In its 2026 edition, Emprendedores por Naturaleza (ExN) will have a budget of S/ 4.8 million, which will allow it to co-finance approximately 83 initiatives, generating a positive impact on more than 500 families in different regions of the country. Among the main new features of this edition is the incorporation of ACR+, a new category aimed at strengthening productive initiatives and business plans developed in 14 Regional Conservation Areas (ACRs) located in seven regions of the country: Amazonas, San Martín, Tumbes, Piura, Lambayeque, Tacna, and Cusco.
Regional Conservation Areas are managed by regional governments, which, in collaboration with local stakeholders, implement actions aimed at achieving the area's conservation objectives, including the promotion of sustainable productive activities. In this context, ACR+ emerges as a response to the challenges faced by the populations inhabiting these territories, where environmental pressures such as deforestation, illegal activities, and limited sustainable economic opportunities persist.
Through this category, aimed at individuals, community organizations, associations and cooperatives, non-refundable funds of up to S/ 60,000 will be granted for business ideas in the initial stage or ongoing sustainable ventures that are developed within a Regional Conservation Area.
The addition of ACR+ is part of the ongoing work of Emprendedores por Naturaleza (ExN), a competition that, since 2020, has been developed in partnership with the National Service of Natural Protected Areas (SERNANP), with the support of Profonanpe, Peru's environmental fund, and the Ministry of the Environment (MINAM). To date, the competition has co-financed 212 ventures nationwide, with an investment exceeding S/10.5 million, directly impacting more than 6,000 families, 33% of which are led by women.
Throughout its six years of implementation, ExN has established itself as a first major step for individuals and organizations seeking to start or consolidate ventures linked to the sustainable use of natural resources, combining financing, technical support, and learning processes that strengthen local capacities through responsible practices for the benefit of communities and nature.
Entrepreneurs by Nature thus continues its continuous improvement process thanks to the joint work between the Ministry of the Environment, SERNANP, the Regional Governments and Profonanpe, thus reaffirming that generating sustainable development opportunities from the territories is a concrete way to conserve biodiversity and protect the environmental, social and economic future of the country's families.
Interested individuals and organizations can find the rules, requirements and application schedule on the Profonanpe website, in the Competitions section (hereApplications will be accepted from January 30th until March 10th, inclusive. For specific inquiries regarding the ACR+ category, please contact consultasacr@profonanpe.org.pe
