Question

Nature provides the resources on which humans depend for our survival and economic growth. The Office of Conservation and Water in the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs (OES/ECW) coordinates the development of U.S. foreign policy approaches to conserving and sustainably managing the world's ecologically and economically important ecosystems, including, forests, wetlands, drylands and coral reefs, the species that depend on them, and the world’s water resources. OES/ECW also leads the formulation of policies to address international threats to nature, such as land degradation, invasive alien species, and illegal trade in natural resources, as well as issues associated with access to and the sharing of benefits from genetic resources. The Office advances U.S. interests on these matters in a wide variety of international fora, organizations, institutions, and treaties, globally, regionally and bilaterally, negotiating effective evidence-based agreements and promoting their enforcement, developing international initiatives with key partners to employ market forces, and creating a foreign policy framework in which innovative public-private partnerships that promote U.S. interests can flourish.

A coral reef.
Coral reef
Courtesy of U.S. Department of State

What is the function of the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs?

Answer 1

It coordinates and leads U.S. foreign policy on conserving and sustainably managing the world’s ecosystems and water resources, formulates policies to address international environmental threats (e.g., land degradation, invasive species, illegal natural‑resource trade), and advances U.S. interests in international negotiations, agreements, and public–private initiatives.