In a milestone for Bolivian Amazon conservation, local communities and the Municipal Government of Nueva Esperanza, with support from our sister organization Conservación Amazónica–ACEAA and the Andes Amazon Fund, have joined forces to establish the Río Negro Forest for Integrated Management and Ecotourism (called BAMIT Río Negro). This new protected area strengthens conservation and sustainable development in northern Bolivia’s Amazon.

Spanning more than 209,000 hectares (approximately 516,000 acres), this community-driven initiative was established in response to growing environmental threats to the region, including wildfires, illegal mining, deforestation, and land invasions. The Río Negro Forest will serve as a cornerstone for biodiversity protection, sustainable livelihoods, and the preservation of Bolivia’s Amazonian cultural heritage.

A Natural and Cultural Treasure

The protected area is home to unique ecosystems, including Brazil nut forests (Bertholletia excelsa), flood-prone palm groves, floodplains, and ancient geological formations. In addition, researchers have identified petroglyphs and megalithic structures that reveal the ancestral presence of Indigenous peoples such as the Tacanas, Esse Ejjas, Pacahuaras, Cavineños, Yaminahuas, and Machineri.  

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Community Participation and Shared Commitment

The creation of the Río Negro Forest was the result of a collaborative, participatory process involving Indigenous and campesino (rural farming) communities, social organizations, and the Nueva Esperanza FarmWorkers Union.

Throughout this journey, Conservación Amazónica–ACEAA provided technical and strategic support to help design and consolidate the proposal. The Municipal Government will lead the management of the area with support from  local committees, technical coordination teams, and an environmental volunteer program that will strengthen monitoring, enforcement, and education.

A Model for the Future of Conservation

Now part of Bolivia’s National System of Protected Areas, the Río Negro Forest will be managed through a management plan, zoning system, and strategic agenda aimed at ensuring the long-term conservation and sustainable use of its natural resources.

This initiative promotes food security, sustainable economic opportunities, and a balanced relationship between people and nature. It stands as a forward-looking model for conservation, reaffirming Nueva Esperanza’s and its allies’ commitment to protecting the natural and cultural richness of the Amazon for generations to come.

Amazon Conservation is proud to have supported this milestone through the Amazon Conservation Alliance, working alongside its sister organization Conservación Amazónica–ACEAA in Bolivia and local partners to strengthen community-led conservation efforts across the Amazon.

 

 

Groundbreaking analysis shows how the “rivers in the sky” connect the fate of  the entire rainforest and identify which regions are most at risk.

Washington, DC, 16 Sept 2025 – The Amazon will not collapse everywhere at the same time. A new special report by Amazon Conservation’s Monitoring of the Andes Amazon Program (MAAP) reveals how “flying rivers” determine which regions of the Amazon are most at risk of reaching the tipping point that will turn irreplaceable rainforests into dry savannas.

“Flying rivers” are moisture highways in the atmosphere, like rivers of rain in the sky, that travel from the Atlantic Ocean to the Andes Mountains and provide vital water resources to the nine countries that form the Amazon Basin. They are the silent and invisible force that drives the water cycle of the entire region, making the rainfall that gives the Amazon its title of “rainforest” possible. As this delicate “flying river” is disrupted by human-caused deforestation and the effects of climate change, the impact on people, nature, and wildlife will be catastrophic, potentially including species extinction, increased droughts and lack of water access, and the end of the forest as we know it. 

Amazon Conservation’s latest analysis has identified that key areas of the Peruvian and Bolivian Amazon are most susceptible to the negative consequences of the breakdown of the region’s flying rivers. This includes areas in southern Peru and northern Bolivia that are home to some of the most iconic and biodiverse places on the planet, such as Manu National Park and Madidi National Park, which together protect 8.9 million acres of rich forests from the high Andes to the lowland Amazon. 

