International specialists and regions of the Peruvian Amazon identify opportunities to preserve our forests as to face climate change

Lima, July 4. Forests conservation is not only an obligation, but an opportunity for the Amazon region. Proof of this is the growing commitment of many of its authorities to boost mechanisms which, through the proper valuation of the role of forests as climate regulators, may help promote its conservation for the benefit of local people.

Thus, in their quest to promote sustainable development, the Regional Government of Madre de Dios together with WWF Peru, organized the “REDD+ Best Practices Seminar”. This event, held in Lima from June 22-24, brought together leading experts from across the Americas to discuss the challenges, opportunities and key tools for the design of national and sub-national REDD+ frameworks to be applied in Peru.

Madre de Dios is one of the Amazon’s regions which due to its high biodiversity, has become a priority area for nature conservation. This territory is being threatened by activities such as informal mining, illegal logging and infrastructure construction without proper planning, which may represent different potential impacts on forests and ecosystems in the region.

“Organizing this workshop along with WWF shows the regional government’s concern towards its forests preservation. This is also very important to us, since it helps us build our knowledge about Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD+) in order to create mechanisms and strategies, and to generate income in a sustainable manner, protecting our forests” said Alejandro Bernilla, representative of the Regional Government of Madre de Dios.

This event was also attended by other important Peruvian regions such as San Martin and Cusco, whose representative, Rosa Urrunaga, showed her enthusiasm for this kind of initiatives "which will reinforce activities towards forest conservation, as well as articulate, along with other Amazon regions, agreements for joint projects that support the development of REDD activities".

Approximately 40 participants from Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay, Mexico, Colombia, Brazil, England, the United States and Canada agreed on the need to reinforce sub-national efforts to develop mechanisms and tools for REDD+. According to them “these will contribute to the valuation and conservation of local forests based on their role in facing global climate change, which will enhance its contribution at national and regional levels”.

Forests and climate in the Amazon

The Amazon region is known worldwide for its enormous biodiversity and vast forest area, which absorbs large amounts of carbon dioxide, hence contributing to mitigate the effects of climate change. However, pressures from extractive activities and infrastructure expansion are becoming strains on local ecosystems.

In this context, WWF Peru works closely with authorities in Madre de Dios, facilitating the implementation of mechanisms and strategies that promote the Reduction of Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD+) in order to contribute to regional sustainable development. This is done on the basis of economic incentives from major emitters of greenhouse gases, which help preserve local forests.