DEPLOYMENT OF ECONOMIC ALTERNATIVES TO DEFORESTATION

The project takes place in the Pastaza-Marañón hydrographic basin, in the central-western part of the Amazon rainforest, which boasts some of the world's largest intact tropical peatland landscapes. The Loreto region in northeastern Peru is the country's largest. Entirely forested with a humid tropical climate, it covers almost a third of the country. It is also one of the richest in terms of biodiversity and is located within a still largely untouched forest area.

Local communities are struggling to preserve the forest's natural resources, which are an integral part of their subsistence and commercial economies. The territory where these communities live faces increasing pressures and threats from outside groups attracted by the resources. The "Yanayacu-Maquia" project builds on actions initiated since 2006 by
The Franco-Peruvian association Amazonian Biodiversity. In 2006, the Peruvian government entrusted the association with the management of a 38,700-hectare area of Amazon rainforest (four times the size of Paris) under a "conservation concession." The area is isolated from cities, healthcare services are almost nonexistent, there is no access to water, and agriculture is primarily monoculture.

The project aims to disseminate new agroforestry practices, develop economic and ecological alternatives to improve the incomes of local populations and counter the temptation to overexploit land.