Indigenous communities in the Amazon are organising themselves to access the forest fine compensation scheme
Peru’s indigenous peoples play a vital role in the conservation of the Amazon – the world’s largest tropical forest and an ecosystem that is fundamental to the planet’s balance. However, they face significant challenges that make it difficult for them to make use of forest resources, and they lack effective tools for forest management. Similarly, 16.3 per cent of the population who self-identify as indigenous do not have electricity in their homes, 26.4 per cent lack access to drinking water and 40.4 per cent lack sanitation services (Ombudsman’s Office, 2023).
Added to this are the long distances they must travel to contact the relevant authorities when their territory is under threat. Against this backdrop, indigenous peoples have strengthened their own monitoring and early warning mechanisms, with the aim of maintaining a constant presence throughout their territory, preventing activities that affect their collective rights, and promptly channelling information to the relevant authorities.
Since 2018, the Inter-Ethnic Association for the Development of the Peruvian Rainforest (AIDESEP) has been promoting its Early Warning and Action System (SAAT), a mechanism that enables the collection of information on various threats within their territory, the reporting of such threats, and the promotion of coordination with the relevant authorities to ensure these are addressed and followed up.
© Stephany Cadenillas / AIDESEP
“The Surveillance and Control Committees (CVCs) play a fundamental role in identifying and reporting threats within their territories, sending their reports to their regional organisations, which liaise with AIDESEP’s SAAT, thereby carrying out advocacy work with institutions to ensure effective and timely action by the State,” said AIDESEP’s forestry specialist, Sheila Sotero.
Whilst this initiative is an achievement for indigenous peoples, there is a need to strengthen access to and management of the tools through training and equipment to ensure they can operate effectively. In this context, AIDESEP and WWF Peru, as part of the BLF Andes Amazónico project, have promoted the recognition of 193 CVC members in 25 indigenous communities in Loreto and Amazonas, as forest custodians by the Regional Directorates for Forestry and Wildlife Development (GERFOR) and the Amazonas Regional Environmental Authority (ARA Amazonas), thereby integrating indigenous conservation initiatives with those of state authorities.
One of the most sensitive issues facing indigenous peoples is the forestry fines imposed by the Forestry and Wildlife Resources Supervisory Agency (OSINFOR) for non-compliance with forestry and wildlife regulations. This sometimes occurs due to a lack of knowledge of the law or because communities have granted third parties the right to exploit forest resources.
As of 2026, according to OSINFOR records, the Amazonian regions with the highest number of sanctioned communities are Loreto, Ucayali, Junín and Amazonas, amongst others, with fines totalling more than 87 million soles. It is impossible for the communities to pay such sums; it is therefore essential to find solutions that enable the sustainable management of the forest whilst taking into account the reality of the territory and its stakeholders.
For this reason, AIDESEP and its regional organisations have drawn up the Indigenous Forestry Agenda, which sets out five priority measures aimed at ensuring effective state action to include indigenous communities in the value chain for timber and non-timber forest products.
“Through the Indigenous Forestry Agenda, we demand full respect for the rights of indigenous peoples and promote sustainability and legality in the use of our forests. Within this framework, we are working to ensure that communities have access to mechanisms for offsetting forestry fines”, said AIDESEP’s forestry specialist.
For its part, OSINFOR provides for mechanisms for the compensation of fines that allow indigenous communities to convert financial penalties into active conservation measures. It is in this way that the CVCs, together with their forest custodians, have become key players in helping to resolve this situation.
© Stephany Cadenillas / AIDESEP
With the establishment and recognition of these committees, it is possible to access and carry out the various activities provided for under the fine compensation mechanisms, such as monitoring areas designated for conservation, control and surveillance activities, supervision activities and training activities.
“In this process, the establishment and equipping of the communal surveillance and control committees have been fundamental. The communities receive advice and capacity-building to access this OSINFOR mechanism, thereby reducing their fines and committing to conserving areas that have been subject to illegal logging. Furthermore, the survival of forest species and wildlife dependent on these forests is ensured, meaning that opportunities to improve their livelihoods are increased”, says Walter Aguirre, a specialist at WWF Peru.
Through the BFL Andes Amazon project, AIDESEP and WWF are supporting the Regional Co-ordination of Indigenous Peoples (CORPI-SL), the Regional Organisation of Indigenous Peoples of the Northern Amazon of Peru (ORPIAN-P) and the Awajún Autonomous Territorial Government (GTAA) to reach out to the communities that have been fined, provide them with technical support to apply for compensation for fines, and subsequently carry out the activities set out in their compensation plans – such as patrols, amongst others – as well as submitting the annual compliance reports required by OSINFOR. The aim is to support 34 indigenous communities in their processes to secure compensation for fines, totalling over 2.7 million soles, representing 235,352 hectares to be conserved over the next five years.
The BLF Andes Amazon Project aims to contribute to the transformation of current systems within the Amazonian Andes Landscape, a transboundary territory between Peru and Ecuador, renowned for its high biodiversity and cultural richness. To this end, the project promotes strategic interventions aimed at biodiversity conservation, strengthening governance, incorporating a gender perspective, climate finance and the development of sustainable value chains. These actions seek to promote sustainable livelihoods, reduce deforestation and biodiversity loss, and contribute to climate change adaptation and mitigation.
BLF Andes Amazon is funded by UK International Development, under the Biodiverse Landscapes Fund, and implemented by a consortium led by Practical Action and comprising NCI, AIDESEP, WWF, TERRA NUOVA and COSPE.
Find out more: www.blfandesamazonico.org
© Stephany Cadenillas / AIDESEP
