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Marcos Terán, director of our Bolivian sister organization Conservación Amazónica – ACEAA, recently visited the Municipality of Bolpebra in Pando, Bolivia to sign an agreement that would call for inter-institutional cooperation with their Autonomous government to enact sustainable management of forests, strengthen capacities of local organizations, and formulate projects to better improve territory management. Similar to Bolpebra, the municipality of Ingavi has also signed an agreement that expressed their interest in their own vision of comprehensive forest management, with the premise of conserving their natural spaces and promoting adequate use of their natural resources. ACEAA began to work with both Municipal Governments upon signing the established cooperation agreements.

Among the key elements of these sustainable objectives, both municipalities aim to work together at maintaining the conservation of nature for the benefit of local communities. Such efforts include helping local organizations maintain the ecological balance and control of environmental pollution, promote the sustainable use of water resources, and provide water for irrigation and for human consumption. 

These agreements will later serve as a foundation in support of achieving, through a strategic alliance, the development of synergies for the implementation of actions, planning projects, and comprehensive management of natural resources, as well as actions aimed towards conservation in these municipalities.

Based on previous reports (e.g.  MAAP #188), the Peruvian Amazon is facing massive deforestation by Mennonite colonies. 

Our latest publication from MAAP #192 demonstrates through very high-resolution satellite imagery (0.5 meters from Planet’s Skysat fleet) that these Mennonite colonies (Chipiar, Providencia, and Vanderland), located in the regions of Loreto and Ucayali, caused the large scale destruction of primary forests.

By comparing a series of these high resolution images across multiple Mennonite colony areas, it is confirmed that Mennonites are actively responsible for clearing primary forests in 2023.

Read the full report here>

 

 

From August 24th – 26th, our Peruvian sister organization Conservación Amazónica – ACCA brought together professionals with experience in administrative, constitutional, environmental, forestry, and criminal law to hold the theoretical-practical workshop on “Strengthening for Environmental Judges of the Amazonian Environmental Justice System.” This presentational workshop was co-organized with the National Commission for Environmental Management – Judiciary and with the support of the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation – Norad and Norway’s International Climate and Forest Initiative – NICFI.

This workshop was aimed at helping environmental judges in Amazonian regions homogenize their knowledge of criminal and administrative law within the environmental forestry branch and in the management of technological tools to strengthen the justice system when it comes to tackling crimes against natural resources. The president of the National Commission for Environmental Management of the Judiciary (PJ), Supreme Judge Iris Pacheco Huancas, warned that Amazon is facing serious issues from organized crime, which requires a strong, and properly trained justice system to be handled.

Judges from the superior courts of Madre de Dios, Ucayali, Loreto, and Lima participated in the commencement of the workshop where they highlighted leading threats by environmental crimes such as illegal mining, forestry crimes, and various related crimes such as money laundering, human trafficking, tax fraud and others. For these reasons, Justice Huancas noted that current times pose new challenges to judges, and by providing knowledge and understanding, these judges can effectively apply the corresponding tools and regulations, thus guaranteeing the protection of the legitimate rights and interests of society and the environment.

Nestled within the heart of the world’s most diverse rainforest, the Amazon basin offers more than just a breathtaking display of biodiversity. Among its lush foliage and winding waterways is a treasure trove of unique and exotic fruits. These Amazonian fruits offer not only a burst of vibrant flavors, but also a rich cultural, ecological, and economic significance.

Fruits are a vital product in facilitating local and regional markets across the Amazon Basin. Production of these fruits can greatly affect local livelihoods, and improve the stability of communities, governments, and buyers. For instance, to support local producers and buyers, our Bolivian sister organization Conservación Amazónica-ACEAA supported the launch of a major inter-institutional platform called the Inter-Institutional Platform for the Articulation of Amazonian Fruit Production Complexes (PICFA), that helps producers inform and coordinate more seamlessly with government institutions whose policy decisions can to react to changes in the market, climate, and other issues. This platform brings together sustainable producers, buyers, governments, local non-governmental organizations, and other stakeholders across the department of Pando in Bolivia, to provide vital updates and information important for maintaining the quality of the fruit market processes.

These Amazonian fruits produced by many associations ACEAA works with have been revered for their potential health benefits, boasting a wealth of nutrients and antioxidants that offer a glimpse into the intricate relationship between the rainforest ecosystem and human well-being. We’ll explore the unique flavors of these nutritional powerhouses and how they contribute to the overall health of consumers.

 

Brazil Nut

These flagship products come from the Madre de Dios region in Peru, where there is a high concentration of trees for harvesting at an economic scale. They are the only species in the global nut market whose production is not cultivated, and can only be harvested in the wild. Harvesting season is between December through March, and can be eaten raw, or toasted.

Nutrients: Selenium, vitamin E, copper, linoleic acid, magnesium

 

 

Açaí

Açaí berries are produced in dense branch clusters called ‘panicles’ that contain 500 to 900 fruits each. There is also a green variety called Açaí Tinga that only grows in one Amazon estuary. Asaí Euterpre Precatoria is the species most found in the Bolivian Amazon and has a greater concentration of nutrients. These special fruits have a small window for freshness once harvested, which is why imported Açaí products are often found in powdered or frozen forms. Recently, the growth in Açaí’s popularity predicts the market for this product to reach 1.7 billion by 2028

Nutrients: vitamins A, C and E, omega fatty acids, antioxidants, calcium, magnesium, zinc, copper

 

Cacao

You may know Cacao as a wonderful source of chocolate, but did you know it also is one of the richest antioxidants on earth? These tropical fruits grow in altitudes of 30 – 300 m, and its trees produce roughly 70 fruits annually. There are two ‘flush’ harvesting seasons that last from October to February, and May to August. Upon harvesting, its seeds are fermented for 1-7 before being dried, roasted, and either ground to a powder or winnowed into nibs. Not only is cacao useful for consumption, but cacao trees are also considered a shade crop that provides habitat for other plants and animals.

Nutrients: Potassium, antioxidants, Iron, Copper, Magnesium, Manganese

 

Aguaje

Aguaje is the fruit of the Moriche palm found throughout swamps across South America. The fruit offers a variety of flavor combinations, being sweet, salty, and mildly acidic. Some describe the taste as being similar to carrots when eaten raw. The palm goes by various names based on the country, including canangucho (Colombia), morete (Ecuador), or aguaje (Peru), and Palma Real (Bolivia).

These fruits have been harvested for thousands of years and continue to be one of the most regionally popular fruits within the jungle market. In previous years, the trees were cut down upon harvesting, but conservationists have worked to provide climbing harnesses to allow for a more sustainable and efficient method of harvesting.

Nutrients: vitamins A, E, and C, Manganese, Copper

Copoazú

Also known as cupuaçu, Copoazú is the national fruit of Brazil. This fruit is closely related to Cacao and emits an aroma of pineapple and chocolate when opened. Many have described it as tasting similar to chocolate with notes of tropical melon flavors. The seed can also be harvested to make butter that is good for skin and hair health.

Nutrients: Vitamin C, linoleic acid, antioxidants, iron, calcium, vitamin B3, and pectin.

 

 

Learn more about these fruits and the function of PICFA>