This week, the Executive Director of our Bolivian sister organization Conservación Amazónica – ACEAA Marcos Terán sat down with representatives of Conservation International and the University Amazónica de Pando, to sign an agreement that will broaden our research capabilities while training a new generation of ecologists in the Amazon at Tahuamanu Research Station (pictured right). For nearly three decades, these 7,680 acres have allowed scientists to discover the rich biodiversity of the Pando Department of Bolivia. Thanks to their work, we know that 15 of Bolivia’s 23 primate species live in the area, including Goeldi’s marmoset (pictured left), an endangered species whose population is expected to decrease 30% in the next 18 years due to habitat loss.

To help maintain population growth among vulnerable species, the Bolivian government formally protected the area in 2017. Since then, Amazon Conservation has worked with the Amazonian University of Pando (UAP) to manage the station and its surrounding land. By coming together to sign an agreement for future investment in Tahuamanu’s management, UAP, Conservación Internacional Bolivia, and Amazon Conservation, have outlined how each organization will contribute to ensuring this station continues to carry out significant research and conservation efforts for generations to come.

Looking forward, Franz Navia, the Dean of the UAP, said at the signing that the agreement would allow them to start construction on a new research center within the next 30 to 45 days. With an updated base of operations, researchers of all levels will gain crucial infrastructure to aid ongoing projects, and more students at UAP will be able to conduct their own research for the first time. “It’s a huge advance for all partners,” Navia said.

Amazon Conservation and our Peruvian sister organization Conservación Amazónica – ACCA made a special appearance at this year’s Land & Carbon Lab 2023 Summit, hosted by World Resources Institute (WRI). Our Executive Director John Beavers, along with Conservación Amazónica-ACCA’s Director of Technology for Conservation Sidney Novoa, made the trip to Brussels to present on our ever-growing Monitoring of the Andean Amazon Program (MAAP) and its impact on combatting illegal deforestation across the Amazon.

This year’s Land & Carbon Lab Summit, sponsored by Bezos Earth Fund and Norway’s International Climate and Forest Initiative (NICFI), partnered with leading scientists and technologists to curate best-in-class geospatial data on land use, land use change, and associated carbon stocks and flows, following the theme of “Monitoring Land, Mobilizing Action.” This work builds and expands on Global Forest Watch, which provides high-resolution monitoring of the world’s forests and serves as the basis of the analysis and action propelled by our MAAP initiative.

 

As part of a panel on “Satellite Monitoring of Forest Crime: A Tool for Awareness Raising and Advocacy,” Amazon Conservation presented on how technology meets policy and action through our real-time monitoring MAAP program. Highlights from the presentation include our support of the Peruvian government’s 2019 Operation Mercury and its success in curbing illegal gold mining in La Pampa, the importance of providing technology tools to local communities for them to monitor r own territories safely from the sky, and two case studies of our successful work mobilizing action in the Ecuadorian and Brazilian Amazon.

View the full panel presentation and discussion by visiting here and selecting “Satellite Monitoring of Forest Crime: A Tool for Awareness Raising and Advocacy” under Tuesday, June 27th. Our presentation starts at the 26:30-minute mark.

MAAP #187 gives a detailed look at some of the major 2022 Amazon forest loss hotspots. These hot spots appear present across all 9 countries of the Amazon, and for the first time, we are able to distinguish data between deforestation from fires and deforestation from natural loss. A majority of this loss is present in Brazil (72.8%), followed by Bolivia (12.4%), Peru (7.3%), and Colombia (4.9%)

This report presents both deforestation and fire hotspots across the Amazon. From these findings, the estimated deforestation of 1.98 million hectares (4.89 million acres) in 2022 represents a 21% increase from 2021 and has become the second highest on record since 2004. These deforestation hotspots were mainly concentrated along roads in the Brazilian Amazon, the soy frontier in the southeast Bolivian Amazon, and near protected areas in the northwest Colombian Amazon.

Additionally, 491,223 hectares (1.2 million acres) of primary forest were lost from fires, causing a 1.6% increase from 2021, and has placed as the 4th highest on record. About 93% of these fires impacted Brazil and Bolivia.

In total, 2.47 million hectares (6.1 million acres) of primary forest have been impacted by deforestation and fires. It is estimated that 30.7 million hectares (75.9 acres) of these forests have been lost, which is greater than the size of Italy, or the U.S. state of Arizona.

Read the full report here.

 

 

As we reflect on the messaging from World Rainforest Day last week, we are reminded of the important role of the Amazon as a vital ecosystem that supports a rich array of plant and animal species, while also providing essential environmental services. As the world faces escalating climate change and deforestation challenges, it becomes increasingly crucial to take action to protect and preserve the Amazon. Through our holistic approach towards conservation, Amazon Conservation offers climate-smart and long-term sustainable solutions that have provided real results.

However, we can’t do it alone. Protecting the Amazon rainforest requires collective action and support from individuals around the world. Here are 5 different ways you can support conservation this summer: 

1. Become a Wild Keeper: Our Wild Keepers Monthly Giving Program gives you peace of mind by automating your tax-deductible gifts so you don’t forget to make your contributions and incorporate your charitable contributions into your monthly budget. Plus, when you give every month, you are providing Amazon Conservation with the sustainable support we need to ensure the longevity of our programs on the ground across the rainforest. Join other passionate conservationists in building a community of support that magnifies your real, lasting impact to help fight deforestation and mitigate the impacts of climate change in the Amazon.

2. Donate cryptocurrency or stock: Did you know that we accept donations of cryptocurrency and stock? These methods of giving are a quick and tax-efficient way to support our work, and may even help lower your taxes. Learn more about the benefits of donating cryptocurrency here and find our simple stock tool here.

