Would the grants from the Foundation last for a long time?

The US Foundation for International Conservation will emphasize projects that are built to last.

Eligible projects will need to demonstrate a focus on supporting transparent and effective long-term management of protected or conserved areas over at least 10 years.

This is in line with sustainable, long-term funding mechanisms championed by WWF, such as the Project Finance for Permanence (PFP) approach that has financed the protection of over 100 million hectares of landscapes and seascapes in countries such as Bhutan, Brazil, Colombia and Peru.

Under PFP initiatives led by WWF, national governments work with local communities, nonprofits, financial institutions, foundations, and individual donors to develop a multi-year plan to manage their protected areas. PFPs secure important policy changes and the funding needed from all sources to meet conservation goals over a defined timeframe of usually a decade or more.

How would project eligibility requirements ensure that conservation efforts benefit local communities?

The US Foundation for International Conservation Act is aligned with WWF's support for inclusive and community-led conservation.

Projects funded by the Foundation grants will need to demonstrate robust local community engagement, including inclusive governance, free, prior, and informed consent and established grievance mechanisms where appropriate.

Approved projects will also be subject to key performance indicators, including the protection of biological diversity and community-based economic growth measures, such as improved land tenure and sufficient income from conservation activities directed to local communities.

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