Helping farmers in the Peruvian Amazon protect biodiversity
The upper Amazonas region, on the eastern slope of the Andes, is a true biodiversity hotspot and habitat of numerous endangered wildlife and plant species. In addition, several indigenous tribes live in the forests, among them some in voluntary isolation. However, this significant area is at risk of losing its wealth of natural resources and biodiversity primarily due to the deforestation caused by ranchers and farmers.
trained in forest protection protocol
benefit from sustainable nut production, boosting the local economy
mitigated per year, directly contributing to climate change mitigation
protected, promoting biodiversity in significant forests
Local communities benefit from the forest’s increased value through the project’s creation of a sustainable and valuable local Brazil nut industry. This project works with over 400 families of smallholder Brazil nut concessionaires who manage 300,000 hectares of this forest. By working with these communities to establish modern processing equipment, access to international markets and forest protection practices, high-quality Brazil nuts are produced without impacting on local native forests. A carbon revenue share is generated for every hectare of forest protected, which is distributed amongst smallholders.
By facilitating forest protection, the biodiversity of this significant region is protected. Landowners have better incomes and community organisation is strengthened by the co-managed Federation of concessionaires. This increases value of the Brazil nut industry and creates new employment opportunities for local communities. In addition, the project is providing landholders with access to microcredit financing for each harvesting season as well as training to ensure sustainable harvesting practices are carried on by future generations.
