Montane forests of the Andes

Beyond the Amazon’s lush green canopies and buzzing wildlife lie unique montane forest ecosystems in the Andes Mountains that play an active role in the health of the watersheds of the Amazon basin. The water originating from these mountains is a key water source that feeds a series of major rivers that eventually flow into the Amazon River basin. By recognizing the importance of these ecological connections between regions, we are prioritizing the conservation of these larger landscapes to protect carbon stores and biodiversity as well as improve resilience to climate change for both the ecosystems and local people who depend on these natural resources for agriculture, water, and economic services. 

Since 2022, our sister organization, Conservación Amazónica-ACCA in Peru, has been working with several rural communities in Challabamba, Peru, as part of a reforestation project to restore degraded ecosystems historically affected by fires, overgrazing, and livestock farming. These communities depend heavily on the land for small-scale farming and agriculture to support their livelihoods. Restoring native plants to these degraded areas helps improve soil health and water flow systems that support sustainable agricultural development in the Andes while actively protecting major watersheds in the lower Amazon basin. 

Challabamba community members in carry out reforestation efforts (2022)

Conservación Amazónica-ACCA reported that over 350,000 native plants had been planted as of May 2024, along with 115,000 native trees planted as of January 2025. to support the restoration of these montane ecosystems. In January 2025, a study published in People and Nature–in which Conservación Amazónica-ACCA participated as a non-governmental organization stakeholder–analyzed the motivations, models, and perceived success of reforestation efforts of Andean forests in Peru and the impact their success has on local ecosystems and communities, offering new insight into what drives the success of reforestation projects in rural communities.

According to the study, the primary motivation for all stakeholders interviewed to restore Andean forests is to maintain and improve water resources for agriculture. At the same time, local community members cited secondary motivations that included improving livelihoods for future generations and the well-being of their community. 

In discussing their motivations for engaging in forest restoration, many local stakeholders described the relationship between local and regional water benefits or services with the concept of “sowing and harvesting water,” which the article describes as combining “a variety of activities that intercept and retain water in a landscape, including activities that are thought to improve water recharge in the subsoil and aquifers and increase humidity through fog collection by trees and in situ water recharge (e.g., wetland and grassland conservation and restoration and reforestation with native water-conserving species).” The study’s findings also demonstrate how local farmers understand the direct correlation between healthy forests and forest restoration efforts in improving water availability, including capturing and storing water for their agricultural livelihoods in preparation for dry seasons.

Highlighting the importance of including native species in restoration efforts, community members indicated how, in their experience, Andean forests and reforestation contributed to improved overall water quality and quantity by contributing to aquifer recharge and water retention. Native plants and tree species, such as Polylepis (Queñua) and mosses, capture humidity from fog and retain water like sponges, helping to regulate water flow into the soil and “recharge” groundwater stores ahead of the dry season.

The study also noted that in Peru, the role of certain socio-economic factors–including land ownership, environmental and conservation education, and community organization–can help enable the success of restoration projects. On the other hand, the researchers mentioned that at the regional level in other South American countries, similar social and institutional factors have ultimately limited restoration efforts, such as a high economic dependence on natural resources, conflict over land tenure and access, and divergence in perceptions and values between social actors, in particular a disconnection between “bottom-up” and “top-down” monitoring approaches.

The conclusions of this new study strongly align with our nature-based solutions to climate change through community-based forest restoration efforts, an understanding of the interconnectedness of ecosystems across the region, and a focus on large landscape-scale connectivity to protect the core of the Amazon.

We are incredibly proud of the hard work of Conservación Amazónica-ACCA and the collaboration and support from like-minded NGOs actively contributing to this essential reforestation.

Read the full study here. 

Kindness comes in many forms, and for 11-year-old sisters Muriel and Madeline, kindness meant taking action for the Amazon Rainforest. As part of a school project about kindness, they combined their passion for the environment with a simple but effective fundraising idea: a bake sale.

Madeline and Muriel’s pamphlet on palm oil

Madeline and Muriel, both fifth graders in San Diego, CA, organized a bake sale to raise awareness about the prevalence of palm oil and its impact on deforestation in the Amazon. They didn’t just sell cookies; they also shared educational materials about palm oil, such as listing common foods that contain it, the names it can be disguised as, and explaining how it contributes to environmental destruction. Their hard work paid off, raising an impressive $518, which they donated to Amazon Conservation to further counter deforestation’s impacts.

For Muriel and Madeline, supporting the Amazon was an easy decision. Through school and their own reading and research, they became deeply aware of the rainforest’s role in our planet’s health. They learned that the Amazon produces 20% of the Earth’s oxygen, stores vast amounts of carbon, and sustains its own rainfall, making its preservation crucial in the fight against climate change.

