Tri-national conservation initiative in the Southwest Amazon comes to an end, resulting in success stories and new commitments to conservation

Lima, November 19. Successfully combining conservation and economic development is possible. This has been proven by the Tri-national Amazon Program – PAT, through which WWF Peru has been working in Madre de Dios since 2007, providing more than 5000 families with production alternatives compatible with forest conservation.

This is not only one of the most biodiverse regions of the Amazon, but also one of the most threatened by the changes occurred from great infrastructure projects and the growing interest in extractive industries. For that reason, PAT has worked along the Interoceanic Highway – close to the Brazilian / Bolivian border– promoting sustainable productive activities, such as agroforestry with native species and the commercialization of forest resources such as Brazil nuts and natural latex or shiringa, which have simultaneously benefited the local town and slowed down deforestation derived from other activities.

Now, more than 140 families have increased their income by implementing agroforestry plots, nearly 26,000 hectares of forest have an organic certification to commercialize Brazil nut, several successful production associations have been established. Furthermore, some of them, such as the Iberia Tarhuamanu Association of Shiringa Artisans display their products (vegetal leather) in events such as the Paris Ethical Fashion Show, as well as important commercial fairs like Peru Moda and Peru Gift Show 2009, showing the compatibility between conservation and productivity.

“The partners showed us how beautiful and interesting is working with the shiringa (natural latex). (...) Then we were trained on how to sew and design using “vegetable leather” (made of natural latex). People here really liked our products and have even taken samples of our work to Paris” proudly said Alicia Quino Valverde, President of the local association of artisan women.

Thanks to the support of the Embassy of the Netherlands in Bolivia, the PAT which is led by WWF Peru in association with CARE Bolivia has also supported the Regional Government of Madre de Dios in the process of integration with Pando in Bolivia and Acre in Brazil, which is expected to continue giving priority to the promotion of sustainable development options.