Natural Wealth Program
In December 2015, Colombia’s President Juan Manual Santos made a historic commitment to Colombia’s conservation efforts, promising to expand the National Protected Area System by 2.5 million hectares. The government of Colombia is also pursuing expansive rural development that aligns with its peace accord with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). To support these efforts, the USAID Natural Wealth program is laying out a roadmap for conservation-oriented development. Additionally, the program illuminates how conservation may contribute to sustainable economic development. The program assists the government of Colombia with preserving biodiversity in the Caribbean region’s tropical dry forest and the Orinoquia region’s grasslands and freshwater ecosystems. Together, the program, public and private sector stakeholders, and local communities are improving how these critical ecosystems are managed as they build strong partnerships rooted in a common desire to advance conservation.
