USAID Funding Freeze Puts Colombian Conservation Efforts at Risk

USAID's $70 million funding for Colombia's environmental projects is halted amid organizational changes by President Trump, threatening conservation in the Amazon. Colombia's Environment Minister highlights deforestation risks as the country loses significant forest area annually.

Funding totaling $70 million from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) for environmental and conservation projects in Colombia is now frozen. The move comes after President Donald Trump initiated a dismantling of the organization, said Colombia's Environment Minister on Thursday.

The halt in funding is anticipated to have significant repercussions, particularly affecting projects within the Amazon region. Colombia's Environment Minister, Susana Muhamad, expressed concern at a media briefing in Bogota over the potential impacts.

Colombia grapples with the loss of hundreds of square kilometers of forest due to deforestation each year, mainly in the Amazon region, highlighting the urgency of continued international support to tackle these environmental challenges.