Located in southeastern Peru, the forest of Madre de Dios is considered the country’s biodiversity capital and makes up 12% of the Peruvian Amazon. Indeed, Madre de Dios is one of the most biodiverse places in the world. Its 21 million acres (8.5 million hectares) of territory—including 19.5 million acres (7.9 million hectares) of forest—are home to the world’s greatest concentration of bird species as well as healthy populations of jaguar, tapir, and other large Amazonian mammals. It’s also home to nearly 190,000 people, including 37 Indigenous communities, several of which live in voluntary isolation.
Madre de Dios has around 45% of its area designated as Natural Protected Areas (ANPs), maintaining at least 92% of the original forest cover. Despite having five ANPs and one of the largest Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®)-certified managed forest areas in Peru, this region is threatened by illegal mining and logging, expanding agriculture, and extreme weather events.
WWF and HP's work here will deliver high-quality climate, landscape and community benefits by improving responsible forest management practices in a targeted area of almost 148,000 acres (60,000 hectares). In addition, we intend to restore and connect 494 acres (200 hectares) of key jaguar habitat with native plant species.
