Peru is considered one of the ten most megadiverse countries in the world, ranking first in the world for its biodiversity of butterflies and fish, third for birds, fourth for amphibians, fifth for mammals and reptiles, eighth for plants, and is home to 10% of the total number of orchid species on the planet. Peru’s great biological diversity is well-represented in its Natural Protected Areas (NPAs), a cornerstone of Peru's rich natural heritage and a vital component for the nation’s sustainable development.
Since 2021, the World Bank has been collaborating with the two main agencies working on forestry matters - the Natural Protected Areas National Service of the State (SERNANP) and the National Forestry and Wildlife Service (SERFOR) - on possible investments to improve the management of protected areas and forests to address both climate change and economic development needs.
To support this work, Conservation Strategy Fund (CSF) will carry out a study to determine the contribution of the landscape resources and the renewable resources of the NPAs to economic development on a local, regional and national scale, as well as the benefits that come from carbon sequestration and the provision of water from NPAs to human well-being. The purpose of this study is to further support new investments, both nationally and internationally, in NPAs.
By considering tourism, renewable resources (flora and fauna), REDD+ projects, and water MERESE from SERNANP-prioritized NPAs, the study will assess how investments in NPAs benefit the national economy. CSF will also determine the investments needed to reactivate tourism and project the landscape resource potential of the NPAs. The condensed final report will demonstrate the role of NPAs to the Peruvian economy (local, regional, and national) and human well-being.
The study aims to provide SERNANP with more bases to improve the management of protected natural areas and contribute to the country's conservation objectives. This crucial information will also demonstrate to policymakers and government representatives the economic return of investing in the conservation and management of protected areas in highly biodiverse countries such as Peru.
This analytical work is made possible by the support of the World Bank ProGreen Fund project entitled "Peru Resilient Landscapes Management".
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