Restoration Efforts Focused on Connectivity in Madre de Dios
According to the National Service of State-Protected Natural Areas (SERNANP, 2016), Madre de Dios is home to some of Peru’s largest and most important protected natural areas, including Manu National Park, Tambopata National Reserve, Bahuaja Sonene National Park, Amarakaeri Communal Reserve, and Alto Purús National Park. As a result, 45% of the region’s territory is protected. However, activities such as illegal mining, agriculture, and expanding livestock production continue to drive forest fragmentation.
©Nicolas Villaume/WWF US
In response to this situation, and in line with the priority restoration areas identified by the regional government and forestry authorities in Madre de Dios, WWF is implementing different restoration initiatives that actively engage farmers, ranchers, forest concessionaires, and Indigenous communities, promoting shared responsibility and the long-term sustainability of these efforts.
These actions are based on a comprehensive landscape assessment. “This process includes image acquisition, forest cover analysis, baseline development, and territorial segmentation to identify the most suitable areas for restoration. At the same time, environmental, social, and economic assessments are executed to understand local conditions and ensure the feasibility of the interventions,” says Jesús Alferez, Restoration Officer at WWF Peru.
Contributing to Conservation Through Restoration Efforts Led by Local Partners
At WWF Peru, restoration efforts are developed in partnership with local stakeholders, including livestock producers, forest concessionaires, Brazil nut producers, and Indigenous communities. These partners actively participate in the design and implementation of restoration actions that help recover degraded areas and reconnect forest habitats, conserving the biodiversity of one of the most important regions on the planet. These actions include:
Secondary vegetation enrichment: In areas with high potential for natural recovery, particularly within permanent production forests, it is possible to promote natural regeneration. This involves applying silvicultural practices that encourage the growth of native species already present.
Mass planting: In severely degraded areas, such as abandoned agricultural and cattle ranching lands and areas affected by fire, it is better to establish block plantings of native tree species. More than 65 native species have been planted, contributing to the recovery of ecological functions, soil restoration, and improved ecosystem services.
Protection of water bodies: Restoration efforts focus on streams, springs, and riparian areas affected by livestock activities. It also includes fences and other exclusion measures to prevent livestock from accessing water sources, promoting the regeneration of riparian vegetation while reducing impacts on water quality and associated ecosystems.
Silvopastoral systems: These systems integrate trees and pasture within livestock farms. They improve productivity, increase forage availability, reduce heat stress in livestock, and create favorable conditions for soil recovery. Experience has shown increased vegetation cover and improved ecological conditions.
Rotational grazing: Productive restoration incorporates regenerative livestock management practices through pasture subdivision and planned livestock rotation. This system allows pastures, to recover, improve soil health, and promotes the natural regeneration of vegetation. It also reduces the need for chemical inputs, strengthens ecological processes that maintain soil fertility, and improves forage quality.
©Andre Bartshi
Monitoring is essential for evaluating the results of these interventions and ensuring continuous improvement. To this end, WWF uses drones, camera traps, acoustic monitoring, and periodic measurements of the growth of restored species. In addition, each planted species is recorded and evaluated using specific indicators that measure survival, growth, and overall restoration effectiveness.
Results of Restoration with a Connectivity Approach
These efforts have resulted in the restoration of more than 390 hectares through ecological restoration approaches and more than 1,000 hectares through productive restoration models. In addition, best management practices are being promoted across more than 70,000 hectares of forest concessions and Indigenous territories, while support has been provided for more than 25,000 hectares undergoing FSC certification processes. Forest concessions also play a strategic role in preventing landscape fragmentation and maintaining ecological connectivity between large expanses of Amazonian forest. Wildlife conservation—particularly that of the jaguar as an emblematic species—is also integrated into complementary landscape monitoring and management efforts. “The experience in Madre de Dios demonstrates that restoration is most effective when it is implemented at the landscape scale and with a focus on connectivity. The combination of ecological restoration, productive restoration, and community participation has made it possible to develop interventions adecuated to local realities, contributing simultaneously to the recovery of degraded ecosystems, the strengthening of sustainable livelihoods, and the conservation of one of the most biodiverse regions of the Amazon,” said Edith Condori, a specialist at WWF Peru.
First Peruvian Congress on Ecosystem and Forest Landscape Restoration
These experiences were presented at the First Peruvian Congress on Ecosystem and Forest Landscape Restoration, organized by SERFOR and the Peruvian College of Engineers. Over the course of two days, specialists and key stakeholders shared knowledge, experiences, and progress to strengthen the restoration of forest landscapes and ecosystems, contributing to the conservation and recovery of ecosystem services throughout Peru.