“We always knew we wanted to do something for the Amazon because of how quickly it’s being destroyed,” Madeline explained. Muriel agreed, “We decided, ‘Let’s help fix it! And let’s make cookies too because cookies are fun, and we think we can get more donations with cookies.’”

After organizing the bake sale, the sisters’ experience opened their eyes to how much people care and were interested in learning when given the chance. Many people were surprised by how much palm oil can be found in all kinds of food that they were unaware of, but they weren’t surprised that so many people didn’t realize how common it is. Muriel explained, “It’s not like the [companies] using palm oil want them to know this!”

A Message of Hope and Call to Action

While they want everyone to be aware of environmental harm and that it’s not all rainbows and butterflies, Madeline and Muriel believe that anyone can make a difference, no matter their age or resources. Their advice? Madeline recommends, “If you have the time and resources, then it makes sense to do it. But you don’t have to have a lot of time or resources; you can just organize a penny drive and ask people to donate five cents. That’s something.”

Muriel agrees and wishes more people took action: “Why aren’t people doing something about it!? They can! Since a ton of people aren’t doing something about it, these 10-year-old kids had to go and make cookies.”

They also emphasize small but meaningful changes, like choosing Rainforest Alliance-approved products, supporting companies that participate in 1% for the Planet, and reducing beef consumption, as much of it comes from deforested land.

Through their kindness, determination, and commitment to raising awareness, these two young activists prove that even small efforts can make a significant impact. Their story is an inspiring reminder that when people take the time to care, change is possible—one cookie at a time.

Learn how you, too, can make a difference for Amazon!

To commemorate the International Day of Women and Girls in Science on February 11th, our Peruvian sister organization, Conservación Amazónica—ACCA, held a webinar highlighting prominent women scientists leading vital studies on Amazonian biodiversity. From studies on keystone species like the Andean bear to research on tropical diseases and insect biodiversity, these scientists are helping advance the understanding of the rainforest and inform conservation strategies. 

The webinar, moderated by Dr. Corine Vriensendorp, Director of Science at Conservación Amazónica-ACCA, brought together our renowned staff researchers Ruthmery Pillco (Peru), Juliana Morales (Colombia) and Erin Rivera (Mexico), who each lead research at our biological stations in the Peruvian Amazon.

Science and Community: the Andean Bear, Guardian of the High Andean Forests

Ruthmery Pillco, National Geographic Explorer and Disney Conservation Hero presented the Andean Bear Conservation Project she has been leading at our Wayqecha Biological Station for the past several years, where her team studies the movement of this species, which is key to forest regeneration. “The Andean bear is an indicator of the state of health of the forests. Understanding their behavior helps us develop better conservation strategies,” Pillco explained. Her work has contributed to the reforestation of 430,000 native trees, benefiting wildlife and local communities affected by climate change.

Getting to Know the Transmitters of Leishmaniasis (Uta) in Peru

Juliana Morales, Director of the Thomas Lovejoy Biodiversity Laboratory at our Manu Biological Station, addressed the global and regional impacts of tropical diseases such as Leishmaniasis. “Our work allows us to better understand disease vectors and develop more effective prevention strategies for local communities,” Morales highlighted. Her work identifying the transmission mechanisms of diseases contributes to improving not only local conservation action but also driving efforts to protect human health and prevent future pandemics.

Applied Technologies For Insect Sampling at the Los Amigos Biological Station

Erin Rivera, a researcher at our Los Amigos Biological Station, highlighted the importance of studying insects as indicators of ecosystem health. “Insects can tell us a lot about environmental changes. They are key to understanding the health of the forest and its resilience to climate change,” Rivera explained. Using innovative technologies such as UV light traps and digital analysis software, the team is progressing in understanding the biodiversity of Amazonian insect species and how factors like human activity and climate change impact foundation species like insects.

The event concluded with words from Dr. Alizon Rodríguez, President of the Pro-Women Committee of the National Council of Science, Technology, and Innovation in Peru, who emphasized the need to create more opportunities for women in science, especially in rural environments and vulnerable communities. “We must guarantee that more women have access to research and tools to develop the scientific potential of the region,” said Rodríguez.

Finally, the researchers shared their personal experiences building their scientific career paths, highlighting the challenges they faced and the gratification of contributing to the knowledge and conservation of the Amazon. With an inspiring message for younger generations, they emphasized that with the right effort and determination, women can achieve their goals in science and make their dreams come true.

These research efforts in science and conservation were made possible thanks to the support of organizations such as the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, International Conservation Fund of Canada, Acción Andina, National Geographic Society, Seadream Family Foundation, and the Catto Shaw Foundation.

As we enter unprecedented times for conservation and climate change around the world, we at Amazon Conservation Association want to reassure you that our commitment to the Amazon and fighting climate change remains unchanged.

