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.

Aspiring to make a lasting positive impact but don’t know where to start? We’ve got you covered! Our Wild Keepers monthly giving program gives individuals the opportunity to join a community of conservationists, activists, and wildlife enthusiasts working together to protect the vital resources and biodiversity of the Amazon.

When it comes to protecting wild places and empowering people in the Amazon, the range of threats and drivers jeopardizing the future of these forests may make finding effective solutions seem intimidating. However, Amazon Conservation knows that protecting the Amazon requires real change and long-term solutions, which in turn require the sustained support of a team of changemakers committed to achieving our shared mission.

Our team of Wild Keepers provides ongoing monthly contributions that create a sustainable and impactful support system that provides a solid foundation for our work. By becoming a Wild Keeper today, you help advance our long-term conservation objectives and ensure your contributions make a real difference. 

Here are some of the unique impacts of our Wild Keepers program: 

 

• Consistency and long-term impact: Regular contributions ensure a steady and predictable stream of funding for our conservation programs. This stability allows us and the people we work with on the ground to plan projects more effectively, knowing we have a reliable source of support over time. By joining a monthly giving program, you become a vital partner in these long-term efforts that empower local people and make a sustained impact on the causes you care about.

 

• Increased giving power: As a Wild Keeper, you have the opportunity to give more over time. Since a larger one-time donation is not always feasible for everyone, contributing a feasible amount each month can add up to a substantial gift over the course of a year. This allows you to amplify impact over time without straining your budget. Since you’re also contributing to a pool of resources through the power of collective giving, our Wild Keepers help fund significant projects, drive innovation, and create lasting change across the Amazon.

 

• Convenience and ease: Our monthly giving program makes supporting a cause easy and convenient. Once you set up your monthly contribution, your contributions are automated, saving you the time and effort of remembering to donate or going through the hassle of filling out forms repeatedly. This simplicity allows you to focus on the impact you are making rather than the logistics of donating. 

 

• Empowerment and engagement: Joining our Wild Keepers program goes beyond the act of giving; it also empowers you to actively participate in the causes you care about. By aligning yourself with other Wild Keepers, you become part of a community of like-minded individuals who share the common vision of a thriving Amazon that sustains the full diversity of life. This community provides opportunities for engagement that deepen your connection to Amazon Conservation and allows you to see the direct impact of your support.

 

• Direct program benefits: Being a Wild Keeper means you’ll also have access to exclusive program benefits, including Wild Keeper-specific emails, news, and updates from the ground; local events; discounts to visit our Conservation Hubs and ecolodges in Peru; and participate in quarterly giveaways of unique handicrafts made by local artisans from the communities who thrive from your support. Learn more about these and other program benefits here.

 

So consider becoming a Wild Keeper today to take a stand to help fight deforestation and climate change. Join other passionate conservationists in building a transformative force for positive change. Together, we have the power to create a real, lasting impact on the Amazon!

Become a Wild Keeper Today! >

A series of reports have shown that deforestation caused by gold mining is escalating in the Ecuadorian Amazon (MAAP #186). Protected areas and indigenous territories such as Podocarpus National Park, Cuenca Alta del Río Nangaritza Protected Forest, and Shuar Arutam Indigenous territory have been highly susceptible to these activities, which are now beginning to affect the Cofán – Bermejo Ecological Reserve.

221 sites with mining activity have been identified since February 2023 on the southeastern outer margin of the reserve. Many of these cadasters where the accelerated growth of mining activities is concentrated are still in the process of being approved. 

Through the updated information of the MapBiomas Amazonía project (2022), it is evident that areas with mining activity have increased by 386 hectares, representing a growth of more than 350% within the last 5 years of analysis.

Four case studies within the area of analysis have been selected to exemplify the velocity with which mining activity has extended between 2017 – 2023. The total surface area affected by the mining of the four reported cases is 303 hectares, the equivalent of 420 professional soccer fields.

