October 2021.- The Amazon is the natural region with the greatest biological diversity in the country and is in a situation of special vulnerability due to climate change and human actions. Within this framework, Profonanpe, Peruvian Environmental Fund, promoted the installation of the Amazon Regional Competitiveness Technical Committee led by the Competitiveness and Formalization Council of the Ministry of Economy and Finance and the Regional Government of Loreto to strengthen the value chain of Amazonian biological resources such as aguaje.
This space will be integrated by governmental 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 bio-business models that generate positive impacts on the environment of the Loreto region and promote value chains in these bio-businesses and the investment of natural infrastructure for the sustainability of Amazonian ecosystem goods and services.
“The coordination and articulation of public-private efforts is fundamental to guarantee the conservation of the Amazon and the sustainable use of its biological resources. For this reason, we consider it important to generate this space within the framework of the Datem Wetlands Project that Profonanpe has been implementing together with the authorities and, above all, with the native communities of the Pastaza River,” stated Anton Willems, CEO of Profonanpe.
There are currently more than 170 bio-businesses in Loreto, 60% of which are dedicated to the sale of food; however, many of them lack technical capacity, financial sustainability and public-private coordination mechanisms. In this sense, the Amazon Regional Competitiveness Technical Committee will also have the great responsibility of developing financial mechanisms to obtain greater investments and opportunities in this area, promoting the recovery and conservation of natural infrastructure.
Strengthening the production and commercialization of aguaje oil in native communities of Pastaza
The Datem Wetlands project of Profonanpe, Peruvian Environmental Fund, and the Regional Environmental Authority of the Regional Government of Loreto (ARA) also announced a strategic alliance to value and promote the sustainability of the bio-business of production and commercialization of aguaje oil and other Amazonian fruits in the Pastaza district, Datem del Marañon.
The alliance aims to strengthen the Association of Amazonian Fruit Producers of Pastaza – APROFAP and invest in infrastructure and equipment improvements, training, technical assistance, certifications and strengthening of the commercial strategy to give sustainability to the aguaje bio-business.
“This bio-business complements the cluster of management, production, transformation and commercialization of aguaje and other Amazonian fruits of the Bajo Marañón Pastaza that Profonanpe’s Datem Wetlands Project has been consolidating,” noted CEO of Profonanpe.
Willems also reported that more than 9 native communities have management plans, collection centers and boats to supply the Ullpayacu plant with aguaje fruit of sustainable origin, 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 stocks in the Datem del Marañón province, Loreto, as well as to improve their livelihoods and reduce greenhouse gas emissions caused by deforestation.