Corine Vriesendorp, Director of Science at Amazon Conservation’s Peruvian sister organization Conservación Amazónica-ACCA, oversees three biological stations along an altitudinal gradient near Manu National Park: “This research shows that some of the most wild places on the planet, like Manu, are at tremendous risk. We need to come together across the whole Amazon to protect these increible flying rivers to have a chance to avoid the tipping point.” The areas identified by this report as most vulnerable to a possible tipping point directly depend on the continued, uninterrupted water cycle provided by these flying rivers, which begins in Amazonian countries that border the Atlantic Ocean, like Brazil and Guyana. The state of deforestation and conservation in these countries on the “eastern” side of the Amazon will determine how much water will get to countries on the “western” side of the region – like Peru and Bolivia – showing the interconnectedness of the rainforest’s ecosystems that goes beyond country borders.

A threat that crosses borders

“The western Amazon relies on flying rivers to bring water all the way from the Atlantic Ocean, crossing millions of acres of forests in the eastern Amazon before it gets there,” said lead author Matt Finer, Senior Research Specialist and Director of Amazon Conservation’s MAAP initiative. “So the survival of rainforests in Peru and Bolivia actually depends on intact forests in Brazil to the east, since if those forests are destroyed, the water cycle that creates the flying rivers is broken, and it can’t reach the western Amazon. It’s all connected.”

Finer highlights that an important contribution of this analysis is that it reveals that, contrary to the common misconception that the tipping point will happen suddenly and uniformly across the region, it will likely happen progressively, beginning in particularly vulnerable areas and escalating from there.  

         

Seasonal shifts will also intensify the impact on these vulnerable areas. As rainforests tend to experience only two seasons (wet, or rainy, and dry seasons), the amount of water carried through the flying rivers is significantly limited during dry seasons, and exacerbated by human-caused deforestation and the effects of climate change, such as droughts.

Daniel M. Larrea, Director of Science and Technology at Amazon Conservation’s Bolivian sister organization Conservación Amazónica–ACEAA, added that  “this report sheds light on the critical role that flying rivers play in preserving standing forests and water access in the Amazon. Understanding their dynamics allows us to better protect vulnerable regions in Peru and Bolivia, where conservation is not only a local priority but a regional imperative. Science, innovation, and technology must guide our actions to ensure these forests can survive and thrive for generations to come.”

Urgent call in the run-up to COP30

These findings come at a crucial moment, with COP30 approaching in Belém and countries negotiating their updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), which establish their climate action plans under the Paris Agreement. It highlights how forest conservation is central not only to climate goals but also to the water security for the millions of people and wildlife that call the Amazon home and for the collective survival of entire ecosystems across country borders. Decisions and policies made by Brazilian authorities will directly shape rainfall patterns in neighboring countries, making international cooperation essential.

This groundbreaking analysis was made possible by the Leo Model Foundation, in collaboration with nine scientists and researchers from across the Amazon Basin. It represents the first comprehensive mapping of flying rivers across wet, dry, and transition seasons, with an extensive literature review.

Read the full report here. 

About MAAP
Monitoring of the Andean Amazon Project (MAAP), an initiative of Amazon Conservation, Conservación Amazónica–ACCA (Peru), and Conservación Amazónica–ACEAA (Bolivia), provides cutting-edge, real-time technical analysis on deforestation and fires across the Amazon. MAAP uses satellite imagery, data science, and field information to generate timely reports that support conservation action and policy.

About Amazon Conservation Association
Amazon Conservation is an international conservation nonprofit working for the past 25 years towards building a thriving Amazon. The organization’s holistic approach focuses on working with local partners and allies to protect wild places, empower people, and put science and technology to work for conservation. Visit amazonconservation.org for more information.

In the heart of the Peruvian Amazon, Indigenous leaders are adding a new tool to their forest protection efforts: drones.

Earlier in August, representatives from the Native Federation of the Madre de Dios River and Tributaries (FENAMAD) and leaders of the Indigenous Council of the Lower Madre de Dios (COINBAMAD) took part in a hands-on training on the use of the latest in drone technology. Over the course of the workshop, participants learned how to safely operate, service, and apply cutting-edge drones to monitor their territories and safeguard their forest homes.

