The Basics
31.4 Million inhabitants
Home of Machu Picchu and the old Incan empire
The Amazon covers 60% of the country and is one of the most biodiverse spots in the world.
Peru has the second-largest portion of the Amazon rainforest after the Brazilian Amazon.
The Amazon River is born here
Peru has the largest number of bird species in the world and the third-largest number of mammals; 44% of bird species and 63% of mammal species inhabit the Peruvian Amazon.
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The Threats
- Raging Deforestation: We estimate the annual forest loss of 354,410 acres (143,425 hectares) across Peru in 2017. the main deforestation drivers include gold mining, oil palm, and general agriculture (crops and livestock).
- Illegal Gold Mining: Not only is illegal gold mining a driving force of deforestation in the south of Peru, but it poses serious health risks to the population. In 2016, the Peruvian government declared a national state of emergency due to the high level of mercury contamination in its southern rivers caused by illegal gold mining activity. Mercury is considered by WHO as one of the top ten chemicals or groups of chemicals of major public health concern. The Peruvian government estimates that over 48,000 people were affected.
- Increase in threatened species: The IUCN Red List indicates that there has also been an increase in the number of threatened species in Peru. The forest habitats of threatened species have been seriously impacted by the advancement of the agricultural frontier, selective logging and hunting, and the degradation of some ecosystems.
Our Solutions
We are working to create and strengthen conservation practices and the creation and management of protected areas in Peru, resulting in the protection of millions of acres of valuable forests.
By protecting the Peruvian Amazon (which ranges from the Andes Mountains to lowland Amazonian forests), we can help to ensure they remain a sustainable source of food and tourism revenue.
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