Read the full report HERE

 

Happy International Day for Biodiversity! In celebration of this day, we want to give special thanks to the many individuals and partners who have supported us in our conservation initiatives that contribute to our mission: to unite science, innovation, and people to protect biodiversity in the Amazon.

We also want to share our appreciation for all the parts of our ecosystems that keep our forests strong, rivers running, and climate regulated. Our passion for protecting biodiversity extends beyond admiring the beauty of the Amazon. No matter how big or small, every living being in the Amazon plays an important role in regulating this ecosystem – improving air and water quality, adapting to the warming climate, and sustaining all forms of life through mutualistic relationships.

Pollinators

We have come to know and love the role of bees in our environment, and how they are an important part of pollination for many plants and for supporting biodiversity. However, bees are not the only pollinators we rely on. Other winged insects prevalent throughout the Amazon such as butterflies, moths, and beetles can distribute pollen from one flower to the other. Even animals such as hummingbirds and bats are also contributors to pollination, keeping the process of reproduction flowing and promoting genetic diversity.

 

 

Indicator Species

Certain species in the rainforest are highly susceptible to their environment. Their well-being can easily be impacted by small changes in the ecosystem. Changes in their behavior, diet, absence, or presence are vital indicators for water, air, forest, and overall environmental quality in a particular area. From large mammals like the jaguar to insects like the dung beetle or plants like orchids, indicator species can come from all walks of life and help researchers track ecological changes to find ways in restoring the balance of forest ecosystems.

 

 

Seed Dispersers

Animals like the agouti often play the role of the ‘gardeners’ in the forest. They help with transporting nuts and seeds from one place to another. More often than not, these animals will forget where they buried their goodies, and within weeks, a new plant is born. Brazil nuts, most commonly distributed by the agouti, rely heavily on their seed dispersal for reproduction. Other animals like the Andean bear spread nutrients from fish and seeds through their waste across a wide range of areas.

 

 

 

Climate Regulators

The Amazon is the world’s largest carbon sink, absorbing 2 billion tons of carbon dioxide each year, representing 5% of global emissions per year. This helps regulate climate change, reduce greenhouse gasses, and purify the air by absorbing pollutants such as nitrogen and sulfur dioxides. The Amazon’s forests also sequester, or store, more than 150 billion metric tons of carbon, which is more than one-third of all the carbon stored in tropical forests worldwide. In turn, these forests account for about 20% of the world’s oxygen, allowing us to maintain good air quality for human and animal respiration.

 

 

In order to keep this carbon in the ground and out of the atmosphere and keep regulating the world’s emissions, it’s important we keep these forests standing and these ecosystems healthy and thriving.

So on this International Day for Biodiversity, say thank you to all the wild creatures who help make our world a better place. Their hard work surely goes a long way!

 

 

 

In 1973, over 3.7 million acres of tropical forests were formalized as Manu National Park: a protected area located between the foothills of the Andes Mountains and Amazon basin in southeastern Peru. It serves as one of the most globally recognized areas for terrestrial biodiversity, and around 850 different species of birds, as well as rare species like the giant otter, have been identified here. In 2009, the National Park extended to cover the foothills of the Andes, totaling 4.24 million acres of protected areas. Today, 50 years later, the park continues to be a haven for conservation enthusiasts and researchers alike.

Amazon Conservation established the Manu (formerly Villa Carmen) Research Station  (pictured right) in August of 2010 as a conservation hub to promote sustainable agroforestry and aquaculture, host educational programs, and further incorporate local communities into conservation efforts. Its main intent is to do what we do best: contribute to the understanding and protection of the greater Manu landscape. 

The station is part of 7,500 acres of land within the UNESCO-designated Manu Biosphere Reserve, spanning an elevational gradient of 1,700 to almost 4,000 feet above sea level. It follows the Manu River basin that runs through the Madre de Dios and Cusco Departments, borders the Madre de Dios watershed, and Amarakaeri Communal Reserve in southeast Peru. Neighboring right on the edge of the National Park are two more of our research stations: Wayqecha Cloud Forest Research Station, located at elevations ranging from 6,500 to 9,800 feet above sea level, and down the Andes foothills near the southeastern edge of Manu National Park, Los Amigos Conservation Hub at less than 1,000 feet in elevation.