3. Contribute from your Donor-Advised Fund or a QCD: Contributions from your Donor-Advised Fund or IRA account are another way to support our conservation efforts with funds that have already been set aside for charitable causes. If you are 73 years or older, a QCD to Amazon Conservation also helps you meet your Required Minimum Distributions for the year. Find out more on our Ways to Give page.

4. Help secure the future of the Amazon with your legacy gift to Amazon Conservation: A legacy gift in your will or living trust can help to preserve the Amazon rainforest for generations to come, at no cost to you today. Supporters from 18 to 80 years old can create their free legal will online in only 20 minutes through our partner FreeWill. FreeWill can also be used to create a set of documented wishes to bring to the lawyer’s office, saving you time and money on attorney fees. If you already have a will, consider adding Amazon Conservation as a beneficiary to make your mark on Amazon today. Start your will today.

5. Visit our biological stations: Plan your next trip to the Amazon and see the rainforest for yourself! Located in some of the most biologically diverse regions in the world, our biological stations and ecolodges in Peru and Bolivia offer incredible access to the Amazon and its diverse flora and fauna. All proceeds support our conservation efforts in and around the biological stations. Learn more about our ecolodges and biological stations in Peru or the Tahuamanu Research Station in Bolivia.

By incorporating just one or two of these methods into your summer plans, you are taking a huge step in contributing to the preservation of this invaluable ecosystem. Let us all be responsible stewards of the Amazon and work towards its long-term protection for future generations.

Visit our Ways to Give page for more information about how you can make a difference this summer.

MAAP #185  provides an in-depth analysis of the most recent (2021-2022) gold mining deforestation activities in the Madre de Dios region of Southern Peru. Mining activity in this corridor, officially known as the “Small-scale and Artisanal Mining Zone in the department of Madre de Dios,” can be formal, informal, or illegal.

Gold mining continues to be one of the main causes of deforestation in this region, and in this report, a combination of two types of data are being implemented for the first time: deforestation within the Mining Corridor (a large area delimited by the Peruvian government to organize and promote mining) and deforestation outside the Mining Corridor, which represents our estimate of illegal mining.

In the two areas of study, an estimated total deforestation of 18,421 hectares (45,520 acres) out of a total of a total of 1.38 million hectares has occurred due to gold mining in the southern Peruvian Amazon from 2021-2022.

A majority of this mining-related deforestation (76.6%, or 14,117 hectares) occurred within the Mining Corridor, while the remaining 23.4% (4,304 hectares) took place outside the Mining Corridor.

Compared to Operation Mercury (2017-2018) from years prior, mining-related deforestation has approximately decreased 4.5% (866 hectares). Additionally, mining outside the corridor has reduced from 47.7% to 23.4%, while concentration within the corridor increased from 52.3 to 76.6%.

Read the full MAAP report here.

We are excited to announce that our Manu Biological Station in Peru will feature brand new facilities in the shape of the Thomas Lovejoy Molecular Biology, Biodiversity, and Climate Change Laboratory, created in memory of renowned scientist and former Amazon Conservation Board Member Thomas Lovejoy. 

Tom has been a member of Amazon Conservation’s Board of Directors since 2009 and helped guide the strategic vision and direction of our organization. Since the 70s, he played a prominent role in establishing the Amazon as a global priority by being a long-time advocate in conservation, receiving many awards for his contributions and accomplishments to the field. He is credited for coining the term “biodiversity.” In honor of his many achievements, we are delighted to announce that this new laboratory will be up and running in September 2023. 

Our Founder Adrian Forsyth had many experiences with Tom in the rainforest, sharing that “Tom worked tirelessly until his last days in December 2021.” 

Alejandro Lopera, Manager of our Manu Biological Station, elaborates on the importance of this new laboratory, stating that “the Thomas Lovejoy Biodiversity and Climate Change Laboratory seeks to fill an existing gap in molecular biology research. The lack of infrastructure, research capacity, and scarcity of funds are obstacles that often prevent the advancement of research in Peru.”

This new Laboratory will provide ample resources for molecular studies including barcoding, metabarcoding, and Environmental DNA using Nanopore® technology, mercury analysis, and respirometry and thermal tolerance. In addition to a general laboratory, the building will also contain a photography room, a terrace for events, a digital herbarium and semi-permanent collections of insects and fish, and the Tom Lovejoy garden full of edible and attractive plants for birds, butterflies, and other pollinators.

Alejandro goes in-depth on the role of this lab in research practices: “The lab has four main goals: first, to train local researchers in otherwise inaccessible molecular tools. Second, to have an on-site facility for DNA, eDNA, and mercury analysis. Third, to contribute with genetic sequences of the species that inhabit the Andes to the lowlands of the Amazon in collaboration with the University of Guelph and the IBOL platform. Finally, to offer researchers the unique opportunity to study in real-time the pressures and threats that affect the state of health of organisms and their habitats in the Amazon, which would not be possible to understand in a short space of time with other methodologies.”

The Thomas Lovejoy Molecular Biology, Biodiversity, and Climate Change Laboratory will serve as a fitting tribute to Thomas Lovejoy’s contributions to conservation biology and environmental science. By highlighting his work and his life, the facility can inspire and train future generations to follow in his footsteps and make similar contributions. The station’s promotion of biodiversity will not only educate visitors about its importance, but also encourage them to take measures to protect it and help build community connections, foster a sense of shared purpose and identity, and promote a more environmentally conscious and sustainable community.

This project has been made possible by the generosity of the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, and Fiddlehead Foundation.