Update assessment on Section 118/119 of the FAA : tropical forestry and biodiversity conservation in Peru

Peru now counts with conservation oriented government entities and non-governmental institutions that have developed complex strategies and appropriate legal frameworks designed to address the major environmental and social issues faced. These strategies are the result of stakeholder participation and input at the international, national, regional and local levels. However, although these strategies are in place and evident in laws and management plans, implementation and monitoring are the greatest challenges faced today. In addition, communication and collaboration with regional and local entities, albeit recognized in documents, continues to be weak but can be aided through support of the decentralization process. Furthermore, this assessment found that current conservation strategies tend to be best designed for situations found within natural protected areas, but conservation efforts outside protected areas need more attention since conditions and opportunities are different. Regarding this last point, we recommend that an emphasis be placed in working and supporting marketbased conservation projects spearheaded by the private sector, indigenous communities, or those with an explicit gender-based component. The reasons for this recommendation is that projects in the private sector show potential and innovation, while indigenous populations and gender-based initiatives represent marginalized populations whose participation in conservation efforts is still weak. Given these observations we have organized recommendations along four major themes: (1) support research and efforts aimed at reducing threats to biodiversity and tropical forests; (2) promote institutional strengthening for the decentralization of policy and actions associated to biodiversity and tropical forest conservation and management; (3) support efforts that strengthen and broaden the participation of stakeholders in the conservation and management of biodiversity and tropical forests; and (4) support initiatives that encourage conservation-oriented projects by the private sector. (Author abstract, modified)