WildFF Case Study: Ten years in Las Piedras

Over a decade ago, what began as a dream to protect a strategically important piece of land in the Las Piedras watershed in Peru has grown into what WildFF is today—a network of like-minded professionals working to protect and restore standing intact forests through a system-wide approach. Since 2013, WildFF’s flagship project with ARCAmazon and JungleKeepers has established and protected a 30,000-acre corridor on the middle Las Piedras River, the last wild and unprotected river left in Madre de Dios. It also acts as a geographic buffer zone between the homeland of uncontacted people and Peru’s largest protected area, Alto Púrus National Park, and the encroaching development of roads and logging.

At its heart, this strategy entails working closely with local stakeholders on sustainable land practices, capacity building, and entrepreneurship so they see the value of standing forests. Our conservation framework begins with gaining a deep understanding of the culture and local traditions with the goal of implementing systems-level change that also stimulates the region’s economy, culture, and ecology. The ultimate goal is for communities to have a long-term stake in the health of their communities and surrounding forests.

Below, we have summarized some of our main initiatives in the Las Piedras over the past ten years.

Protecting the last of the best: WildFF Impact Summary

Intact Forests

Support Junglekeepers ranger program in Las Piedras watershed
Conduct biodiversity research
Support local partners in protecting endangered wildlife habitats

Forest Carbon (future)

Creation of carbon-offset market project (future effort)

Forest Buffers

Create surrounding conserved areas near Alto Púrus National Park
Prevent access to uncontacted tribes in the Amazon forest

Agroforestry

Introduction of profitable crops grown under a forest canopy
Provide education to local farmers on best practices

Environmental Education

Las Piedras Amazon Center (LPAC) ecotourism revenue supports:

Forest ranger programs and community research and development
Field-based research on wildlife, biodiversity, and conservation
Programs developed for local children to learn about the
rainforest–their home

Capacity Building

Develop local skills and knowledge to encourage system-wide conservation

Involve local organizations and communities in conservation efforts
Five-year Future Leaders summits created a network of local youth leaders

Brazil Nuts

Provide an economic opportunity to protect threatened forests:

Maintain Brazil nut concession in Las Piedra watershed
Create additional revenue and jobs through annual harvests