USAID DEC
The agricultural development initiative in the Amazon rainforest began in 2015 with funding from the World Bank's Sustainable Forest Management Program.
1 pages

Abstract
Initial assessments conducted in the states of Acre and Amazonas identified deforestation and habitat fragmentation as primary challenges. Forest cover loss averaged 15% below regional benchmarks, particularly in areas with high conservation value. Implementation focused on three key interventions: reforestation programs, community-led conservation, and sustainable forest product certification. More than 1,500 hectares of degraded forestland were restored during the first year. Demonstration plots established in 20 communities showed biodiversity improvements of 30% when applying the conservation practices. Community feedback indicated strong adoption of agroforestry and agroforestry-based livelihoods, while forest certification faced implementation barriers due to market demand. Indigenous communities, representing 25% of participants, showed higher adoption rates for all practices except forest restoration. Midterm evaluation revealed a 20% increase in forest cover among program participants compared to the control group. Biodiversity indicators improved across all target communities, with greatest gains in areas where both conservation and livelihood interventions were combined. The program also reported a 15% increase in income among local communities, primarily due to the sale of certified forest products. The initiative's geographic focus was on the Amazon rainforest, with a specific emphasis on the states of Acre and Amazonas. The program's timeframes spanned five years, with the first year focused on project establishment and the subsequent years dedicated to implementation and evaluation. Recommendations from the midterm evaluation included scaling up the program to additional regions and increasing support for community-led conservation efforts.
Classification
Urban Links