October, 2021. – The Amazon is the country's most biodiverse natural region and is particularly vulnerable due to climate change and human activity. In this context, Profonanpe, Peru's environmental fund, promoted the establishment of the Amazonian Regional Competitiveness Technical Committee, led by the Council for Competitiveness and Formalization of the Ministry of Economy and Finance and the Regional Government of Loreto, to strengthen the value chain of Amazonian biological resources such as the aguaje fruit.
This space will be made up of government organizations such as the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the Ministry of Environment, the Regional Government, as well as civil organizations and seeks to establish a methodology for a correct identification of biobusiness models that generate positive impacts on the environment of the Loreto region and promote value chains in these biobusinesses and investment in natural infrastructure for the sustainability of Amazonian ecosystem goods and services.
«The coordination and collaboration of public and private efforts is fundamental to guaranteeing the conservation of the Amazon and the sustainable use of its biological resources. Therefore, we consider it important to create this space within the framework of the Datem Wetlands Project, which Profonanpe has been implementing in conjunction with the authorities and, above all, with the native communities of the Pastaza River,» stated Anton Willems, CEO of Profonanpe.
Currently, there are over 170 bio-businesses in Loreto, of which 60% are dedicated to food sales; however, many of them lack technical capacity, financial sustainability, and public-private coordination mechanisms. In this regard, the Amazonian Regional Competitiveness Technical Committee will also have the significant responsibility of developing financial mechanisms to attract greater investment and opportunities in this area, promoting the recovery and conservation of natural infrastructure.
Strengthening the production and marketing of aguaje oil in native communities of Pastaza
The Datem Wetlands project of Profonanpe, Peru's environmental fund, and the Regional Environmental Authority of the Regional Government of Loreto (ARA) also announced a strategic alliance to enhance and promote the sustainability of the bio-business of production and marketing of aguaje oil and other Amazonian fruits in the Pastaza district, Datem del Marañon.
The alliance aims to strengthen the Association of Producers of the Amazonian Fruit of Pastaza – APROFAP and invest in improvements in infrastructure and equipment, training, technical assistance, certifications and strengthening of the commercial strategy to give sustainability to the aguaje biobusiness.
«"This bio-business complements the cluster for the management, production, processing and marketing of aguaje and other Amazonian fruits from the Lower Marañón Pastaza region that the Datem Wetlands Project of Profonanpe has been consolidating," said the CEO of Profonanpe.
Willems also reported that more than 9 native communities have management plans, collection centers and boats to supply sustainably sourced aguaje fruit to the Ullpayacu plant, as well as the upcoming aguaje oil pulp plant to be installed in the Puerto Industrial community with the ASPROMAG association, in the district of Barranca.
The Datem Wetlands Project seeks to improve the resilience capacities of indigenous communities living in wetland ecosystems rich in carbon reserves in the Datem del Marañón province, Loreto; as well as improve their livelihoods and reduce greenhouse gas emissions caused by deforestation.
