Hub South America
Catalyzing coalitions to protect the forest and improve people’s livelihoods
We co-design land use models that contribute to forest protection as well as people’s livelihoods and offer true development alternatives to exploitative resource use.
Location/region:
Madre de Dios, Peru
Population:
Around 140,000
Biodiversity:
A threatened biodiversity hotspot in the Tropical Andes, Madre de Dios has large areas of essentially undisturbed rainforest and one of the world’s highest levels of biodiversity, with up to 300 different tree species on a single hectare of land. The rainforest here is home to unique plants and animals and stores globally significant amounts of carbon dioxide.
Landscape
Madre de Dios is a biodiversity hotspot and a rich cultural area, being home to several indigenous ethnic groups. The region contains extensive and largely undisturbed forests that host some of the world’s highest levels of terrestrial species diversity and endemism. However, it is also facing significant landscape transformation due to an increase in unsustainable and illegal economic activities, such as expansive agriculture, logging, and mining. To counter these developments, several initiatives aim to encourage sustainable use of natural resources while at the same time improving people’s livelihoods.
Photo by: Pavel Martiarena Huaman
Main achievements at hub level
- Strategic Plan for the Buffer Zone of the Tambopata National Reserve (PEZA) Action Plan 2022–2023 officially recognized by the regional government
- PEZA process recognized by the National Service of Natural Areas Protected by the State (SERNANP) as a valid instrument for the governance of land surrounding protected areas
- Coalition to improve the amazon nut value chain (Canasta de Castaña) established through the implementation of five experiments
- Exploration of sustainable tourism and artisanal and small-scale gold mining value chains started
Photo by: Pavel Martiarena Huaman
Photo by: Pavel Martiarena Huaman
