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WWF Peru brings together key multisector stakeholders to co-create a preliminary finance mechanism for the Amazon
In a participatory workshop, government officials, businesses, financial institutions, and civil society organizations came together to co-design the foundation of a catalytic finance model focused on nature-based solutions. The event marked the beginning of a collaborative process toward conservation and sustainable development in the Madre de Dios region of the Peruvian Amazon.
Widely recognized as Peru’s biodiversity capital, Madre de Dios faces mounting threats from alluvial gold mining, expanding agriculture, unsustainable timber harvesting, illegal logging, and unplanned infrastructure. Despite these pressures, the region retains 8.5 million hectares of well-preserved ecosystems—representing 12% of the Peruvian Amazon—and is home to 10 Indigenous groups and 37 communities. This rich but vulnerable landscape underscores the urgent need for innovative financial mechanisms to support sustainable investment and safeguard its natural wealth.
In response, WWF Peru convened a high-level participatory workshop on April 29 in Lima, bringing together representatives from financial institutions, the private sector, government agencies, and civil society. The aim: to present and collaboratively refine a catalytic finance model centered on nature-based solutions (NbS).
During the event, WWF shared a preliminary model designed to mobilize resources toward conservation and sustainable development initiatives in Madre de Dios. Attendees provided key insights and feedback, which will be used to strengthen and adapt the model in the weeks ahead.
The workshop identified three main investable opportunities:
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Regenerative cattle ranching, to restore ecosystems and improve soil health through nature-friendly practices;
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Amazon nut (castaña) harvesting, to support forest conservation through sustainable wild collection; and
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Sustainable wood products, to reduce deforestation and promote forest health by developing eco-friendly timber alternatives.
These initiatives aim to prove that conservation, productive development, and profitability can go hand in hand. Participants also emphasized the need to consolidate the catalytic finance model into a solid, credible mechanism—one capable of attracting investment from financial institutions and private actors interested in contributing to Amazon conservation.
“This workshop is a significant step toward building effective financial solutions that engage diverse sectors in protecting the Amazon,” said Claudia Yep, Conservation Finance Manager at WWF Peru. “Multisector collaboration and cross-sector cooperation are essential to tackle environmental challenges and promote sustainable development in the region.”
WWF Peru will continue to develop the catalytic model, incorporating stakeholder input and holding follow-up meetings with key actors. A formal launch of the revised model is expected in the coming months, positioning it as a concrete investment opportunity in nature-based solutions across sectors.
This initiative is part of WWF Peru’s broader strategy to drive innovative financial approaches that protect biodiversity and enhance the well-being of local communities in the Peruvian Amazon.
© Ricardo Zimic / WWF Perú