The Andes Mountains and the Amazon Rainforest converge in Peru, creating some of the world’s richest and most diverse ecosystems. This habitat is home to countless species of endangered flora and fauna that face the threat of extinction. The Amazon Conservation Association (ACA) works to protect biodiversity by studying ecosystems and developing innovative conservation tools to protect land in the region while supporting the livelihoods of local communities.
Fondation Erol travelled to the Peruvian Amazon for a Learning Journey organized by Amplifier Strategies, which helped us better understand the importance of conservation efforts in the region. As the host organization of our Learning Journey, ACA introduced us to researchers who explained the ecological importance of the region, the delicate balance of the climate, and the actions needed to protect that balance. We travelled to biological stations in protected areas to understand the most pressing issues conservationists face in their daily work and met with ACA researchers who have dedicated their lives to preserving the Amazon rainforest.
Seeing the work on the ground reinforced our understanding of the need for rigorous, objective science to support regional policy making and sustainable development. Our initial grant to ACA helped support cutting-edge research and greater collaboration among the scientific community by helping ACA build its organizational capacity and long-term financial viability. ACA’s three biostations in the field allow researchers to gather unique data about species that could be lost forever, and Fondation Erol has helped ACA make these biostations feasible in the long-term, so that research and conservation of the Amazon will continue to flourish.