 

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Organized by our sister organization, Conservación Amazónica-ACCA, with support Aktion Amazonas, the Erol Foundation, and the D.N. Batten Foundation, this initiative represents a step forward in transferring technology directly to the Indigenous communities.

“Putting science and technology to work is a central pillar of our conservation work,” said John Beavers, President of Amazon Conservation. “Being able to share this technology with communities that need it to safely protect their resources and rights is essential. This continuous support helps ensure the forest stays standing for local people and for all of us.”

By combining ancestral knowledge with cutting-edge technology, communities in the Madre de Dios region of Peru are strengthening their ability to detect threats such as illegal logging, mining, and deforestation and to safely patrol their forests, avoiding direct conflict with illegal actors that could be deadly to them. These trainings not only provide technical skills but also reinforce the autonomy of Indigenous peoples to defend their territories.

At Amazon Conservation, we believe that empowering communities with tools like drones and satellite monitoring is key to long-term conservation. Together with our partners and donors, we are proud to support these efforts that put technology and decision-making directly in the hands of those who know the forest best.

Ixiamas, Bolivia – August 2025 – This month, we celebrate a landmark victory in the Bolivian Amazon, as the Tacana II Indigenous people finally receive the formal title to their territory, guaranteeing the legal protection of over 670,000 acres of forests.

This historic achievement is the result of over two decades of persistence, commitment, and collective vision to overcome the many challenges in the process, led by the Indigenous communities of Puerto Pérez, Las Mercedes, Toromonas, and El Tigre. This triumph was supported by our sister organization, Conservación Amazónica – ACEAA, in collaboration with strategic allies such as the Andes Amazon Fund (AAF), Conservation International Bolivia, Fundación TIERRA, CIDOB, CPILAP, the Inter-American Development Bank, and other partners who contributed throughout the process. Amazon Conservation and many of our donors – including the International Conservation Fund of Canada (ICFC), the D.N. Batten Foundation, among others – also backed this monumental effort throughout the years.

We would like to thank all the donors, partners, and supporters of Amazon Conservation and our sister organization, Conservación Amazónica – ACEAA, for making this important achievement possible for both people and nature.

A Territory of High Ecological Value

The Tacana II Indigenous Territory is an area of high ecological and strategic importance for the conservation of the Bolivian Amazon. This territory harbors:

– Primary Amazonian forests with high tree diversity, including Brazil nuts (Bertholletia excelsa), palms, and hardwoods.

– Key watersheds such as the Madre de Dios River and its tributaries, which sustain aquatic ecosystems and provide access to water and transportation for local people.

 

– Iconic wildlife such as jaguars, tapirs, spider monkeys, macaws, and hundreds of bird, reptile, and amphibian species.

– Medicinal plants and food that are fundamental to Tacana ancestral knowledge and for their sustainable ways of life.

This territory also serves as a biological corridor, connecting national and transboundary protected areas and contributing to climate resilience, water regulation, and carbon sequestration, especially critical in a context of increasing pressure on Amazonian forests.

 

Territorial Sovereignty and Collective Rights

The Tacana II Indigenous Territory is home to four communities, comprising approximately, and this recognition strengthens their territorial sovereignty, guarantees legal protections for collective land rights, and enables communities to exercise autonomy in territorial management, sustainable use of natural resources, and protection of their culture. 

“This is a great achievement from years of sustained effort,” commented John Beavers, President of Amazon Conservation. “It shows that conservation requires long-term commitment and strong partnerships. Our role is to work together with communities, strengthen them, and protect the forests and rivers that allow the Amazon to thrive.”

 

 

 

A Process Built by and Celebrated in Community

For more than two decades, Amazon Conservation and Conservación Amazónica-ACEAA have supported this process, fostering collaboration between communities, public institutions, and partners. This achievement is shared and celebrated collectively, as a symbol of resistance, dignity, and hope. 

