Global Climate Change: Country and Regional Information
PERU
Peru is one of the world’s most biodiverse countries, and USAID’s climate change program is helping the country confront threats to its biodiversity, as well as to the carbon sinks of its vast tropical forests.
Country Profile Last Updated May 2008
Background
Among the most dynamic in Latin America, Peru’s economy continued to grow at an estimated 8 percent in 2006. Although impressive changes can be seen at the macroeconomic level, approximately 42 percent of the nation still lives in poverty. The lack of infrastructure and limited state presence in significant portions of the country’s interior hinders Peru’s ability to govern and contributes to the presence of drug trafficking, illegal logging, terrorist activities and other criminal practices.
To assist in poverty reduction, USAID’s activities emphasize trade-led economic growth and increased market access for micro, small and medium enterprises. USAID’s programs offer alternatives to illicit coca production and strengthen government effectiveness to provide services in health, education and environmental management in areas most affected by illegal drug cultivation. In the environment, USAID’s programs strive to improve Peru’s environmental policy framework and to build the capacity of environmental institutions to promote sustainable forest management, protect biodiversity, and comply with the Environmental Chapter and Cooperation agreement of the Peru Trade Promotion Agreement (PTPA).
Partners
USAID’s partners in climate change activities in Peru include:
- Chemonics International
- National Institute of Natural Resources in Peru (INRENA)
Because partners change as new activities arise, this list of partners is not comprehensive.
Sector-Specific Climate Change Activities
Reducing Net Greenhouse Gas Emissions Through Natural Resources and Protected Areas Management
USAID/Peru provides support to the Government of Peru (GOP) for sustainable forestry, and international certification of privately held and indigenous community forest concessions. Through its assistance to the National Institute of Natural Resources (INRENA), Peru has established a modern, streamlined unit that provides technical assistance to forestry concession holders seeking international certification. The work carried out by the unit is key to achieving forestry certification recognized by the Forest Stewardship Council. International certification ensures that the forest is managed in a sustainable manner, responsible labor practices are followed, and that the concession has good relations with neighboring communities. Sustainably managed forests constitute a market-based response to illegal logging, thus contributing to the reduction of greenhouse gases. In 2007, the new INRENA forestry certification unit assisted concessionaires in certifying 195,000 hectares of forest.
One component of USAID’s Poverty Reduction and Alleviation (PRA) program targets privately held and indigenous communities’ forest concessions to achieve international forest certification. Through targeted assistance, the PRA activity has provided technical assistance for the certification of 83,000 hectares in FY07 and 95,000 hectares in FY06.
Capacity Building Including Activities in Support of the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
In building greater capacity for protected areas management, USAID/Peru worked with INRENA to improve a national protected area and park management scorecard. In addition, USAID/Peru has supported the Field Museum of Chicago’s efforts to promote community-focused conservation within Cordillera Azul National Park, a national park the size of the State of Connecticut with world class biodiversity in the eastern Andes.
Please note, many links in the Global Climate Change portion of USAID's web sites point to information on the U.S. State Department and White House web sites. Some of these materials may be under review and temporarily unavailable. These links will be updated on USAID's web sites as soon as possible. Thank you for your patience.
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