From cloud forests to montane and lowland rainforest, our stations work to support and protect an incredible array of species found in a variety of habitats. The vital areas protected within Manu National Park are a core part of the Manu-Madidi Corridor: 23.5 million-acre stretches of protected forests within the Manu National Park in Peru that connect with Madidi National Park in Bolivia. Protecting these large areas of biodiversity and ensuring connectivity for these landscapes not only helps protect habitat and food sources for wildlife in the region, but it is also an important tool for minimizing the impacts of climate change. As the planet continues to get warmer and ecosystems change, flora and fauna will need to adapt as well. Ecological corridors and increased connectivity provide species with more options to adapt, such as the ability to safely move uphill into cooler forests.

Despite the many factors that can threaten these vital habitats, Amazon Conservation is working hard with partners on the ground to protect these areas, using our technological and scientific expertise in combination with our history of successful partnerships with government agencies, as well as rural and indigenous communities that reside within and in buffer zones around Manu National Park. With new monitoring enforcements carried out by communities and government officials, key data for law enforcement, decision-making, and management can help strengthen protection measures for communities and governments, mitigating impacts from major threats.

As we celebrate this 50th Anniversary of Manu National Park, we greatly appreciate the government of Peru for all of its work to protect the incredible biodiversity of Manu National Park over the past 50 years. We are honored to work alongside partners from SERNANP (National Service of Natural Areas Protected by the State), Serfor (National Forestry and Wildlife Service), Zoological Society of Frankfurt (FZS) and the San Diego Zoo, as well as other non-governmental organizations and local communities to protect the Manu Biosphere Reserve.

Read more about our conservation efforts on the ground, and how we work to keep biodiversity and local communities safe and sound.

Any passionate birdwatcher or avian researcher knows that a forest with a diverse array of habitats is a likely treasure trove of brilliant, rare and charismatic avifauna. The Los Amigos Biological Station and reserve managed by Amazon Conservation in southeast Peru is just such a place. Situated in two floodplains, with terra firme, bamboo and palm swamp habitats, Los Amigos is home to almost 600 bird species, almost a third of the total number of birds registered in Peru!

Los Amigos is not only a biodiversity hotspot, but is also a biological corridor connecting millions of acres of Protected Areas, including Manu National Park, the Reserve for Indigenous People in Isolation and the Tambopata National Reserve. Its conservation is critical to a thriving Amazon rainforest, and the diversity of bird species found there. As stewards of this vital bird habitat, we have a responsibility and opportunity to better understand bird wildlife, and enhance conservation efforts among birdwatchers, young scientists, and conservationists that visit us year after year. To this end, Amazon Conservation recently launched the Los Amigos Bird Observatory (LABO) program. LABO’s vision is to develop Los Amigos as a key site for birdwatching, ornithological research, and avian conservation in the southwestern Amazon, contributing to the protection of the over 360,000 acres of forest.

As part of this new program, we have begun research on tinamous, a group of forest-dwelling birds that are only found in the Neotropics. As home to 11 of the 47 total tinamou species, Los Amigos is an epicenter of diversity for this group. This research aims to assess habitat selection of the tinamou community, through camera traps and audiovisual surveys, among four main habitat types. This is one of the many avian research projects that will be conducted at Los Amigos through LABO’s Jonathan Franzen Fellowship Program. This program seeks to train the next generation of avian researchers by selecting passionate young scientists who see bird conservation as their career path. We are working with accomplished and well-known avian scientists and conservationists, including Dan Lebbin, PhD (Vice President of International Programs at American Bird Conservancy), Rich Hoyer (birding guide at WINGS), David Winkler, PhD. (Cornell University), and more, to provide technical expertise to the program and assist in selecting and supporting fellows. We are in the process of recruiting talented and passionate candidates to start their projects in 2018.

Plan a trip to Los Amigos to experience this birding hotspot for yourself!