Amazon Stories

The sounds of Peru’s jungles are akin to those of a symphony. The high-pitched calls of toucans, the slow roar of howler monkeys, and the buzzing of insects together create unforgettable melodies. But these natural harmonies do more than simply please the ear—they provide us with valuable information about the health of the forest.

Considered a protector and symbol of power, jaguars personify the mysterious beauty of the Amazon. This iconic species plays a vital role in its habitat by controlling other species’ populations and helping maintain a healthy ecosystem. 

One of the best ways to stop deforestation is to ensure there’s long-term funding to properly manage the country’s national parks.  

Conserving natural habitats has long been recognized as a powerful way to secure and shelter the planet’s biological diversity.

In the Amazon and beyond, WWF’s Earth for Life vision calls for saving massive pieces of the planet we call home.

Climate justice champion and indigenous rights activist Nina Gualinga relentlessly advocates for protection of the Ecuadorian Amazon, its wildlife, and the people who depend on it.

This will be one of the great litmus tests of the conservation movement: can we marshal the resources necessary to secure the gains we’ve made in the Amazon and chart a new path forward?

Scientists are discovering an average of one new species in the Amazon every other day.

Valenzuela has spent almost half her life dedicated to a more peaceful Colombia, and particularly to how conservation can help the country achieve that peace.

With the peace agreement comes the opportunity to restore the health of the country’s protected areas and prevent damage or loss to the many wild wonders that still exist.

Heritage Colombia is a conservation financing project designed to secure protections for Colombia’s natural landscapes.

The report, New Species of Vertebrates and Plants in the Amazon 2014-2015, details 381 new species that were discovered over 24 months, including 216 plants, 93 fish, 32 amphibians, 20 mammals, 19 reptiles and one bird.

The Amazon is an incredibly unique place. It is the world’s largest rain forest and river system, and the most biologically diverse place on Earth. It contains millions of species, most of them still undescribed. Learn more about this amazing place.

On a river in Brazil, a quadcopter drone whirred over the water, transmitting a stream of images to a computer. Researchers and the small aircraft had the same job: spotting river dolphins.

The innovative tool, known as Project Finance for Permanence, has provided a brilliant approach to cover the costs associated with maintaining protected areas in Brazil.

Behind beef, soy is the second largest agricultural driver of deforestation worldwide. From the Northern Great Plains of the U.S. to the Amazon of Brazil, forests, grasslands, and wetlands are being plowed up to make room for more soy production. 

The Amazon’s animal athletes demonstrate skill and strength humans can only envy.

Eduardo Escompani Viñas is a shiringuero; he collects natural latex from shiringa trees. He and the other members of ECOMUSA, a cooperative of natural rubber producers, feel duty-bound to protect their natural resources and their way of life. They demonstrate that there are ways to reap the value and benefit of forests without harming them.

 

WWF’s plan to secure a permanent future for some of the highest-priority protected areas on Earth

Capturing atmospheric data in the Amazon

A growing number of cooks in Peru rely on the country’s protected areas—parks, nature reserves, and sanctuaries—to keep their menus vibrant and their customers satisfied. That's part of why WWF is working with the Peruvian government and partners to fund the proper management of protected areas.

Public, private, national, and international partners, including WWF, are working on a way to fund the permanent protection of Peru’s natural treasures. Such funds could be used to conduct wildlife surveys, create jobs in ecotourism, and purchase equipment that enables park rangers to better patrol protected areas.

WWF's Meg Symington describes the luck and rewards of working to save the Amazon rain forest.