Eyes in the Sky: Drone Training Strengthens Indigenous Monitoring in Peru

September 8, 2025

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.