Latest News

Visit and talks by Dr. Holly Wissler on Rescuing Engangered Cultures - the Wachiperi and Q'eros

Peru’s Andes-Amazon region’s rich biological diversity is matched only by its cultural diversity. In the case of two communities in southeastern Peru near Manu National Park, the lowland Wachiperi and the highland Q’eros, Amazon Conservation Association’s conservation programs are complemented by the work of ethnomusicologist Dr. Holly Wissler, who is partnering with the communities to preserve their cultures through music. We were pleased to invite friends and supporters in the Washington, DC area on November 14th and 15th, 2011, to two talks by Dr. Wissler, one at the ACA office and one at the National Museum of the American Indian. See a flyer about this event.

ACA Hosts First Peru Birdathon - 348 bird species seen!

In August 2011, ACA hosted its inaugural Birdathon in celebration of the immense diversity of bird species in southeastern Peru. For ACA's Birdathon, a group of conservationist birders traveled a route from the highlands to the lowlands alongside Manu National Park for a week while counting the number of bird species they saw. Their goal was to support conservation of southeast Peru’s globally important forests and the birds dependent on them by seeking sponsors to pledge an amount per bird seen or make a donation to the event. Read more »

New Executive Director for ACA/ACCA

With the start of the new year, it brings us great pleasure to introduce Luis Felipe Duchicela, the new executive director for Amazon Conservation Association/Asociación para la Conservación de la Cuenca Amazónia (ACA/ACCA), who began as of February 1, 2011. Luis Felipe brings substantial experience from the private, governmental, and non-profit sectors throughout Latin America. During the last six years, he served as regional director for the Rainforest Alliance, first in Central America and Mexico, and more recently in Ecuador and the Andean Amazon region, where he was in charge of promoting best management practices and sustainable livelihoods in agriculture (coffee, cocoa and bananas), forestry (timber and Brazil nuts), and tourism in the fragile ecosystems of these countries.

We would like to thank Monica Romo for her leadership as interim executive director since September 2010, and look forward to her future efforts, leadership, and contributions as director of the Puerto Maldonado office for ACCA.

Major Progress in Tropical Forest Carbon Mapping!

ACA recently collaborated with WWF’s Conservation Science Programme, WWF Peru, the Carnegie Institution’s Department of Global Ecology, and the Peruvian Ministry of the Environment (MINAM) to create the first high-resolution maps of natural carbon storage in the forests around Madre de Dios, Peru. This development is exciting, as it provides us with the data necessary to explore and promote the value of standing forests.

These forests store immense amounts of carbon dioxide. Deforestation prevents the trees from performing this important service, and thus forest preservation and reforestation are being pursued as an innovative mechanism to address climate change. This strategy, commonly referred to as REDD (Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation), would provide an economic incentive for developing countries to participate in forest management and protection programs.

The maps were created using a unique combination of satellite, laser (LiDAR) and ground plot methodologies. This is considered the most accurate and efficient evaluation in history. The project’s success will allow similar surveys to be implemented in other parts of the world, helping countries to assess and understand the value of leaving their forests intact. These findings were originally published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Funding for the work was provided by the Government of Norway and the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. Read more (pdf) and see the article on Mongabay »

ACA and partners protect new 7,500-acre property in Peru

The Amazon Conservation Association (ACA), in partnership with the American Bird Conservancy and the World Land Trust, recently provided funding for the purchase of 7,576 acres (3,066 hectares) of land in southern Peru by ACA's sister organization, La Asociación para la Conservación de la Cuenca Amazónica (ACCA). Located near the Rio Pini Pini and the Rio Tono in the Manu Biosphere Reserve, the land is particularly esteemed for its bird activity, as it is home to more than 600 known species. This purchase will help to ensure the protection and prosperity of wildlife in the region.

The property, known as Villa Carmen, contains old-growth rainforest, streams, waterfalls, and a wide variety of flora and fauna. It also has an all-weather road and an airstrip, accessible by both car and plane. ACCA will oversee management of Villa Carmen, which will be used to promote sustainable agroforestry and aquaculture, host educational programs, and further incorporate local communities into conservation efforts. ACA is extremely excited about these developments, and encourages you to check back for updates on Villa Carmen’s progress!

Peruvian woman creates eco-friendly Brazil nut treats

An October 2009 newsletter from USAID features Sara Hurtado, a Brazil nut harvester in the Madre de Dios region of Peru, who has turned her three-month-per-year Brazil nut harvesting job into a year-round sustainable enterprise. Sara has been working in conjunction with the ACA’s Brazil nut program which has helped nearly 500 local families acquire Brazil nutconcessions and organic or FSC certifications since 1997, including Sara’s. By establishing a line of Brazil nut candies and desserts Sara is now able to sell her value-added products throughout the year and earn a sustainable livelihood to support her family. Read more (pdf) about Sara’s story. Or watch her on the BBC (video in Spanish).

National Public Radio travels 'The Amazon Road'

NPR's "All Things Considered" recently ran a series about Peru's Interoceanic Highway after accompanying ACA staff on a trip starting in the high Andes and ending in the Amazon. This four-part series by Lourdes Garcia-Navarro, featuring quotes from ACA Board members Enrique Ortiz, Adrian Forsyth, and Bruce Babbitt, was aired September 14-17, 2009. Part 1 is about economic opportunity and the highway. Part 2 is about gold. Part 3 focuses on threats to conservation and Brazil nut concessions. And Part 4 is about ACA's Los Amigos Conservation Concession! Read more about the series on the NPR site.

How Jack Johnson Is Helping to Protect the Amazon

The Amazon Conservation Association partnered with Jack Johnson to help offset the carbon emissions from his summer 2008 “Sleeping through the Static” tour. Carbon emissions from buses, trucks, planes, hotels, and other emissions by the band and tour staff were calculated and converted into a monetary equivalent. These funds were donated to ACA through Jack Johnson's charitable fund “All at Once” and will help protect over 1,000 acres of rainforest in the Los Amigos Biological Station in the Peruvian Amazon, offsetting more than 2,000 tons of carbon dioxide each year.

Offsetting carbon is one of many important ways to support ACA in protecting the rainforest and preserving its rich biodiversity. You too can support ACA by donating now.

ACCA Recognized for Sustainable Resource Management

On May 22, 2009, ACA’s Peruvian sister organization, ACCA (Asociación para la Conservación de la Cuenca Amazónica), was officially recognized by the Professional Association of Peruvian Biologists (Cusco, Apurimac and Madre de Dios chapters) for excellence in sustainable resource management. The award ceremony was held at the Cusco Town Hall.

Previous to this, on June 5, 2008, ACCA also won an award for environmental management from the regional government of Cusco for its work supporting the Haramba Queros Wachiperi indigenous community in establishing an ecological reserve. The award also recognized ACCA’s protection of 360,000 acres of land at the Los Amigos Conservation Concession and the 618,000-plus acres of Brazil nut conservation concessions ACCA has helped to establish, benefiting 420 families.

TOP