Conservation Funding Vanished After USAID Dismantlement
The removal of nearly $1 billion in global environmental support has left 100 vital conservation projects seeking new funding.
Updated on Oct. 6, 2026 in Environmental
Live Poll
Should the government prioritize stable, long-term funding for international environmental conservation programs?
The February 2025 dismantlement of USAID triggered a collapse in global environmental funding, removing nearly $1 billion that previously supported diverse conservation initiatives. One Earth Partners released a report identifying 100 stalled projects that are now urgently seeking new financial backers to continue their operations.
Why it matters
The loss of this agency funding has caused immediate operational failures at conservation sites worldwide, threatening biodiversity and climate adaptation efforts. Organizations that relied on this capital are now facing severe staffing layoffs and significant budget reductions.
One Earth Partners compiled data from surveys involving 150 participants. This follows 2024 spending of $366 million on biodiversity and $257 million on climate adaptation.
The players
One Earth Partners
This research organization specializes in documenting the outcomes of global conservation initiatives and project funding.
Maasai Mara Wildlife Conservancies Association
This Kenyan organization coordinates land management and wildlife protection efforts across the Maasai Mara ecosystem.
USAID
This former United States agency was responsible for administering civilian foreign aid and global development assistance.
Gorongosa National Park
Located in Mozambique, this park is a major site for biodiversity preservation and anti-poaching law enforcement.
The details
The Maasai Mara Wildlife Conservancies Association serves as a primary example of these impacts, having lost a $6.5 million grant, which forced a 72% budget cut and the layoff of 10 staff members. Other affected initiatives include anti-poaching operations at Gorongosa National Park in Mozambique and satellite-based forest monitoring programs in Colombia and Peru.
Timeline
Fiscal year 2024 saw $623 million spent on biodiversity and climate adaptation.
USAID was officially dismantled in February 2025.
One Earth Partners published the list of unfunded projects in October 2026.
The Big Picture
This report documents the immediate negative consequences of the 2025 dismantlement of USAID on established global conservation programs.
The sudden loss of professional monitoring and anti-poaching patrols could accelerate localized extinction rates and forest loss. These changes may eventually impact global agricultural yields and climate stability as key ecosystem services are reduced.
The takeaway
The sudden withdrawal of large-scale international aid forces non-profits to diversify their funding models to ensure long-term stability. Future conservation strategies may need to prioritize private-public partnerships to mitigate the risk of sudden policy-driven funding cliffs.
Further reading
Learn more about the current state of conservation efforts in the Environmental section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Mongabay.
Live Poll
Should the government prioritize stable, long-term funding for international environmental conservation programs?
