South America

Home to the Amazon, the World’s Largest Forest

What's at Stake

Spanning nine South American countries and 2.7 million square miles (4.35 sq km), the Amazon is the world’s largest forest and is home to more than 120 indigenous groups and one in 10 known species. Unparalleled in its biodiversity, the Amazon is also critical to global climate stability.

The Amazon in Peril

Among the multiple threats to the Amazon rainforest, agricultural expansion is the biggest. Cattle ranching alone accounts for more than 60 percent of deforestation in the Amazon Basin, and industrial farming has also wrought severe destruction. Additionally, urban expansion, mining, petroleum extraction, dams, and irresponsible timber production have all led to a massive loss of forestlands.

Deforestation in the Amazon

One-fifth of all freshwater on the planet originates in the Amazon Basin. The Amazon also absorbs about 20 percent of the carbon caused by the burning of fossil fuels. Humans have razed some 20 percent of the Amazon rainforest over the last 40 years alone, and an additional 20 percent is at risk of being destroyed—a potentially catastrophic loss that would cause this vital ecosystem to unravel.

Our Work

Stopping deforestation in the Amazon requires bold, multi-faceted strategies that center indigenous forest communities and support their self-determination. This approach characterizes our work in the Amazon, where we work with a wide range of communities and partners to cultivate a sustainable forest economy.

A Sustainable Forest Economy

With technical assistance from the Rainforest Alliance, our partner communities in the Peruvian Amazon have developed enterprises that guard against mining and other threats.

Nature guide Josué Avila, a member of the Sani Kichwa community, leads jungle wildlife tours for guests of Sani Lodge.

Vision for the Amazon

The Rainforest Alliance worked closely with indigenous communities and Ecuador’s Ministry of Environment to develop a new model of sustainable, community-based tourism in protected areas in the Amazon.

Jesusa Colina picking coffee cherries in Peru

Climate-Smart Agriculture in Peru

Farmers, local governments, and businesses in the Peruvian Amazon are working to conserve forests, build climate resilience, and strengthen the role of women farmers.

Learn more about our key projects in this region.

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Our Impact

The most important impact of our work in high-risk regions of the Amazon—self-determination—is not quantifiable. However, we continually gauge the success of our approach by measuring both ecosystem health and the economic and social well-being of our partner communities.

A Sustainable, Thriving Forest Economy

After working with the Rainforest Alliance for four years, communities in the Madre de Dios region of the Peruvian Amazon exported more than 4,000 metric tons of shelled Brazil nuts, representing a value of nearly US $31 million.

Read the Study

18 million acres

under sustainable management in South America

Our Reach in South America

We're working with forest communities, farmers, governments, and companies to conserve the Amazon Basin and protect its precious biodiversity. Together with our partners, we've brought 18 million acres (7.3 million hectares) under sustainable management.

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Learn more ways we are achieving real results.

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