Strengthening Sustainable Livelihoods

December 15, 2022

We work to strengthen sustainable livelihoods that empower indigenous peoples to adapt to the impacts of climate change and preserve their ancestral forests.

Geronimo Meshi Guahogehua is one of dozens of Amazonian producers from the Palma Real indigenous community in southeast Peru who has seen the impacts of climate change on their livelihoods in a big way.

In 2017, Brazil nut production fell 53% due to the previous year’s drought, an event never before experienced that exposed the vulnerability of these communities to increasing climate risks. However, the demand for Brazil nuts and other forest goods – like açaí and cacao – continues to skyrocket.

“Brazil nut harvesting is important to me because it is a sustainable job that we can do every year. The Brazil nut harvest here in Peru is unique because it doesn’t have any contamination – it can only take place in forests where no pollution reaches it. So we harvest Brazil nuts for our families, for our children, so they can study and have more opportunities in life.” – Geronimo Meshi Guahogehua, indigenous Brazil nut producer.

Bolstering climate-smart agricultural practices is key to preventing deforestation and depletion of natural resources. Maintaining healthy forests is not only environmentally important but also economically imperative, as the productive forests in and around the Palma Real community in Peru provide a sustainable and forest-friendly income to numerous families.

Your support is key to providing Geronimo with the information and tools needed to implement climate-smart solutions that help his community build on the forest’s potential, mitigate the threats posed by climate change, and protect the livelihoods of families in Palma Real.