“We are deeply grateful to all our supporters and to Amazon Conservation, whose trust and collaboration helped keep this collective effort alive,” said Marco Terán, Executive Director of Conservación Amazónica-ACEAA. “Their belief in these goals for so many years made this historic moment possible.”

The formal titling of the Tacana II Indigenous Territory represents a victory for environmental justice, biodiversity conservation, and the recognition of Indigenous peoples as guardians of the Amazon.

 

 

Rise for the Amazon Day is here.

The Amazon, one of the world’s most extraordinary places, is at a crossroads. From deforestation to fires, this vital forest faces unprecedented threats. Yet its people, wildlife, and ecosystems endure with remarkable strength. Now, on September 5th, we rise together in solidarity.

Your support can make all the difference as we stand side by side with Indigenous leaders, forest guardians, and communities putting everything on the line. Every gift, fundraiser started, and message of solidarity adds strength to the movement.

 

The Amazon needs us.
Together, we can protect it.

 

 
In this moment of urgency, Amazon Conservation Board Member and donor Marie Arana wants to share a personal message with you about why protecting the Amazon matters now more than ever:

 

This special day is more than a call to action—it’s also a perfect opportunity to explore smart giving strategies that maximize your impact. As we come together tomorrow for Rise for the Amazon Day, we invite you to take part—whether by sharing the message, making a gift, or finding new ways to stand with the forest and its people. And remember, there are also tax-smart ways to give, such as donating appreciated stock, creating a will, or making gifts directly from your IRA, that can maximize your impact today without impacting your current budget and taking advantage of tax benefits.

Exclusive for donors: When you give today, you’ll receive access to our donor webinar on September 16, where our experts share an inside look into their current conservation work, show how your support is making an impact, and answer donor questions in real time. Donate today for access to this special event.
 
Every gift helps protect wildlife, support Amazonian families, and keep forests standing and thriving.
 

Together, we can protect the Amazon Rainforest–for us all.

 

 
 

On September 5, we celebrate the inaugural Rise for the Amazon Day—a day of awareness and action for the greatest wild forest on Earth. This day reminds us of the Amazon’s importance to life everywhere and calls us to take action to protect it.

The Amazon shapes weather, regulates our climate, and is home to millions of people and species found nowhere else. It is one of the most biodiverse places on Earth, and its resilience is deeply tied to our own. Yet pressures from deforestation, extractive industries, and climate change are pushing this forest to a dangerous tipping point.

That’s why this day matters. It is a chance to pause, to reflect, and most importantly to rise together in defense of the forest and all it sustains.

A Glimpse Into the Amazon’s Hidden Life

To celebrate Rise for the Amazon Day, we’re sharing a new video from our research team at Wayqecha Biological Station in Peru, who give us a rare look at the Andean bear, also known as the spectacled bear.

Through the use of camera traps and GPS collars, we’re uncovering the secret lives of these bears and learning just how vital they are to the ecosystem. Scientists call the Andean bear an umbrella species because protecting it means protecting everything else within its vast range—over 230 square miles. When the bear thrives, so do deer, foxes, pumas, dwarf deer, and countless plant and insect species. Its survival is tied to the survival of an entire landscape.

This is what conservation makes possible: a single species, safeguarded, becoming a keystone for the health of the entire forest.

Tomorrow, Join Us in Rising Together

As we prepare to celebrate Rise for the Amazon Day tomorrow, we are reminded that protecting the Amazon is not an isolated act. It is a collective responsibility. Every effort to keep forests standing ripples outward: securing sustainable livelihoods for communities, preserving biodiversity and ecosystems, and stabilizing the global climate we all depend on.

As we come together tomorrow for Rise for the Amazon Day, we invite you to take part—whether by sharing the message, making a gift, or finding new ways to stand with the forest and its people. And remember, there are also tax-smart ways to give, such as donating appreciated stock, creating a will, or making gifts directly from your IRA, that can maximize your impact today without impacting your current budget and taking advantage of tax benefits.

By rising together, we can ensure that the Amazon—and the Andean bear within it—continues to thrive for generations to come.

