USAID/Brazil’s environmental program seeks to increase environmentally sustainable benefits and economic opportunities to poor forest and river dwellers, reduce the rate of deforestation in the Amazon rainforest, help indigenous populations protect their traditional lands from environmental degradation, and shape the environmental impact of future land use trends over large areas of the Amazon while continuing to address global concerns of biodiversity conservation and climate change mitigation. A January 2009 OIG audit report on USAID/Brazil’s environmental program stated that reported program results were not substantiated and could not be causally linked to USAID assistance. The report further stated that reporting on the program did not provide stakeholders with complete and accurate information on the progress of the activities and results achieved. Funding for these activities has varied from $5 million to $6 million annually.

This audit will determine whether the actions taken by USAID/Brazil in response to recommendations in Audit Report 1-512-09-005-P were effective and whether current program activities are accomplishing the expected results outlined above.

Source: Office of Inspector General - ANNUAL PLAN - FISCAL YEAR 2010