Colombia & Peru

Goal

We support efforts to mitigate climate change, reduce deforestation and maintain the biodiversity of natural ecosystems by strengthening Indigenous and Afro-descendant communities’ rights to forests, territories, and resources; and by mitigating the negative effects of infrastructure and extractive industries.

Colombia and Peru Inititiative

In Colombia and Peru, we support the implementation of protected Indigenous and Afro-descendent communities’ land rights and support these communities in sustainably managing forests and biodiversity. We also support civil society efforts to hold the public and private sectors accountable to higher standards of transparency, anti-corruption, and community participation so new infrastructure and extractive projects are sustainable, do less damage to forests, and respect community rights and participation. Download the Colombia and Peru Initiative Summary:

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IN ENGLISH

Why Colombia and Peru?

The Amazon rainforest extends through nine South American countries, and is the largest river basin in the world. Globally, the Amazon plays a critical role maintaining the Earth’s climate by removing carbon from the atmosphere and regulating rainfall patterns. Peru and Colombia contain 23% of the Amazon basin, and are home to a wealth of biodiversity and thousands of Indigenous and Afro-descendant communities who have lived in the forests for centuries.

Both countries have acknowledged the direct, positive relationship between community land rights and low deforestation rates. The process for Indigenous and Afro-descendant communities to secure and effectively exercise rights to their lands, however, remains inaccessible for many due to barriers in implementation. As a result, progress on these fundamental policy initiatives, and the associated improvements to forest and community health, has been slow.

But while community land rights expand within the Peruvian and Colombian Amazon, so too do unsustainable infrastructure projects and harmful extractive activities such as infrastructure projects and mining. In fact, South America is considered a hotspot for increased infrastructure and extractive projects. And although Peru and Colombia often encourage the launch of such projects, existing policies and resources for oversight are often inadequate once they break ground. Left poorly regulated, these projects can become primary drivers of deforestation, biodiversity loss, and increased mining activities. In Peru, small-scale gold mining caused the loss of more than 100,000 hectares of forest over the last five years. That’s double the levels reported in 2013. And as new projects increase and the frontier for extractive activities expands into biodiverse-rich regions like Peru’s Madre de Dios and Colombia’s Chocó, the situation is likely to intensify.

Despite the threats, Peru and Colombia have laid the foundation for climate change mitigation and social and economic progress in the region. By expanding the implementation of community land rights and establishing stronger standards for infrastructure and mining projects, both countries have the opportunity to set the standard for progressive climate change policy alongside sustainable economic development and community rights.

Community Rights and Management

Strengthening the land tenure and social rights of Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant, and other communities, and supporting their capacity for effective land governance as part of Peru and Colombia delivering on national policy priorities on rights and community management.

Where we Focus

Expanded Community Land Rights
Increased Community Land Management

Strong Standards for Infrastructure and Extractive Industries

Increasing the capacity of civil society, government, and local communities to prevent the negative impacts of unsustainable infrastructure and extractive projects, and establishing stronger public and private sector commitments to high standards of transparency, anti-corruption, and community involvement.

Where we Focus

Civil Society Oversight
Increased Public and Private Sector Accountability
Participation and Advocacy

Grants

The Alliance partner foundations work closely together to identify funding opportunities that create impact. Explore our Grants Database to learn more about what we support. The Climate and Land Use Alliance does not accept unsolicited grant proposals.

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Where We Focus

The Alliance focuses its grantmaking in key geographic regions that are home to globally important tropical forests with significant potential for mitigating climate change.

Where We Focus

Goal

Colombia and Peru Inititiative

Download the Report

Why Colombia and Peru?

Strategic Priorities

Community Rights and Management

Where we Focus

Strong Standards for Infrastructure and Extractive Industries

Where we Focus

Grants

Where We Focus

Global

Brazil

Indonesia

Mexico & Central America