 

Together, we can protect the Amazon Rainforest–for us all.

 

 
 

For 25 years, Amazon Conservation has worked hand in hand with Indigenous communities and local partners to protect the Amazon’s most important forests and rivers. Your generosity makes it possible for people across the Amazon to build better futures while protecting the forest we all depend on. Thanks to donors like you, communities are finding sustainable alternatives to destructive industries such as illegal mining and logging. 

One of those livelihoods is sustainable fish farming. In a region where illegal mining and logging too often provide the only income opportunities, fish farming offers families a way to earn a living while keeping the forest and rivers healthy.

In the Madre de Dios region of Peru, Nemésio has become a leader in this effort. With support from Amazon Conservation and our sister organization, Conservación Amazónica-ACCA in Peru, Nemésio raises native Amazonian fish through responsible aquaculture (or fish farming) practices. His ponds are designed to work in harmony with the surrounding ecosystem, providing food and income for his family without turning to destructive industries.

Sustainable aquaculture is more than just a source of food and income – it is part of a growing movement of community-led conservation across the Amazon. Families are finding new opportunities that protect rivers and forests, improve food security, and show that there are viable alternatives to activities like illegal mining that threaten both people and the environment.

For Nemésio, this work represents hope for the future: “More than anything, we want to succeed and show to others that there is an alternative to work in mining and illegal logging that actually protects our forest patrimony.”

Watch Nemésio’s story here:

 

By supporting sustainable initiatives like Nemésio’s, you are proving that conservation and prosperity can go hand in hand. Families have the tools to thrive, forests remain intact, and the Amazon becomes stronger for generations to come.

Why This Matters for Rise for the Amazon Day

On September 5, we will celebrate our inaugural Rise for the Amazon Day, a global call to action to protect the forests that give the world so much – in the form of air, food, water, medicine, and climate stability – and to support the communities who depend on them.

Stories like Nemésio’s show what is possible when conservation is done in partnership with local people: forests stay standing, families prosper, and the Amazon’s future becomes more secure for us all.

Make a Gift Today

Your donation makes stories like Nemésio’s possible. By giving today, you support sustainable livelihoods, protect critical forests, and ensure that both people and nature can thrive in the Amazon.

 

Together, we can protect the Amazon Rainforest–for us all.

 

 
 

For 25 years, Amazon Conservation has worked hand in hand with Indigenous communities, scientists, and local partners to protect the Amazon’s most important forests and rivers. From the remote biological stations in the heart of the rainforest to remote, biodiversity-rich protected areas, our teams are on the ground monitoring wildlife, restoring habitats, and supporting sustainable livelihoods that keep the Amazon standing. 

Yet this irreplaceable forest faces mounting threats from deforestation and climate change, making our work more urgent than ever.

In just one week, on September 5, we come together for our inaugural Rise for the Amazon Day, a global call to action to protect the forests that give the world so much–in the form of air, food, water, medicine, and climate stability–and support the local communities who depend on them. This day is about more than awareness; it is about joining the movement to defend the Amazon’s wildlife, conserve rivers and waterways, and empower local and Indigenous leaders working tirelessly to safeguard their ancestral lands. 

Together, we can protect the Amazon Rainforest–for us all.

A Special Invitation for Our Donors

To show our gratitude for your ongoing support, all donors will receive an invitation to a donor-only webinar on September 16. This virtual event will provide exclusive previews of major findings and the latest news on our conservation work directly from experts in the field, as well as the opportunity to interact and ask any questions to these scientists. This is our way of bringing you closer to the impact you help make possible.

Donate today before the webinar fills up!

