Biodiversity for a Sustainable Future

Project Manager Roxana Ramos shares our work in the Andes-Amazon Landscape, explaining how we’re forging a sustainable future through regenerative agriculture.

Humanity faces interrelated crises: increasing poverty, climate change, and biodiversity loss. At the heart of the Amazon, these issues converge, demanding urgent and transformative action. Through the Biodiverse Landscapes Fund, Andes-Amazon Landscape project, funded by UK International Development Aid, we’re pioneering solutions to these challenges in the Andes-Amazon Landscape, forging a path toward a sustainable future for both people and the planet.

We’re at the very early stage of an ambitious six-year programme in Ecuador and Peru. Our approach is multifaceted, targeting biodiversity conservation, governance, gender equality, climate finance, and value chain strengthening. These strategic interventions are designed to promote sustainable livelihoods, halt deforestation, and enhance climate change adaptation and mitigation efforts.

Legacy and Innovation in Sustainable Practices

With almost 40 years of experience in Latin America, we’ve consistently led innovative agricultural management methods. Projects like Café Correcto have revolutionised the coffee value chain, while the Chinchipe Forests initiative promoted sustainable livelihoods and ecosystem preservation along the Peru-Ecuador border.

Practical Action is leading a consortium that represents a powerful alliance of indigenous groups, conservation organisations, and development agencies. Key partners include the Interethnic Association for the Development of the Peruvian Rainforest, advocating for indigenous rights, and WWF, championing sustainable landscape approaches. Nature and Culture International oversees protected areas, while Terra Nuova and the Cooperation for the Development of Emerging Countries (COPSE) focus on agroecology and fair value chains. Practical Action coordinates these efforts, as well as strengthening the capacity of government and local organisations to secure further climate financing.

Our regenerative agriculture project in Peru and Ecuador is set to positively impact over 300,000 people and preserve millions of hectares of vital ecosystems.

Tackling Critical Environmental and Social Challenges

The Andes-Amazon Landscape, spanning Ecuador and Peru, suffers from severe environmental degradation and poverty, driven by unsustainable resource use. Our initiative prioritises indigenous rights and community perspectives, aiming to positively impact over 10,000 rural families and eight indigenous peoples, as well as preserve 2.86 million hectares of vital ecosystems.

We promote sustainable activities, such as agroecology, to build resilient communities and landscapes.

Strategic Goals for a Sustainable Future:

• Partnering with indigenous and local communities to safeguard their lands, sustain their livelihoods, and conserve biodiversity.
• Enhancing biodiversity conservation by reconnecting natural habitats in the Andes-Amazon region.
• Boosting the sustainability and competitiveness of key value chains, including coffee, cocoa, and banana.
• Allocating £10 million in climate funding for restoration, protection, and sustainable management efforts.

Our work addresses immediate environmental and social challenges while laying the groundwork for long-term sustainability. By integrating indigenous knowledge with modern practices, we aim to create resilient landscapes that benefit both people and the planet.