The Coalition for Sustainable Production of Peru has announced a major initiative to promote tropical fruits harvested by the indigenous peoples of the Peruvian Amazon, with the aim of advancing the development of the indigenous economy and the protection of the forests. There is growing demand in international markets for these fruits, considered "superfoods", which include the fruits of the Aguaje palm (Mauritia flexuosa), known in Peru as the "tree of life", and camu camu (Myrciaria dubia).
Amazon forests offer enormous income-generating potential to local communities and contribute to the world's food supply. This serves to raise the value of these important forests in Peru and reduce their loss through conversion to agricultural land and pasture, while providing agricultural and other essential benefits to communities.
The Coalition for Sustainable Production was officially launched on July 17, 2020 and brings together producers, traders, companies and government agencies. It is supported by the Tropical Forest Alliance (TFA) at the World Economic Forum, an international platform for innovative and sustainable public-private solutions to produce palm oil, beef, soy and pulp and paper without deforestation.
At the June 30 virtual meeting of Coalition members, José Álvarez, Director General of Biodiversity of the Peruvian Ministry of Environment (MINAM) highlighted both the opportunity to improve the quality of life of Amazonian indigenous communities and sustainable global food production. He added that "the use of Amazonian biodiversity, with appropriate social and environmental standards, especially those oriented to international markets, also has an important role in the national economy".
The Amazon fruit development initiative is driven by the indigenous communities themselves, to preserve the standing forest and generate income from them. Aguaje and camu camu camu trees grow naturally and are abundant in Peru's Amazon rainforest, while harvesting the fruit does not damage the trees. Peru's government estimates that 30,820 hectares of forest will be conserved through this private sector, indigenous communities and government partnership.
The initiative is also expected to contribute to the economic recovery of local indigenous communities affected by the new coronavirus pandemic, which has already resulted in nearly 1,500 cases of COVID-19 and 14 deaths in the area. It is also aligned with the mitigation measures outlined in Peru's Paris Agreement on Climate Commitment.
Jorge López-Dóriga is Director of Communications and Sustainability at Grupo Aje; a private sector beverage company that is part of the Coalition. He stressed at the meeting that valuing the fruits of the forest as a response to the global pandemic emergency should be a priority. He added: "In this sense, as a company, we are leading the development of supply chains with indigenous and local peoples in the region (Loreto), for the beverage market at the national and international level.".
The Coalition will continue to work collaboratively to develop an agenda that promotes fruit processing infrastructure, transportation and expanded investment.
Note:
The Coalition for Sustainable Production is a multi-stakeholder space for dialogue, engagement and action that seeks to promote sustainable jurisdictions and deforestation-free value chains in Peru. it was launched on July 17, 2020 and works to generate partnerships that address issues related to deforestation-free supply chains; and to promote a positive environment for companies committed to sustainability by improving enabling conditions that address key barriers.
More information about the Rainforest Alliance is available at: https://www.tropicalforestalliance.org
Media contacts:
- Members of the Coalition's Executive Committee: Laura Avellaneda (Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation, lavellaneda@minagri.gob.pe), Patricia Patrón (Ministry of Environment, ppatron@minam.gob.pe), Dennis Armas (National Forest and Wildlife Service, darmas@serfor.gob.pe) and Ada Lis Rosell (Solidaridad, adalis.rosell@solidaridadnetwork.org)
- TFA Communications: Jennifer Ferguson-Mitchell, jfm@weforum.org
- TFA Coordinator for Peru and Colombia: Javier Ortiz, Javier.ortiz@solidaridadnetwork.org
- TFA Sub-coordination in Peru: Daniel Coronel, daniel.coronel@solidaridadnetwork.org
