Last Friday, July 11, in the city of Iquitos, the formation of the Management Committee of the Ramsar Site “Pastaza River Fan Wetland Complex” was made official, in a day that marks a milestone in the strengthening of participatory environmental governance in the Peruvian Amazon.
The Amazonian Forests ASL2 project, led by the Ministry of the Environment (Minam) and financed by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), has been promoting spaces that strengthen governance and encourage active participation. from the Regional Government of Loreto, local governments, indigenous organizations, public institutions and civil society.
Photo: Loreto Regional Environmental Management
“With this committee, we are consolidating a co-management model in which decisions about the territory are built on dialogue and local knowledge. From the Ministry of the Environment, we will continue to provide the necessary technical support to ensure that this process is maintained and strengthened.”, Marco Enciso, director of the Directorate of Ecosystem and Species Conservation at Minam, indicated.
During the inaugural meeting, the committee's board of directors was elected, its internal regulations were approved, and shared commitments were established to promote the sustainable management of the country's largest wetland. The committee thus becomes a space for inter-institutional coordination that will allow for monitoring actions in the area, strengthen information sharing, and ensure the active participation of all stakeholders.
Photo: Loreto Regional Environmental Management
For her part, Cristina Portocarrero, technical coordinator of the ASL2 project, highlighted that “This committee is the result of a sustained process of collaboration with key stakeholders in the region, and reaffirms that the conservation of our wetlands is only possible if we work in a participatory manner, with a long-term vision and with the leadership of those who live in and protect these ecosystems.”.
The Ramsar Site, internationally recognized since 2002, covers more than 3.8 million hectares that fulfill key functions such as water regulation, carbon storage, and the provision of natural resources for hundreds of communities. It also harbors a great diversity of Amazonian flora and fauna.
Photo: Profonanpe.
About the “Amazonian Forests ASL2” project”
The project seeks to promote the conservation of healthy, functional and climate-resilient forests and wetlands; maintaining important carbon reserves, avoiding Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions and generating sustainable and resilient local livelihoods.
This initiative is being implemented by the Ministry of the Environment (MINAM), with funding from the Global Environment Facility (GEF); and has the support of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and Profonanpe.
