On June 27th, 2023, Profonanpe, together with the Ministry of the Environment and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, announced the selection of Cusco, home to the Machu Picchu Historic Sanctuary, as the venue of the most important environmental event in the region: Network of Environmental Funds of Latin America and the Caribbean – RedLAC 2023, from October 23rd to 26th, with the objective of enhancing the value of our protected natural areas both for their conservation and as a tourist destination.
Peru has recently shown that it has the capacity and will to mobilize more resources to protect nature and address climate change, because its ecosystems are not only the natural heritage of the nation but also of humanity. This meeting, which will bring together 250 environmental leaders, seeks to address climate change, which is a major challenge for the entire world.
This event began with the words of Jorge Oviedo, Executive Director of Fiaes and President of the Network of Environmental Funds of Latin America and the Caribbean – RedLAC, who mentioned the need to face climate change and environmental degradation together. “The XXV RedLAC Congress in Cusco represents a new stage for our network and our members, it is a moment to reflect on our achievements, but also to plan strategically for the future, I am sure that we will leave this congress with innovative ideas, with strengthened alliances, with networking and a renewed commitment to conservation and sustainable development of our region,” he said.
The Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ignacio Higueras, reaffirmed the Foreign Ministry’s commitment to promoting a foreign policy aimed at promoting green investments in Peru, through its General Directorate of Economic Promotion, and in coordination with the Ministry of the Environment and Profonanpe. “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with the support of our diplomatic missions abroad, will continue to collaborate with the implementation of various initiatives to mitigate the serious effects of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution in our country,” he said.
Profonanpe’s executive director, Anton Willems, said that “it will be a space to continue the discussion that began in Quito in 2022, addressing issues of relevance to the community and with a view to an environmental agenda towards 2030. The main topics to be presented in the plenary sessions are environmental finance for biodiversity and climate change, and trends in international funds for investment in conservation projects.”
“We believe it is relevant to make Peru visible as a space to discuss climate finance, and how financial instruments can be used to conserve our biodiversity, which is one of our main assets. Therefore, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of the Environment and Profonanpe are joining forces to make our country the host of such an important event in the environmental calendar,” explained Albina Ruiz, Minister of the Environment.
This international meeting will serve to establish alliances with environmental funds, financial entities, companies, international cooperation agencies and other relevant actors for sustainable development.
The XXV RedLAC Cusco – Peru 2023 Congress has the support of companies that have incorporated the environmental component as a pillar in the management of their organizations, such as Anglo American, LATAM and UNACEM, as well as international organizations such as IUCN, UNESCO, USAID/USFS and Morgan Stanley.
It also has the support of the Municipality of Cusco, the National Service of Natural Areas Protected by the State – Sernanp, and the National Chamber of Tourism – CANATUR.
Learn more about the most important environmental finance event in the region at: https://congreso.redlac.org/
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Profonanpe was created 30 years ago and has established itself as the most important private environmental fund in Peru. Since its foundation, it has been characterized for being an institution specialized in creating, developing and implementing innovative processes in the management and administration of funds, and the participatory management and involvement of private enterprise, for the conservation of biodiversity, mitigation and adaptation to climate change.
During its tenure, it has completed more than 60 projects throughout Peru, more than 120.5 thousand hectares of conserved marine ecosystems, 470 communities involved in the sustainable use of resources, more than 27 thousand direct and indirect beneficiaries (31% women), the collection of more than 1.5 million soles for various conservation initiatives in Natural Protected Areas and wildlife, and indirectly to the generation of 4 million temporary jobs linked to tourism.
The Latin American and Caribbean Network of Environmental Funds (RedLAC) is a community of environmental funds that brings together 27 members from 19 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. In its 24 editions, RedLAC has visited different parts of Latin America and the Caribbean, such as Ecuador, Costa Rica and Mexico.
RedLAC is the annual meeting point for representatives of companies from different industries that lead sustainability initiatives around the world, decision makers from ministries and public entities oriented to ensure the sustainable development of their countries. It also brings together leading researchers and academics who set the latest trends in environmental issues, along with leaders and specialists from environmental funds that implement projects of global impact.
