Peru Awards Stewardship of Wetlands in Amazon to Indigenous Communities

Based on the efforts of MacArthur grantees the World Wildlife Fund and E-Tech, several indigenous communities in Peru have been given stewardship by the government of one of the most important wetlands in the Amazon. The area is home to nearly 300 species of fish and the site of two of the oldest and most important oil blocks in Peru. The decision is a significant accomplishment for the Federation and its local partners, who have worked with oil producers and the government since 2000 to assess and mitigate the impact of oil production on key rivers and the overall environment. The studies resulted in the first acknowledgment of contamination in the area in 30 years. The Achuar, Kichwa, and Kandozi communities will monitor all extractive activities within their territories, with the responsibility to ensure the health and safety of their environment and their communities.