WWF’s Global 200, priority ecoregions whose conservation is essential for the protection and preservation of global diversity, cover large expanses that often straddle political borders.
As a result, WWF's approach and actions are not confined by political boundaries, and require concerted actions with governments and institutions from many countries. Such is the case of SWA.
These forests are the habitat of threatened species like the jaguar and the harpy eagle. They are also home to dozens of indigenous groups, some of whom have not been contacted by 'civilization', as well as scattered populations of traditional Brazil nut gatherers and rubber-tappers.
However, in spite of their relative isolation, the SWA forests are threatened by the opening and paving of roads that provide access to a growing population of small farmers, oil and gas exploration, as well as large-scale cattle ranching and agribusiness.
These targets include increased protected areas and improved management and policy. In the long term, there are strong expectations that this will make the maintenance of protected and managed areas possible.
Effective management has also been ensured for several protected areas including Alto Purús. In terms of certification in the area, considerable advances have been made - notably in Bolivia - both for timber extraction and Brazil nuts.
Other notable achievements include ecological–economic zoning of Madre de Dios - Acre – Pando (also known as MAP region), mitigation of the negative environmental impacts of small-scale gold mining in Madre de Dios and capacity-building of scientific and administrative authorities to initiate implementation of the mahogany listing.
The context
The Southwestern Amazon Moist Forests Global 200 ecoregion (SWA G200) is an area encompassing parts of Brazil, Peru and Bolivia. It contains some of the richest and largest tracts of intact tropical rainforest found in the entire Amazon Basin.These forests are the habitat of threatened species like the jaguar and the harpy eagle. They are also home to dozens of indigenous groups, some of whom have not been contacted by 'civilization', as well as scattered populations of traditional Brazil nut gatherers and rubber-tappers.
However, in spite of their relative isolation, the SWA forests are threatened by the opening and paving of roads that provide access to a growing population of small farmers, oil and gas exploration, as well as large-scale cattle ranching and agribusiness.
The opportunity
For WWF, the next 5-10 years represent a unique window of opportunity to help establish a conservation landscape that can ensure the protection of a significant portion of the biological and cultural resources of this ecoregion.The targets
The Biodiversity Vision of the Southwestern Amazon Moist Forests ecoregion has set several targets for the conservation and sustainable use of the area’s biological resources.These targets include increased protected areas and improved management and policy. In the long term, there are strong expectations that this will make the maintenance of protected and managed areas possible.
The achievements
Through the creation of the Alto Purús National Park and the Purus Communal Reserve (27,242 km2), and the Murunahua Territorial Reserve (6,000 km2), WWF has already achieved great progress towards the protection target.Effective management has also been ensured for several protected areas including Alto Purús. In terms of certification in the area, considerable advances have been made - notably in Bolivia - both for timber extraction and Brazil nuts.
Other notable achievements include ecological–economic zoning of Madre de Dios - Acre – Pando (also known as MAP region), mitigation of the negative environmental impacts of small-scale gold mining in Madre de Dios and capacity-building of scientific and administrative authorities to initiate implementation of the mahogany listing.
