Discover the Ecotourism project in the Peruvian Amazon

Find out about the Cordillera Escalera!

The region with the highest rate of deforestation in Peru

The project was developed in the San Martin region, the most deforested region in Peru with a deforestation rate of 18.51%. (WWF/AWS – report on deforestation in Peru, 2000)

The area has long suffered from migratory agriculture, illegal hunting of native species, wood trafficking, and illegal land occupation. Water resources have been affected by river diversion, overexploitation, and contamination.

The protection of the Cordillera Escalera Regional Conservation Area (created on December 25, 2005, covering an area of 149,870 hectares) therefore had to incorporate the human factor as a component of its conservation. Indeed, the causes of its destruction were mainly due to peasant migration within the protected areas and a lack of awareness and information.

In one part of this territory, the Alto Shilcayo basin, the inhabitants have become aware of the importance of protecting this territory and have decided to stop illegal activities and become protectors of the forest. They have signed an agreement with the government to develop sustainable activities in the Cordillera Escalera regional conservation area.

The project was led by local residents, who formed an association called APFF (Association for the Protection of Fauna and Flora). After having been responsible for the degradation of the area for a long time, they became the guardians of this same forest, with the hope that this protection would enable them to live a more decent life.

Combining ecotourism and conservation

The project is located in the Alto Shilcayo catchment, a 2,500-hectare area of tropical rainforest in the Amazon basin. The landscape features cloud forests, hills, miradors, and numerous waterfalls. It is also a key area for drinking water supply.

The purpose of the project was to conserve and protect the Cordillera Escalera regional conservation area and its water resources, and to restore its biological diversity through good natural resource management.

The aim was also to generate new income for the inhabitants of the area, who were previously used to making money by selling wood or agricultural products, through a responsible tourism project.

Thanks to their involvement and the support of Envol Vert, numerous hiking trails have been developed and members have received extensive training enabling them to provide high-quality tourist services and ensure the site is well maintained. The support program has also been extended to the rehabilitation of native species such as colibris, amphibians, and peccaries (wild pigs). An awareness program promoting responsible agricultural management has been developed for all residents of Alto Shilcayo with the aim of maintaining and restoring forest cover. Finally, Envol Vert has provided its expertise in association management throughout the partnership to encourage activity monitoring, financial transparency, communication, fundraising, task distribution, and the inclusion of women.

In 2018, after seven years of partnership, Envol Vert was proud to announce its withdrawal from the project. Since then, the association has been doing well, registering new members, new partners, and new offers that contribute to its growth every day.

Today, the APFF offers several tourist circuits, ranging from 1 to 3 days, for a full immersion in the forest