Make an Impact

Rise for the Amazon Day is a perfect opportunity to explore smart giving strategies that maximize your impact. Even in an uncertain economy, there are multiple ways to contribute to support nature without impacting your current budget and taking advantage of tax benefits. Here are some ways to give thoughtfully while supporting the Amazon:

• Monthly or Recurring Gifts: Split your high-impact annual donation into manageable monthly contributions to maximize your impact, while also giving our teams predictable resources to protect the forest year-round.
• Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs): A DAF allows you to make a charitable contribution, receive an immediate tax benefit, and recommend grants to Amazon Conservation over time. Learn more and start your DAF gift here.
• Gifts from Your Estate: Plan a future gift through your will or estate that supports the Amazon for generations to come. This is a meaningful way to leave a lasting legacy.
• Matching Gifts and Corporate Giving: Many employers match charitable contributions made by their employees. Check if your company offers a matching program to double your impact.
• Gifts of Appreciated Assets: Contributing stocks, mutual funds, or other assets can provide significant tax advantages while supporting critical conservation work. Learn more about these options here.

These strategies allow you to give smarter, make a bigger impact, and ensure your support is tailored to your goals and values. Every gift helps protect wildlife, support Amazonian families, and keep forests standing and thriving.

 

As we look ahead over the next week towards this first Rise for the Amazon Day, we invite you to reflect on the difference we can make when we work together. Stay tuned for more details about the donor-exclusive webinar and other ways to engage. Your support is what makes this movement possible.

Together, we can protect the Amazon Rainforest–for us all.

 

 

The Amazon is one of the most extraordinary places on Earth. Its forests breathe life into the world, its rivers flow like veins carrying water and energy, and its people and wildlife embody a resilience that inspires us all.

But the Amazon is at a crossroads. Rising pressures from deforestation, fires, and climate change are threatening to push this vital ecosystem toward an irreversible tipping point. At the same time, communities across the region are leading powerful efforts to protect their home. What they need is for all of us to rise with them.

That’s why on September 5, we’re celebrating Rise for the Amazon Day as a day for people everywhere to come together in solidarity with the Amazon.

Rise for the Amazon Day is about more than giving. It’s about standing shoulder to shoulder with Indigenous peoples protecting their lands, with scientists tracking the forest’s health, with farmers choosing sustainable paths, and with wildlife whose future depends on the choices we make today.

It’s a reminder that the Amazon belongs to all of us, and protecting it is one of the most powerful gifts we can offer future generations.

 

How You Can Be Part of Rise for the Amazon Day

There are so many simple ways to join in and make an impact:

• Make a gift – Every contribution supports Amazon conservation on the ground where it matters most. Also learn about our options for giving non-cash assets here.
• Give monthly – Become a sustaining donor and help protect the forest all year long.
• Start a fundraiser – Rally your friends and family with your own fundraiser to multiply your impact.
• Spread the word – Share our campaign and inspire others to rise with you.
• Honor someone special – Dedicate your gift to a loved one and let them know they’re part of something bigger.

You are part of a movement that reaches far beyond one person, one community, or even one country.
 

 

Why This Day Matters

The Amazon is a source of life for the entire planet. Its forests stabilize the global climate, safeguard fresh water, and sustain millions of people and countless species. By coming together on Rise for the Amazon Day, we can take meaningful action to protect this irreplaceable place.

Originally started in Brazil to commemorate the creation of the State of Amazonas, this day now celebrates the global importance and beauty of the Amazon Rainforest and calls for urgent action to protect this vast, biodiverse biome. Today, Rise for the Amazon Day invites people everywhere to stand together for the Amazon’s future.
 

Together, We Can Protect the Forest…and Ourselves

The Amazon’s story is still being written. With your help, it can be a story of resilience, of communities empowered, of forests standing tall, and of a planet that breathes easier.

This Rise for the Amazon Day, we invite you to stand with us. Together, we can protect the Amazon Rainforest–for us all.
 

 

A 2025 Status Report by Amazon Conservation’s sister organization, Conservación Amazónica–ACCA, warns that illicit activity is consolidating along Peru’s borders with Ecuador, Colombia, and Bolivia, while also expanding into the interior of Peru from Madre de Dios to Cajamarca and Pasco.

