Our Bolivian sister organization Conservación Amazónica – ACEAA is celebrating its 12-year anniversary this October. Celebrations began at the end of last month with a cocktail party for the organization’s team, diplomatic corps, and allied organizations at their headquarters in La Paz, Bolivia. ACEAA has been a part of our alliance (including our other sister organization Conservación Amazónica – ACCA in Peru) from its beginning and has enacted a joint mission of sustainably managing territorial spaces in the Amazon, generating knowledge and capacities with local communities and workers to help conserve biodiverse ecosystems.

Since its foundation in 2011, ACEAA has carried out its conservation efforts throughout more than 30 million hectares in the Bolivian Amazon, covering three departments: Beni, La Paz, and Pando. This diverse landscape is home to a variety of ecosystems included within the Amazon basin, from the headwaters and heights of the Andes mountain range, passing through different types of forests to the grasslands and wetlands of the Beni. These landscapes provide essential tools to governments and local stakeholders to empower communities to develop sustainable livelihoods in harmony with forests.

In addition to the many programs that have helped conserve the greater Amazon, ACEAA plays an active role in supporting local initiatives to strategize sustainable forest use through its support for the creation of the Inter-Institutional Platform for Articulation of Amazonian Fruit Productive Complexes PICFA, a platform for public-private coordination to strengthen the production of Amazonian fruits in Pando, and The Federation of Asaí and Amazonian Fruits of the department of Pando (FEDAFAP), an organization of Acai fruit workers and institutes to maintain and promote sustainable production practices.

Against all odds, this team continues to envision a thriving Amazon that supports the full diversity of life. Today, more than ever, it is critical that we, as global citizens, unite to protect this natural treasure. Our goal as an alliance is to create a more sustainable way forward. Together, we can ensure a prosperous future for the Amazon, a region vital to life on our planet. Let us continue to work towards preserving this priceless heritage and ensure that future generations can enjoy the beauty and richness of the Amazon.

Thank you to all our supporters who have helped support our alliance throughout the years. Your efforts will not go unnoticed, and we greatly appreciate all those who help us conserve some of the greatest forests on earth.

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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>

 

In 2017, Mennonite colonies began appearing in various regions of the Peruvian Amazon. Mennonites are a global religious group starting around the 1600s and often rely on agriculture as an industrialized activity.

Based on a number of reports, Mennonites have now become one of the major drivers of deforestation across the Peruvian and Bolivian Amazon. There is a significant amount of evidence showing that this mass-scale deforestation is illegal, and is being investigated by the Peruvian government.

Over 7,000 hectares (17,376 acres) have already been deforested by 5 Mennonite colonies since 2017, and an additional 1,600 burned. In total, more than ⅓ of this destruction has occurred from January 2022 to August 2023.

MAAP is currently using the information from these reports to identify specific colonies and gain more insight on the exact scale of negative forest impacts. 

Read the full report here>

 

 

Earlier this month, representatives from eight South American countries came together for the first time in 14 years for the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (ACTO) summit. These renewed meetings hosted by the previously dormant organization show the rebirth of a movement to stop deforestation in the Amazon Rainforest on a multinational scale. Brazilian President Lula Da Silva highlighted that deforestation in Brazil has already decreased by an astounding 66% in one year, and hopes to continue efforts in protecting the continent’s vast, diverse forests that not only house incredibly diverse species, but local and indigenous communities that depend on its natural resources.

Regional leaders of Amazonian countries convened in Belém, Brazil for this special session, and although the meeting of powers did not result in any hard deadlines or funding strategies, the summit allowed for the drafting of the Belém Declaration, containing 113 points of consensus on how to strengthen ACTO in the future while outlining key objectives of the organization. To the delight of many, one major focus of the Declaration was the protection of indigenous rights and the need to amplify indigenous voices in regional governance.  The agreement calls for an Amazon-wide institution to facilitate communication between indigenous communities and national governments as well as investment in education programs in the Amazon centered around indigenous knowledge and empowerment. In line with other international agreements such as the Escazú Agreement and the Leticia Pact, this declaration reaffirms the importance of protecting the rights of indigenous communities. 

