Six Peruvian associations join WWF corporate programme Forests Forward to take action for forests in the Amazon

Posted on 22 August 2023

Five agroforestry cooperatives plus a wood production company have committed to the quality restoration of areas degraded by mining and illegal logging in Peru’s Madre de Dios landscape by planting more than 40,000 trees of native species in over 400 hectares.

Agrobosques, Candela, COOPSSUR, Maderacre, Manutata, and RONAP are the first associations in Peru to participate in WWF’s Forests Forward programme, joining multi-national companies such as HP, IKEA, International Paper and SIG worldwide. Through the partnerships launched today, the associations have committed to promoting the responsible management of forest resources and restoring degraded ecosystems – helping to conserve Madre de Dios’s world-renowned biodiversity while supporting local community livelihoods.

The Madre de Dios landscape in the Amazon has around 45% of its area designated as Natural Protected Areas, maintaining at least 93% of the original forest cover. But deforestation is happening at an alarming rate; the region is threatened by illegal mining and logging, expanding agriculture, and extreme weather events. Concessions for certified forestry and agroforestry can be vital biodiversity strongholds on deforestation fronts.

In addition to restoring degraded areas, other actions by these six associations will include seeking to obtain sustainable certifications and developing responsible forest management practices that support both the environment and local communities. Working to strengthen collaboration in the landscape, this first cohort of Forests Forward partners in Peru will inspire other companies and cooperatives to also improve the way they manage forests.

Forests Forward is a signature WWF programme for corporate action in support of nature, climate, and people. It helps companies harness the power of forests to achieve ambitious sustainability, social impact, and business goals.

“Since Forests Forward’s launch in 2021, 20 partners from around the world have come together to work towards safeguarding 150 million hectares of forests by 2030. Today after a great effort, six associations from Madre de Dios joined this list of companies and organizations committed to doing more for forests,” says Nelson Gutiérrez, WWF Forestry and Indigenous Affairs Manager, WWF-Peru.

“We will restore degraded areas within Brazil nut concessions, facilitating landscape connectivity and strengthening buffer zones," emphasises Miguel Zamalloa of the RONAP Association.

COOPSSUR has committed to renew its organic and Fairtrade certification and promote sustainable cocoa and copoazu production chains, and Agrobosques aims to increase forest cover by planting 150 hectares and establishing 150 hectares of agroforestry systems.

Forests are under threat worldwide. Joint efforts for forest protection, sustainable management, and restoration – based on science-based targets and traditional solutions – are critical to reversing biodiversity loss and ensuring a sustainable future for nature, climate, and people.

“Just as the private sector is vital to turning around the global biodiversity and climate crises, the combined efforts of key companies and associations in biodiversity-rich landscapes around the world, such as Madre de Dios, are vital to demonstrating and inspiring practical solutions to stem forest loss and degradation worldwide. Forests Forward is about showing that forests can be managed in ways that are good for nature, good for local people, and good for business. We look forward to working with these six new partners,” says Tim Cronin, Forests Forward Global Lead.

Projects and public commitments:

Agrobosques (cacao and copoazu) – Accelerating agroforestry to help protect Tambopata National Reserve.
- “We will increase the forest cover, planting 150 hectares of a previously degraded area with native tree species” - Doris Fuentes, Agrobosques.
- View project

Candela (Brazil nuts) – Restoring degraded forest in Amazon nut concessions.
- “We will plant 30,000 native species in natural clearings, ensuring future income and protection from illegal activities that threaten us” – Gaston Vizcarra, Candela.
- View project

COOPSSUR (cocoa and copoazu) – Achieving Fairtrade-certified organic cacao and copoazu agroforestry production.
- “We will renew our organic and Fairtrade certification, promoting sustainable cocoa and supply chains” – José Luis Lara, COOPSSUR.
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Maderacre (wood) – Improving forest management and supporting sustainable local jobs.
- “We will act to responsibly manage our newly acquired concession. We will promote Non-Timber Forest Products as an economic alternative, generating more jobs sustainably” – Representative of Maderacre.
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Manutata (Brazil nuts) – Achieving organic certification to support local communities.
- “We will increase the biodiversity value of our suppliers' forests and improve local livelihoods by creating an association of concession holders and building their capacity” – Representative of Manutata.
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RONAP (Brazil nuts) – Promoting agroforestry to restore degraded forest
- “We will restore 250 hectares of degraded land and plant 10,000 trees in identified gaps” – Oscar Rodriguez, RONAP.
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Brazil nut agroforestry

Learn more by viewing the interactive map on the Forests Forward Impact Portal