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RONAP: Caring for the forests and those who protect and work in them

Publicado el 7 mayo 2025

Thanks to the efforts of the 48 families that collect this emblematic fruit, the health of the forest dedicated to this activity has been maintained. They are part of the Association of Organic Collectors of the Peruvian Amazon Nut (RONAP), which was created in 2004 to strengthen the voice of small Amazon nut producers in Madre de Dios and promote fair and sustainable trade throughout the production chain.

For Amazon nut-gathering families, harvesting is not just a job, it is a lifestyle that demands physical and emotional effort. The long days in the forest, the uncertain climate, and the trade challenges can generate high stress levels and changes in family dynamics. For this reason, a pilot program for Psychosocial Accompaniment and Outreach was launched two years ago. Miguel Zamalloa, president of RONAP, identifies considerable improvements. “Thanks to this program, their emotional well-being has improved, and they feel real emotional support. There is also a greater openness to learn sustainable practices in the forest. The partners see the psychologists as people who can explain administrative and operational processes in detail, with adapted methodologies and assertive language”.

“In the last six months, 123 visits have been made to RONAP's 48 members, 50% of whom are women, to strengthen the bridge of trust with the community. Promoting sustainable Amazon nut management is key to promoting fair and sustainable trade throughout the production chain,” said Milton Huanca, WWF Peru's forest management officer.

Generational change

The majority of Amazon nut concession owners are older adults, and their children or grandchildren have minimal involvement in the activity, which makes it difficult to ensure its sustainability in the future. Part of the home visits includes the younger generations, so that they recognize the value of Amazon nuts, the forest, and their parents' legacy, and have an interest in continuing this important activity in the region.

In these two years of coordinated work with WWF, young Amazon nut growers have come to understand the importance of their incorporation into the production chain. They now join their parents or grandparents at the association's meetings and are beginning to be part of RONAP's technical team.

WWF Peru

At WWF Peru, we are committed to mobilizing processes of change that allow us to sustainably manage nature with the full and effective participation of indigenous peoples and local communities. To promote these changes, we have defined five key strategies, conceived synergistically, that seek to ensure the sustainable conservation of the landscapes where we intervene hand in hand and for the benefit of the population. This initiative belongs to strategy 3: Sustainable production chains linked to markets and financial mechanisms. To learn more, please visit: https://www.wwf.org.pe/en/our_work_/conservation_strategies_/