USAID manages a diverse portfolio of projects that conserve biodiversity and sustain forests while advancing development, particularly for vulnerable people who rely on natural resources for their livelihoods. This annual report summarizes the Agency's work in the sector and its importance to human well-being, highlighting discrete and cumulative results in fiscal year (FY) 2015, and how FY 2015 funds were allocated for work in FY 2016.

USAID invested $250 million in FY 2015 funds toward biodiversity conservation in about 50 countries, with approximately 57 percent of funds going to our 12 highest priority countries and regions.  About a quarter of FY 2015 funds were programmed to address wildlife crime in about 25 countries, primarily to build capacity of law enforcement to deter, detect and disrupt poaching and wildlife trafficking, reduce demand for wildlife and wildlife products, and foster international coordination in solving these challenges.  USAID forestry programming totaled $140 million in about 40 countries, of which $138 million was focused on tropical forests. The vast majority of forestry activities advanced biodiversity conservation or climate change mitigation objectives.

Agency programs had a substantial impact and reach in FY 2015, improving natural resource management across 75 million hectares of biologically significant area, about the size of Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota combined. About 100,000 people received training in support of improved natural resources management and/or biodiversity conservation, and at least 800,000 people received a tangible economic benefit from conservation enterprises or sustainable use.

A selection of notable results and three in-depth profiles serve to illustrate major approaches used by USAID and its partners and the role of conservation in transformational development. Profiles are:

• Protecting Tigers with Project Predator
• Adding it Up: Economic Tools to Improve Infrastructure Planning and Conserve Biodiversity
• Forest Legality Alliance: Tackling Illegal Logging "From Seed to Song"

Additional USAID reports on biodiversity and/or forestry programs are available at: www.usaid.gov/biodiversity/impact/annual-reports