The impacts of deforestation and climate change will not stop in the midst of political uncertainty, but neither will our dedication to protecting the largest and most important forest on the planet. If we want the Amazon to carry on providing the world with all that it does now–vital resources like water and oxygen, climate regulation, home to Indigenous groups and their traditional ways of life, a haven for wildlife and biodiversity, and the source of irreplaceable products for local and global economies–then we must continue to move forward with the conservation solutions needed to ensure that the forest thrives, no matter how big the challenges in front of us are.

The latest decisions by the US government on foreign aid, conservation, and climate–among many other decisions affecting everything from humanitarian assistance to science–are already creating major ripple effects on local communities and the protection of nature. For instance, several of our Alliance’s projects previously supported by USAID to combat illegal deforestation in Peru have been halted. We, along with the rest of the conservation community, are deeply concerned about the long-term impacts these decisions will have on the health of forests, survival of wildlife, local people’s livelihoods, and our global climate. Our hearts go out to the people around the world who are being affected by these drastic decisions and all the organizations that are being directly impacted. However, even though this change in funding has already begun to affect our work, it has not moved us away from our core mission to drive conservation action across the Amazon. We remain as committed to protecting the Amazon today as we were on our first day, 25 years ago.

Now more than ever, we ask that you join us and other nonprofit organizations in the fight to protect nature and our collective futures. Civil society organizations are quickly becoming central to filling new gaps in order to continue providing critical social, economic, and environmental services. And we depend on you to help us keep conservation thriving and resilient through these new challenges. We are truly grateful to each of our supporters and partners for your contributions to date that have helped us achieve so much already, and we pledge to continue fighting to ensure that our conservation progress won’t be stopped. 

Join us standing with nature and people

For decades, local Indigenous communities have continued to experience threats, incursions, and illegal deforestation in their territories, destroying thousands of acres of pristine forests and vital natural resources they depend on. To support local Indigenous communities in Peru, we have been working with the Native Federation of the Madre de Dios River Region (FENAMAD), a regional Indigenous federation representing 38 communities from the Madre de Dios region, to bring them the technology tools and legal support needed to protect their ancestral lands. This January, FENAMAD celebrated 43 years as a federation, and we are proud to have been partnering with them for over 7 of these years to support their fight against the illegal activities that threaten their homes.

An example of the satellite imagery we share with FENAMAD

To celebrate their anniversary, FENAMAD hosted a presentation to share more information about their organization and updates on projects and initiatives they have actively been involved in. Amazon Conservation’s Senior Geospatial Analyst and Partner Strategy Lead, Nadia Mamani Chavez, attended this event and shared her input on the progress of our close partnership with FENAMAD. She shares, “We congratulate our colleagues at FENAMAD for their 43rd anniversary and for all the results achieved so far for the dozens of communities they represent. During the event, the achievements of our real-time satellite monitoring and action work were presented, and we couldn’t be more proud of all the deforestation we nipped in the bud together. It was great to hear from the community leaders on the importance of expanding and strengthening technology-based monitoring and legal action for the protection of their ancestral territories, something that is a core part of Amazon Conservation’s efforts.”

Since 2021, Amazon Conservation has provided FENAMAD with real-time satellite monitoring of Indigenous territories in the Peruvian Amazon through our Monitoring of the Andes Amazon Program (MAAP) while also building their technological capacity to use high-tech monitoring tools, such as drones, to patrol their territories. The information and data gathered from these reports and tools are then cited in “denúncias” – a legal complaint sent to authorities to call for government intervention. This partnership, supported by the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad), marks how Amazon Conservation is directly partnering with Indigenous leaders to transfer technology and build their capacity to strengthen their existing surveillance systems, inform their on-the-ground patrolling, and help take action to stop illegal deforestation and degradation in their homelands.

To date, the federation has successfully filed 200 legal cases – 141 of which they have already won – against activities affecting Indigenous territories in the Madre de Dios region of Peru. Additionally, FENAMAD’s legal efforts to protect their territories not only impact the 38 communities they represent but also several uncontacted Indigenous groups around their established communities who depend on healthy forests for their survival. Now, the federation has expanded its fight against illegal deforestation to the international arena, filing an international case in November 2024 with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights to report the violation of territorial rights that threaten the agency, culture, and well-being of Indigenous groups in voluntary isolation and initial contact, referred to as “PIACI” in Spanish. 

Moving forward, FENAMAD envisions big goals for 2025 to strengthen its monitoring systems, including establishing 15 new community oversight offices to monitor the territories of 38 Indigenous communities more closely and simultaneously build the technical capabilities of local leaders. Amazon Conservation continues to support the federation, providing the necessary equipment, satellite imagery, technological and legal training, and other resources to help them enact their territorial rights and keep their forest home standing.