Discover Peru's Fragile Environment: WWF Photo Essay

In June 2007, award-winning photographer, Brent Stirton, and WWF-UK photographic manager, Greg Armfield, travelled to Peru, a country facing huge environmental challenges that WWF is working to address.


Brent and Greg witnessed the paving of the Peruvian section of the Interoceànica Highway that could result in massive deforestation of the Amazon rainforest if sustainable management practices promoted by WWF are not implemented.

They travelled to the town of Trompeteros in the heart of Peru's northern Amazon, where WWF is helping the Achuar indigenous people to fight for the clean-up of waste, caused by local oil drilling, that has been contaminating their water supply for over 30 years.

Along the way, they encountered other environmental problems and potential solutions ranging from glacier retreat to sustainable Brazil nut farming. They also gained a fascinating insight into the everyday lives of Peruvian people – from traditional llama herders to residents of Lima's 'pueblos jóvenes' ('young towns').

See the photos and video from WWF here.

Tragedy and Triumph in the Peruvian Rainforest

Dear Friends,

As many of you may know there has been a lot happening in Peru.

The Bad News

Last year President Alan Garcia passed laws number 1090 and 1064 that opened up 70% of Peru's Rainforest to oil exploration. Oil companies have been lining up for concessions and are beginning to move into the forest.

The first part of June the Aguaruana group (tribe) in the northern jungle of Peru were protesting the advance of oil companies into their territory. There was a confrontation near the small town of Bagua with the national police and it turned deadly. At least 20 Natives died and several police were killed.

Strikes and protests broke out all over Peru. Support for the Rainforest people came in from all over the world.

Amazon Herb Company had already arranged for a meeting of over 200 chiefs and representatives at the first Congress of the Shipibo-Konibo on June 20, 21 and 22. This meeting took on a new sense of importance and urgency.

The Good News

The day before the Shipibo Congress started the Peruvian Government bowed to popular opinion and repealed two of the most onerous Rainforest exploitation laws by a margin of 82 - 12.

Glorioso Castro Martinez opened the Congress with a minute of silence to honor those who lost their lives in Bagua. I spoke at the Shipibo Congress in support of Indigenous rights. The chiefs and representatives know that Amazon Herb Company and its associates are friends of the Rainforest and friends of the Shipibo.

I assured the Congress we will continue to support them with our projects for land rights and education through the Amazon Center for Environmental Education and Research (ACEER).

I introduced Olivia who sang 'Pearls on a Chain'. Olivia and I received awards on behalf of Amazon Herb Company for our support of the Shipibo people, Indigenous rights, and our commitment to a healthy Rainforest.

The story was on the front page of the Primier newspaper in Pucallpa. (click here) Because of Olivia's presence the story was also broadcast on Peruvian national TV.

The Future

There is now and will continue to be real challenges to Rainforest preservation, but it's clear the world's awareness of the value of the Amazon is shifting. I offer a special thank you to all of our Amazon Associates and customers for being pioneers in supporting our bold mission for a healthy Rainforest.

To a healthy and prosperous future,

Amazon John

Check out ACEER's Facebook Page!

Hey Facebook Fans,

You can now stay tuned in with ACEER by joining our Facebook group at:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=40411354974&ref=mf

See ya there!

Welcome to ACEER's new blog!

We are so thrilled to have a new blog! It is our hope that this new medium of communication can allow us to connect those interested in ACEER from anywhere. We will post updates, background information, new opportunities to get involved, as well as ways to support ACEER's important work and partnerships.

Our Mission:The ACEER Foundation promotes conservation of the Peruvian Amazon by fostering awareness,understanding, action, and transformation. This is achieved by initiating environmental education programs, supportingresearch, and protecting unique habitats. Our goal is to provide environmental and economic benefits to the indigenouspeoples in the rainforests of Peru.

Our Urgency: Rainforests are essential for all life on Earth. We literally cannot live without viable rainforests.They provide fresh water, clean air, climate regulation, food, materials, and medicines for the entire Earth. Yet therainforests are in peril. Each year more than thirty million tropical rainforest acres are destroyed.

Strategic Partnerships – Our major strategic partners currently include:

• The National Geographic Society
• The Windhover Foundation
• West Chester University of Pennsylvania

ACEER fosters cooperative agreements with Peruvian governmental, educational, and research institutes, and local native communities:

• Peruvian Natural Resources Agency (INRENA)


• Peruvian Amazonian Research Institute (IIAP)


• National University of the Peruvian Amazon (UNAP)


• Native communities of Yagua, Mai juna, Machiguenga, and Esa Eja peoples

More than 125 universities, museums, botanical gardens, and other institutions have collaborated with ACEER.

Transformative Learning -

ACEER has touched lives of more than one million people.International and local capacity building in the health and environmental sciences:

• Field Ecology


• ¡AMIGOS! Partnership for Education


• Conservation Medicine


• Environmental programs in 100% of Iquitos schools


• Environmental Education


• First Spanish-language environmental education


• Botanical Medicine curriculum in Amazonia


• ACEER has also pioneered research and educational applications of canopy access systems:


• First canopy walkway in the Western Hemisphere


• First and largest canopy walkway in the Andean Cloud Forest.

Sustain Our Earth -

ACEER has helped define “green” through:

• Award-winning ethnobotanical gardens


• Discovery of new species and new medicines


• Innovations in biodiversity protection: The School to the Garden program


• The Business of Biodiversity initiative


• Children’s Rainforest Reserve in northeastern Peru

The Amazon Center for Environmental Education and Research (ACEER) Foundation is a US 501(c)(3)non-profit organizationregistered with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and with headquarters in West Chester, Pennsylvania, on the campus of WestChester University of Pennsylvania.