Ecological expertise of the Amazon
Jungle Synergy Project starts in the largest biome of the Amazon Rainforest.
Peru is a unique country, where several nature biomes are strongly represented. However, the Jungle Synergy Project starts in the largest one – the Amazon Rainforest. It must be acknowledged that the ecological situation in the Peruvian Amazon region is not as bad as in Brazil or Argentina, but the trend is alarming. According to records from the Peruvian Ministry of the Environment, the MapBiomas Network, and the RAISG, 2.6 million hectares (3,6%) of natural jungle vegetation have been lost in the last 37 years, and in some areas, this loss is irretrievable.This is mainly due to deforestation, illegal land use, and extensive mining of gold and other raw materials.
According to the February RAMI bulletin by the Conservación Amazónica (ACCA), the Madre Dios region alone lost 26.5 hectares of forest in December 2022 and 8.24 hectares in January 2023 due to raw material extraction. By February this figure had increased to 158.2 hectares of forest lost. The Palma Real river has also changed its course due to illegal mining activities using dredgers.The environmental situation in the Peruvian Amazon
The region of Loreto has been the site of several large infrastructure projects, including oil extraction (in the Marañon Basin), timber harvesting, and construction of facilities (like the Marañon River hydroelectric plant), and others. These projects have negative impacts on the environment, including pollution of rivers, alteration of water balance and courses, deforestation, and climate change.Another problem in the Peruvian Amazon is forest fires, which are often caused by the use of „local technology“ to prepare land for agricultural use. In this method, large trees are cut down and the remaining vegetation is burned. Often, no measures are taken to prevent the spread of the fire, as the forest is assumed to be a humid forest with strong internal resources for regeneration. While this is partly true, the extensive use of modern technology by people today often tips the balance towards negative impacts on the forest.
The Amazon Rainforest plays a crucial role in the ecosystem of the entire planet, as it is home to a wide variety of plant and animal species that are found nowhere else. The Amazon region contains more than 30,000 plant species, 2.5 million insect species, and over 2,000 bird species. The Peruvian Amazon region alone is home to more than 10% of the world's animal and plant species.
According to a report by the World Bank, the Amazon jungle is a vital component of the global ecosystem and serves a critical role in sequestering carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen.
It is important to note that Peru has implemented a number of measures to protect the natural environment, including in the Loreto region. In particular, the region of Loreto is home to the largest national park, Pacaya-Samiria, which is home to many rare and unique animal species such as pink dolphins, anacondas, eagles, and others. The Peruvian government has prohibited oil production in the Pacaya-Samiria National Park. Moreover, there are numerous public and private programs aimed at restoring and preserving forests.
Despite the fact that the Loreto region is already facing several environmental problems, the government is actively working to solve them and is taking measures to safeguard nature and biodiversity in the region.
Jungle Synergy Project can have a positive impact on the ecological situation in the Peruvian Amazon, as it aims to protect the forests and biodiversity of the region. How? The project creates a synergy zone in the Amazon – an area where community members are landowners, sharing the ideas of environmentally conscious action, working with modern technologies and reducing the impact on the jungle ecosystem. The members of the community plant native medicinal trees and lianas on their land and restore their population, which has shrunk over the past 30 years. The main goal of the Jungle Synergy Project is to transform the Synergy Zone into a private reserve and win the state to protect it.
Our project also involves the participation of local communities in the process of forest conservation and environmentally friendly land use. Studies show that sustainable forestry, which can be implemented through our project, can increase the income of local communities and reduce the need for illegal logging and other forms of forest exploitation. According to the World Bank report, the participation of local communities in forest management in Peru led to an 80-fold increase in forest area between 2004 and 2017.
The Jungle Synergy Project aims to protect the Amazon jungle and its biodiversity, which, in turn, can have a positive impact on the ecosystem of the entire planet. By creating a community of jungle conservationists and establishing a synergy zone, the project seeks to reduce deforestation and preserve the Amazon ecosystem. FAQ
List of sources:
Research coordinated by IBC, MapBiomas Network and RAISG (Amazon Network of Social-Environmental Information with Geographical Reference) https://amazonia.mapbiomas.org/
Report of the Peruvian Ministry of the Environment (MINAM)
https://www.gob.pe/institucion/minam/noticias/216142-minam-informa-sobre-incendios-forestales-registrados-en-la-selva-peruana-en-lo-que-va-del-ano
RAMI reports prepared by Conservación Amazónica (ACCA)
https://www.acca.org.pe/
IPCC (2018). Global Warming of 1.5°C. Special Report. Retrieved from
https://www.ipcc.ch/sr15/
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2020). The State of the World's Forests 2020. Forests, biodiversity and people - In brief. Retrieved from
http://www.fao.org/state-of-forests/de/
World Wildlife Fund (n.d.) Amazon - Importance. Retrieved from https://www.worldwildlife.org/places/amazon