We assisted the Center for the Development of the Indigenous Amazonians (CEDIA) to develop a proposal to create a National Reserve beside the Matses Indigenous Reserve in the northeast Amazon of Peru. The Reserve was designated for its exceptional biodiversity values and to protect lands traditionally used by the Matsés indigenous peoples who were first contacted in 1969, but presently live on their adjacent community lands. Like so many other remote indigenous peoples, they have been forced to defend their homelands in a bid to preserve their ancient way of life and protect the amazing Amazon rainforest. In total, the reserve encompasses 1,039,390 acres of pristine Amazonian rainforest.

The La Ceiba – Pilares project is a bi-national initiative in Ecuador and Peru that works to strengthen local capacity in an effort to conserve the forests of the cross-border Tumbesian region. In contrast to this region’s natural wealth, the people living in the rural communities are among the poorest in both countries. This project helps to identify sustainable sources of income, while recognizing the rights, responsibilities and customs of the local people. So far, several hundred families in 17 communities have initiated a process of participative management of approximately 25,000 acres of dry forest. Activities include sustainably produced goat milk products from locally-bred animals, honey production using native bees, the creation of community microcredit banks for small corn plantations and other necessities that require financing, and a program to promote infant nutrition.