Many environmental groups hope the Belém talks are laying the groundwork for future cooperation and regional solidarity in international forums. Another summit occurring simultaneously, United for Our Forests, saw the 8 Amazonian nations join with other rainforest countries in Southeast Asia and Central Africa, to advocate for developing nations to provide $100 billion in climate financing immediately, and $200 billion by 2030. Additionally, A united front of Amazonian nations at COP 28 may be more likely to succeed in securing international funding to halt deforestation. Between the United for Our Forests request, and lack of deadlines in the Belém Declaration, Amazonian nations seem to be signaling that they are willing to implement change, but need more financial resources to begin substantial, multilateral projects. 

Despite progress being made, some observers are calling for more concrete measures to be taken. The Brazilian Indigenous People Articulation (APIB) called the result of the summit ‘frustrating,’ and demanded that politicians back up rhetoric with demarcation of indigenous lands. Still, Belém represents a vital first step in expanding international conservation efforts across the Amazon. With the groundwork laid for greater cooperation, we can hope for greater regional alignment and progress in future international negotiations.

 

Amazon Conservation is proud to join the Nature Crime Alliance and several leading conservation NGOs in the Vancouver Statement on Nature Crime, as a sign of our commitment to combatting environmental crimes.

This statement reads as follows:

“Today, we are joining together to form the Nature Crime Alliance – a new, multi-sector approach to fighting criminal forms of logging, mining, wildlife trade, land conversion, crimes associated with fishing, and the illegal activities with which they converge. 

Nature crime constitutes one of the largest illicit economies in the world, inflicting devastation and destruction upon people and the planet. We recognize that these crimes cannot be eradicated without multi-sector cooperation and that there is a pressing need for greater coordination and collaboration among the diverse actors fighting nature crime. A new approach is needed.  

We have formed the Alliance in recognition of this need, with members including representatives from governments, law enforcement, international organizations, civil society organizations, front-line defenders including Indigenous Peoples and local communities, donors, and the private sector.  

We will work together, through the Alliance, to raise political will, mobilize financial commitment, and strengthen operational capacity to fight nature crime. Through a range of initiatives – from solutions-focused working groups convening representatives across different sectors to structured communications channels that enable open dialogue and the sharing of best practices – the Alliance is building a new, international, collaborative response to nature crime.  

This is the first time that such a multi-sector approach to this global challenge has been developed on this scale, with the Alliance marking a key moment in the fight against nature crime. We encourage governments and organizations that share our determination to end environmental injustice and protect people and the planet to join us in the Nature Crime Alliance.”

To read more about the Nature Crime Alliance, click here.

Last month, ACA’s second Norad-sponsored workshop “II Encuentro” was held in Tena, Ecuador to share experiences and evaluate our satellite monitoring program MAAP across the Amazon basin. This workshop brought together organizations and indigenous groups from Peru and Ecuador such as Fundación EcoCiencia, FENEMAD (Native Federation of the Madre de Dios River and Tributaries), and local representatives from the indigenous Shuar-Arutam and Waorani communities to discuss and improve the use of MAAP, as well as how to increase local capacities and engaging governments to apply the law.

In Ecuador, satellite monitoring is handled by Fundación EcoCiencia, which seeks to reduce deforestation and forest crime by creating a network that supports regional monitoring efforts throughout the Amazon.​ Fundación EcoCiencia has a direct relationship with the community monitors of the Shuar Arutam People and the Waorani Territory, who carry out community monitoring activities through platforms that receive information from provided technologies. Subsequently, technical reports are produced and made available to the proper authorities within the indigenous communities. 

Similarly in Peru, oversight offices across the Amazonian region have significant legal support and enact protocols for alerts through the National Forestry and Wildlife Service (SERFOR), which recognizes them as a technical unit established within the indigenous communities and organizations to provide technical advice in the forestry and environmental field. These precautions are being taken to build a national community monitoring and surveillance system, with the support and recognition of environmental authorities to work alongside monitoring these efforts. As many threats and pressures on Amazon persist, strengthening the legal framework and visualizing strategies for satellite monitoring in indigenous communities is critical.​

​As the evaluation of methodologies for analyzing satellite images, data, map monitoring, systems implementation, and use of technological tools carried on, communication processes were also discussed to facilitate decision-making and to consolidate more timely, accessible, and precise work to combat these threats. Likewise, promoting the development of joint and technological work, based on each experience, allows us to reinforce and improve these processes.

For these five days, those who took part in the analysis of MAAP learned from the experiences that each partner holds in their own countries, through the study of satellite images on deforestation, and other pressures on Amazon forests.