USAID shutdown threatens Brazil at least on environmental projects » Yale's climate link

The end of the U.S. Government Aid Agency announced by Donald Trump in early February will have an impact not only on global humanitarian aid, but on the environment.

((O)) A study conducted by the ECO team on the official U.S. government platform shows that in 2024, the U.S. International Development Agency (USAID) allocated $14.7 million to Brazil's environmental projects, equivalent to the current price of 84 million reals.

According to Diplomacy groceriesThis is the main location for the U.S. government to develop public external aid data until December 19, 2024, when the U.S. International Development (USAID) allocated $141.6 million ($24.7 million) across 43 projects.

The number puts Brazil in 13th place, in the ranking of countries that have received the most resources from U.S. international aid agencies in 2024. The first position was offered for Haiti, which received $420 million.

Environment at the top of the list

Of the 10 maximum number sent, 6 correspond to items directly related to the environment, e.g. “Tapahos for Ravida”in the Tapajós River Basin in the Brazilian Amazon, Rs 23 million (USD 4 million) is allocated to protected and sustainable protected areas.

The alliance between the United States and Brazil also appeared on the list of battles against the forest fires. According to data from the U.S. government website, the program received Rs 19 million (US$3.3 million) in 2024 to be used for technical training and training for brigades operating in frontline firefights.

he Fire protection and fire protection plansSince 2021, Ibama has jointly implemented it with the U.S. Forest Service. ((USFSwith the abbreviation of English as its abbreviation), has promoted at least 51 courses and training between 2021 and 2023, forming more than 3,000 people, mainly indigenous people, who now act as brigades on their territory. The plan also considers the exchange of experience and the realization of technical research.

In a note sent to ((o)), Ibama said that the paralysis of U.S. Agency for International Development’s activities “does not directly affect the confrontation of forest fires in Brazil, as prevention and combat in national territories are funded by the federal budget, which covers brigade wages, equipment procurement, wages for hiring aircraft, and other expenses”.

However, the agency stressed that disruptions in these activities would have consequences for partners, “because climate change affects all countries, such as in the case of forest fires, everyone must be prepared for this.”

In addition to preservation measures in the Tapahos Basin and firefighting, USAID provided funding for the following projects on site Diplomacy groceries:

• Integrated Indigenous Territorial Management Project – Co-designed event with the USAID/Brazil Environment Office, aims to enhance the management capacity of ten indigenous organizations in the states of Roraima and Amazonas. Project value: $15 million ($2.6 million).
• The Alliance of Indigenous Peoples in the East Amazon Forest: Conservation, Conservation and Restoration Activities – Support initiatives to conserve, sustainable management, conservation of biodiversity and restoration of natural resources. Project value: $11 million ($1.9 million).
• whistle – Activities aimed at promoting social biodiversity with the aim of promoting public-private agreements to attract climate financing for Amazon biomas in the state of Mato Grosso, the central region of the country. Project value: $8.2 million ($1.4 million).
• Biodiversity – The project focuses on combating the illegal exploitation of natural resources and control of invasive species. Project value: $7.7 million ($1.3 million).
• Natural resources and biodiversity – In addition to controlling invasive species, it can also combat illegal and corrupt exploitation of natural resources. The plan for this element must be in line with the agricultural sector within the framework of economic growth and the mitigation and reconciliation within the framework of peace and security goals, where applicable and appropriate. Project value: 6.48 billion thunder ($113,000).

In addition to activities directly related to the USAID environmental agenda, the agency allocates other resources directly or indirectly to other resources linked to Brazil's environmental and climate crisis.

According to foreigners R $30.3 million ($5.3 million) The concept of “emergency response” they were assigned to Brazil include humanitarian assistance in early 2024 in the city’s most impacted by Rio Grande Do in the southern part of the country.

Between 2020 and 2024, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) allocated to Brazil R $880 million ($153.83 million),in R S$294.7 million (USD 51.52 million) They are specifically used in environmental protection projects.

Influence the world

The possible endpoints of USDA will not only affect Brazil's environmental plans. The U.S. agency also contributed to the creation of Thanh National Park in Vietnam, restored coral reefs in the Seychelles, funded the creation of the protected marine areas in Papua New Guinea, and was crucial in the establishment of the GABON National Park and the implementation of the Gabon National Park in Bangladés.

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) also supported the restoration of wildlife and habitat in the Gorongosa National Park, which, after 16 years of civil war, almost wiped out all the large mammals in the country.

In 2024, U.S. International Development allocated 3.7 billion Canadian dollars (US$648 million) to 310 shares of environmental protection shares or plans in 62 countries, according to Foreingssiance.gov.

Until the crippling of the USDA activity ordered by Donald Trump in early February, the agency's budget was about $30 billion, aiming to provide humanitarian and development assistance in 120 countries.

The U.S. Agency for International Development and Trump’s proposals for the merger of the agency with the State Department must still be evaluated by the U.S. Congress. However, the funds have been frozen since February 4.

This article was originally published in Portuguese ((0)) Echo.