In an Ocean Conference held in Palau, USAID announced 24 different projects. USAID considered these projects a step toward their efforts to combat climate change.
These initiatives include:
Climate Resilient Cities program in the Philippines: This project is worth 15 million dollars. It aims to increase the resilience of cities expecting vulnerable to climate change. Thus, this project will help to decrease the impact of climate change.
- NOSY MANGA Restorative Aquaculture for Nature and Communities Project: The worth of this project is $6.3 million. It is a collaborative initiative in which Madagascar Ocean farmers, USAID, and Indian Ocean Trepang are the partners. They aim to increase the scalability of the sea cucumber and seaweed and management of marine resources.
- Sustainable Fish Asia Project: This $13.9 million project aims at managing the resources of biodiversity and fisheries in the Indo-Pacific region.
- The flagship Clean Cities, Blue Ocean (CCBO) program: To implement the “ Save Our Seas 2.0 Act,” this project is currently working on the reduction of plastic pollution in oceans in collaboration with seven different countries. For this purpose, the initiative is working to strengthen solid waste management systems.
- Current collaboration with the Norad ( a Norwegian Agency): In this initiative, Board will provide funding of USD 3.36 million for the CCBO in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and the Philippines. CBO will help in the management of solid waste and make women economically empowered.
- $5.5 million funding by Sustainable Interventions for Biodiversity, Ocean, and Landscapes: This initiative is for the reduction of unsustainable practices and environmental crimes, stimulation of investment for the management of natural resources, and the improvement of natural resources governance in marine habitats of the Philippines.
- OurFish OurFuture and Pacific Coastal Fisheries Management and Compliance projects: This project is worth $21 million for the progress of aquaculture and small-scale fisheries. It aims to prevent illegal fishing in the Pacific Islands.
The Verdict:
These initiatives indicate the dedication of USAID towards their goal of 30% Ocean Conservation by 2030. If you’re interested in viewing all 24 announcements from USAID, please visit the USAID at OOC Fact Sheet here. All these initiatives have goals to combat the climate challenges that ocean communities are experiencing.