The United States provides foreign assistance to address international conservation in the form of financial, programmatic, and technical support. International conservation activities include protecting biodiversity, restoring habitat, supporting the management of protected areas, and promoting community conservation, among others. Several federal agencies administer these programs, including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), the U.S. Forest Service, the Department of the Treasury, and the Department of State, among others.
Table 1 lists selected U.S. international programs that address conservation and their enacted funding levels for FY2022-FY2025, as well as the FY2026 Administration's request. The funding in Table 1 is for specific programs, financial commitments to international treaties or organizations, and line items in appropriations laws or committee reports that identify funding for a set of activities. This list is not exhaustive; other programs where conservation may be a secondary objective may not be listed. Further, Table 1 does not include funding provided outside of regular discretionary appropriations (e.g., supplemental appropriations).
Information on FY2025 enacted and FY2026 requested funding levels is limited for some programs. P.L. 119-4, the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025, provided funding levels for accounts but generally did not specify amounts for line items and programs within appropriations accounts. Further, Congress did not release explanatory language to accompany the law. In some cases, FY2026 budget request documents do not clarify the status or requested funding levels of certain programs. Further, the status of programs administered by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is uncertain because of the current Administration's policy to reduce USAID's role in providing foreign assistance and/or to transfer some of the functions currently assigned to USAID to the Department of State or other agencies. Further, the appropriations reported in Table 1 do not reflect any potential rescission and reallocation of funding or dissolution of programs.
Table 1. Enacted Appropriations from FY2022 to FY2025 and the FY2026 Budget Request for Selected Federal Programs That Address International Conservation
(nominal, $ in millions)
|
Program |
Description |
FY2022 |
FY2023 |
FY2024 |
FY2025 |
FY2026 Request |
|
U.S. Foundation for International Conservation |
The foundation is authorized under P.L. 118-159. It aims to provide grants to conserve managed and protected areas in eligible foreign countries. |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
$100.0a |
$0.0 |
$0.0 |
|
Department of State (State)/U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) International Biodiversity Programs |
These programs fund conservation activities in foreign countries to maintain biodiversity and environmental services. |
Not less than $385.0 |
Not less than $385.0 |
Not less than $365.8 |
Not less than $365.8 |
n/a |
|
State/USAID Sustainable Landscapes Program (also known as Natural Climate Solutions) |
This program aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation and forest degradation. |
$185.0 |
$185.0 |
Not less than $175.8 |
Not less than $175.8 |
$0.0 |
|
State International Wildlife Poaching and Trafficking Programs |
These programs fund activities to reduce wildlife trafficking. A portion of funds is for in-country programs in Africa and Asia; another portion is for the International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement Program (INL). |
$175.0 ($50.0 for INL and not less than $125.0 for other accounts) |
$175.0 ($50.0 for INL and not less than $125.0 for other accounts) |
Not less than $118.8 |
Not less than $118.8 |
n/a |
|
State International Conservation Programs |
Funding for these programs supports commitments under international treaties that address conservation, including the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). |
$9.0 |
$9.0 |
$8.6 |
n/a |
$0.0 |
|
UN Environmental Programs |
Funding goes toward the UN Environmental Program and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, among other organizations. |
$10.2 |
$10.2 |
$9.7 |
$0.0 |
$0.0 |
|
Department of the Treasury (Treasury) Global Environment Facility |
Global Environment Facility is a multilateral environmental trust fund that supports projects related to biodiversity, climate change, international waters, the ozone layer, land degradation, and persistent organic pollutants. |
$149.3 |
$150.2 |
$150.2 |
$150.2 |
$0.0 |
|
Treasury Tropical Forest and Coral Reef Conservation |
This program funds "debt-for-nature" transactions, in which a portion of a developing country's debt is exchanged for funds to conserve tropical forests and coral reefs. |
$15.0 |
$20.0 |
$15.0 |
$15.0 |
$0.0 |
|
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) Multinational Species Conservation Fund (MSCF) |
The MSCF issues grants to conserve certain species, including African and Asian elephants, rhinoceroses, tigers, great apes, tortoises, freshwater turtles, and marine turtles. |
$20.0 |
$21.0 |
$20.5 |
$20.5 |
$0.0 |
|
FWS Neotropical Migratory Bird Fund |
This fund provides grants for the conservation of bird species that migrate among North and South America and the Caribbean. |
$5.0 |
$5.1 |
$5.0 |
$5.0 |
$0.0 |
|
FWS International Affairs Program |
This program addresses the implementation of U.S. wildlife laws and two sub-programs listed below. |
$25.4 |
$29.1 |
$28.6 |
$28.6 |
n/a |
|
FWS International Conservation Subprogram |
This program provides financial assistance to conserve high-priority species and habitats. |
$9.9 |
$10.1 |
$9.9 |
$9.9 |
n/a |
|
FWS International Wildlife Trade Subprogram |
This program implements CITES and various U.S. laws to ensure the international wildlife trade is not harmful to species. |
$15.5 |
$19.0 |
$18.7 |
$18.7 |
n/a |
|
U.S. Forest Service International Program |
This program promotes sustainable forest management internationally, which includes managing protected areas and engaging in landscape-level forest planning. |
$17.0 |
$20.0 |
$19.0 |
$10.5 |
$0.0 |
Source: Congressional Research Service from FY2022-FY2025 annual appropriations laws and committee reports for Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies and for State and Foreign Operations and Related Agencies; P.L. 119-4; and congressional budget request documents for the Departments of the Interior and State for FY2025 and FY2026.
Notes: Italics = subset of a program. n/a = not available.
a. The U.S. International Conservation Foundation was authorized $1.0 million for FY2025 and not more than $100.0 million for each of FY2026 through FY2034. The explanatory statement accompanying Division F, Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2024 (P.L. 118-47), specified that "$100,000,000 shall be made available to support new public-private partnership foundations for conservation and food security if legislation establishing such foundations is enacted into law by December 31, 2024." As the foundation was established before this deadline, $100.0 million could be available under FY2024 appropriations law until September 30, 2025.
Julia Manyin, CRS intern, coauthored this Insight.