Peru
Indigenous forest observers drive action against illegal mining in the Peruvian Amazon
New results from the Madre de Dios region in southeastern Peru’s Amazon Basin show how Indigenous-led monitoring is protecting forests, influencing policy and confronting rising threats. RFUK’s Peru Coordinator, Daniela Velit, recently visited Puerto Maldonado, the capital city of the Madre de Dios region, and saw first-hand how RFUK’s project alongside Indigenous rights organisation FENAMAD is … Read more
From the Ene River in Peru to the global stage: the journey of Nilda Chávez
This International Women’s Day, we celebrate the leadership of Indigenous women by sharing the story of Nilda Chávez whose journey from the Ene River to the global stage shows the power of community, determination and women’s leadership. At RFUK, we are proud to work alongside our partners and communities in Peru to help build the … Read more
Peru’s Supreme Court sets landmark precedent against intimidation lawsuits targeting Indigenous defenders
In a landmark ruling, Peru’s Supreme Court has overturned a defamation judgment against the Indigenous rights organisation FENAMAD, recognising that a powerful timber company misused the justice system to silence public interest advocacy. The decision marks a major step forward in protecting freedom of expression and Indigenous rights, and sets an important precedent against so-called SLAPPs, Strategic … Read more
II Congress Ama Ene Strengthens Asháninka Women’s Leadership in the Ene River Basin
Pamakiari, Ene River Basin, Peru – August 2025 The II Congress Ama Ene has brought together more than 150 Asháninka women from 19 communities along the Ene River, marking an important milestone in advancing Indigenous women’s leadership and gender rights in the region. On 14 August, CARE boats travelled upriver, stopping at each community to … Read more
Carbon Markets and Our Rights: A Guide for Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities
The voluntary carbon market is quickly evolving and being introduced in new territories, making it challenging to sort out who’s who and what the implications are for impacted communities. To support Indigenous communities and local communities to better understand carbon markets, our sister organisation Rainforest Foundation US has launched a six-part animated series to demystify … Read more
UK NGOs urge government to keep Forests Standing in Foreign Aid Budget
RFUK has come together with seven prominent UK-based environmental and human rights organisations in calling on the UK government to protect tropical forests from the recently announced foreign aid budget cuts. In a joint letter with Global Witness, Global Canopy, Earthsight, Forest Peoples Programme, Friends of the Earth, Fern and Mighty Earth, we appeal to … Read more
Peru’s Indigenous-led conservation: a model for protecting the Amazon
While vast stretches of Peru’s Amazon remain vulnerable to deforestation, illegal mining and land grabs, 821,000 hectares of Indigenous-managed forests stand as a testament to the power of community-led conservation. These territories, safeguarded by the Indigenous organisations FENAMAD and CARE with support from RFUK, are significantly better protected than surrounding areas where illegal activities often … Read more
Map story: Guardians of Boca Pariamanu
The Guardians of Boca Pariamanu map story beautifully encapsulates the journey of Indigenous women leaders in Peru’s Madre de Dios region as they navigate the threats to their ancestral lands and livelihoods. This engaging narrative, rich with photos, maps and an accompanying video, focuses on a community’s ongoing struggle to protect their environment while embracing … Read more
Guardians of Boca Pariamanu: RFUK’s new map story highlights Indigenous resilience in the face of adversity
We are excited to announce the publication of our latest map story, Guardians of Boca Pariamanu, which beautifully encapsulates the journey of Indigenous women leaders in Peru’s Madre de Dios region as they navigate the threats to their ancestral lands and livelihoods. This engaging narrative, rich with photos, maps and an accompanying video, focuses on … Read more
Bridging Forests and Markets Through Sustainable Cocoa Livelihoods in Peru
A groundbreaking collaboration with the award-winning Asháninka Kemito Ene cooperative in Peru is enabling Indigenous smallholders to use cutting-edge technology to break down barriers to accessing international markets for their sustainably produced cacao. As global deforestation continues to threaten biodiversity and climate stability, regulatory frameworks such as the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) have emerged to … Read more