Lima, August 25, 2025 – Illegal gold mining is emerging as one of the main threats to the Peruvian Amazon. An analysis of the current situation was presented at an event in Lima today on “2025 Gold Mining in the Peruvian Amazon, How Are We Doing?” and warns that this illegal activity is already taking place in nine Amazonian regions of the country, affecting up to 73 Indigenous communities and more than 250 bodies of water. This marks a national environmental and social crisis.

During the presentation, it was noted that, in just one year, illegal mining has spread from seven to nine regions with activity now in Cajamarca and Pasco. Madre de Dios remains the epicenter with more than 11,500 hectares (28,400 acres) deforested in the last year. The buffer zone of the Tambopata National Reserve experienced the most significant increase, accounting for 13% of all illegal mining in the region.

This region includes La Pampa, which was once a symbol of the fight against illegal mining activity and is now completely invaded. In this area alone, there are more than 1,600 dredgers, a 21% increase compared to 2024, reflecting the failure of strategies used in recent years to control the spread.

In Loreto, the Nanay River saw a record high of 42 active dredgers. Meanwhile in Huánuco, 1,763 hectares (4,356 acres) of forest were reported deforested in a single year, including within  the Panguana Private Conservation Area.

At the event in Lima, warnings arose about potential conflicts that may emerge from INGEMMET’s (Peru’s Geological, Mining, and Metallurgical Institute) system for managing mining concessions. Of INGEMMET’s 1,036 new mining applications, 136 overlap with Indigenous communities, 48 ​​with protected areas, and 3 with Indigenous reserves; another 693 overlap with rivers and streams. New illegal frontiers are emerging in Ucayali, Cajamarca, and Pasco.

“Hot borders”, an ignored danger

The presentation also demonstrated that illegal mining is no longer limited to the interior of the country. Illegal mining is now established along border regions, with active enclaves in the Chinchipe and Condorcanqui basins (Ecuador), in the Putumayo tri-border area (Colombia), and on the Madre de Dios River (Bolivia). These “hot borders” confirm how urgently Peru must coordinate action with neighboring countries, beyond the isolated actions implemented within its borders.

 

“This panorama is a clear reflection of how the current political situation—including the abandonment of rural and border areas—has allowed the expansion of this illicit activity. In many cases, illegal mining has mutated from a socioeconomic problem into an organized crime structure that erodes not only the Amazon’s riverbeds and forests, but also social structures and governance spaces,” said Sidney Novoa, Director of GIS and Conservation Technologies at Conservación Amazónica-ACCA.

Two unpublished studies were also presented at the event: one on the impact of illegal mining in priority conservation areas in the Peruvian Amazon, and another on the economic valuation of the impacts of illegal gold mining in the Nanay River basin, both of which provide evidence of the magnitude of the environmental and social problem in the region. You can access these studies here:

Minería Ilegal en Áreas Clave para la Biodiversidad y Zonas Prioritarias para la Conservación en La Amazonía Peruana 

Valorización Económica de los Impactos de la Minería Ilegal de Oro en la Cuenca del Rio Nana

The event in Lima on “2025 Gold Mining in the Peruvian Amazon: How Are We Doing?” was carried out within the framework of the project “Reducing the Advancement of Illegal Gold Mining and its Impacts in Priority Biodiversity Areas, Conservation Corridors, and Transboundary Landscapes in Colombia, Peru, and Brazil,” funded by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation with support from Conservación Amazónica–ACCA, the Peruvian College of Engineers, and the organizations that make up the Illegal Mining Observatory.

 

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About Conservación Amazónica–ACCA

Conservación Amazónica–ACCA is a non-profit organization that has been working in the Peruvian Andes Amazon for 25 years, focusing its efforts on three lines of action: science and technology, protecting natural areas, and empowering people. For more information, please contact: comunicaciones@conservacionamazonica.org

About Amazon Conservation Association
Amazon Conservation is an international conservation nonprofit working for the past 25 years towards building a thriving Amazon. The organization’s holistic approach focuses on working with local partners and allies to protect wild places, empower people, and put science and technology to work for conservation.