The Forest Alliance is an initiative that seeks to improve the quality of life of 350 families of the Shipibo Conibo and Cacataibo Indigenous Peoples in Ucayali, as well as the conservation of Amazon forests and their biodiversity. The Forest Alliance is a component of our Nii Kaniti project. Ecosphere+ is proud to represent the carbon credit generation part of this forest conservation project. Climate finance is one of the ways in which project activities are being supported on the ground.
Forests have great economic potential in their forest resources and ecosystem services, however, more than 150,000 hectares of forests were lost in the Peruvian Amazon in 2017 alone. In addition, more than 20 percent of Peru’s forests are in Amazonian Indigenous Peoples’ lands and are being lost as a consequence of extensive agriculture, ranching and illicit activities. With this reality in mind, the Association for Integral Research and Development (AIDER), the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Mirova Natural Capital have been promoting the Forest Alliance initiative.
The initiative proposes the Management of Communal Forests (MCF), an innovative model that promotes the sustainable development of the indigenous peoples of the Peruvian Amazon, generating positive social, environmental and economic impacts. Likewise, it develops sustainable inclusive businesses to strengthen the indigenous economy, contributing to the well-being of 7 native communities of the Shipibo Conibo and Cacataibo Indigenous Peoples and to reducing greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions as a result of forest conservation.
Shipibo Conibo indigenous women in a communal nursery. Photo: Marlon DAG – Ecosphere+
AIDER, through the implementation of the Forest Alliance initiative, prioritizes the strengthening of capacities of indigenous men and women, under the umbrella of social inclusion and gender equity, providing technical assistance for the sustainable use of natural resources in the indigenous lands and promoting the conservation of 120,000 hectares of forests and the restoration of 520 hectares of degraded land for productive purposes.
Community members of the Cacataibo Indigenous Peoples in an agroforestry plot. Photo: AIDER
The activities promoted with a business focus are the use of timber and non-timber resources, the installation of commercial forest plantations, the organic production of cocoa through agroforestry, and crafts.
About the Forest Alliance
The Forest Alliance is an initiative of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Mirova Natural Capital and AIDER, which promotes the conservation of Amazon forests through Communal Forest Management (MBC) and the strengthening of inclusive sustainable businesses, supporting alliances between native communities and public and private organizations, to improve the quality of life of Indigenous Peoples of the Ucayali region in Peru.
The initiative is aligned to 9 of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
About USAID
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is an independent agency of the United States Government that receives general political guidance from the Secretary of State. USAID provides economic, development and humanitarian assistance worldwide in pursuit of the United States’ foreign policy objectives.
About Mirova Natural Capital
Mirova Natural Capital Limited (MNC) is a company organised under the laws of England and Wales, headquartered in London. MNC targets investments at the nexus between sustainable production and biodiversity conservation working around the globe, across terrestrial and marine ecosystems, to build partnerships with forward-thinking investors and innovative, sustainable businesses. In October 2017, Mirova, an affiliate of Natixis Investment Managers, completed its acquisition of MNC, formerly Althelia Ecosphere. This acquisition channels more finance towards conservation and sustainable development, with Mirova targeting US $1 billion in assets under management for natural capital investment by 2022.
About AIDER
The Association for Integral Research and Development (AIDER) is a leading NGO in environmental conservation and sustainable development in Peru, which has more than 30 years of work and experience promoting the management of forest resources and social responsibility with small producers from native communities and villages. Its objective is to promote the conservation and sustainably use the forests of Peru contributing to national commitments and targets of biological diversity, climate change and the fight against desertification and drought.
