Right now, your Members of Congress are turning their attention to the federal budget for the coming year. The President's budget is calling for deep cuts to US assistance to developing countries, including critical conservation programs. These cuts won’t just hurt our ability to protect wildlife—they’ll also harm local communities and undermine our efforts to create a safer and more stable world.
In previous years, Congress has consistently rejected these attempts to cut international conservation programs and instead passed bills that have maintained and even grown their funding. But this year is unlike any other, and these programs face their biggest threat yet.
We need you to send the letter below to your Senators to let them know you support continued funding for internnal conservation programs.
Dear Senator,
As your constituent, I am writing to ask you to support including funding in the Senate's FY2026 appropriations legislation for international conservation programs and efforts to prevent wildlife trafficking and illegal trade in natural resources such as timber and fish. Specifically, I ask you to sign on to letters from your Senate colleagues in support of continued funding for these programs.
I thank you for the strong support Congress has consistently given to these programs, including in last year's appropriations bills. These include Biodiversity Conservation and Combatting Wildlife Trafficking programs, which have been implemented by the State Department, USAID, and the US Fish and Wildlife Service, as well as the Global Environment Facility. They also include support for programs at a number of agencies to protect forests, prevent deforestation, and halt illegal trade in timber and other forest products.
These programs help conserve vulnerable species in the wild, protect globally important landscapes and seascapes, and support the livelihoods of local communities that directly depend on natural resources for their survival and economic growth. The ties between international conservation and security have also become clear, and Congress has increasingly recognized the value of these programs as investments in "natural security."
The illegal exploitation of natural resources—such as wildlife trafficking, illegal logging, and illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing—is a large-scale transnational crime that fosters corruption, undermines the rule of law, and robs developing countries of their natural wealth and the economic opportunities The groups trafficking in these resources have been strongly linked to other forms of transnational organized crime, including narcotics trafficking. Furthermore, the tens of billions of dollars in illicit finances these illegal activities generate annually have been shown to contribute to groups that actively oppose US interests around the world, including those with ties to extremism and terrorism.
By preventing illegal trade, protecting the health of tropical forests and oceans, and improving the ability of developing countries to manage their natural resources, international conservation programs not only protect wildlife and help communities grow and prosper, they also prevent scarcities that lead to instability and advance America’s national and economic security interests. They combat transnational organized crime, protect essential resources and supply chains, and promote sustainable economic growth in countries that are allies and trading partners. And by helping to prevent illegal trade in commodities like timber and fish, these programs protect law-abiding businesses, including American companies and workers, and ensure their products can compete on global markets. In doing so, they help make our own country safer, more secure, and more prosperous.
Several letters of support for these programs are circulating in the Senate addressed to the relevant Appropriations Subcommittees. I ask that you sign onto these Members letters, including from:
- Senator Van Hollen to State and Foreign Operations appropriators supporting international programs on biodiversity conservation and countering wildlife trafficking, as well as the Global Environment Facility;
- Senator Merkley to State and Foreign Operations appropriators supporting accounts that fund international climate efforts, including adaptation, sustainable landscapes, and clean energy programs; and
- Senator Schatz to Agriculture, Homeland Security, Interior and Department of Justice appropriators supporting global forest conservation and efforts to halt the illegal timber trade.
I urge you to add your name to these letters of support. I understand that the deadlines to sign on are approaching quickly and that you should reach out to those Members leading the letters as soon as possible.
Thank you for considering this request, and please do what you can to maintain Congress’s support for these important programs in the FY26 funding bills.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]