Wren Blog

Scaling up the Tech-enabled Rainforest Protection project

Ben Stanfield -

Just the gist

If you're in a hurry, here's what you need to know this month:

  • Neighboring communities are recognizing the success of the pilot in Buen Jardín de Callarú and agreements have been reached to expand the project to two new community forests.
  • New measures are being put in place to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 in current and future project areas.

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Buen Jardín de Callarú, the protected rainforest area that Wren supporters have been funding, has completed almost a year of successful community forest protection, maintaining a 0% deforestation rate since mid-2019. Neighboring communities have taken notice and have expressed interest in expanding the model to cover more of the region’s historically threatened forests. Until now, the multiple challenges posed by the COVID-19 crisis have delayed the project’s growth.

Francisco Hernandez Cayetano, President of the Federation of the Ticuna and Yaguas Communities of the Lower Amazon (Federación de Comunidades Ticunas y Yaguas del Bajo Amazonas, or FECOTYBA), with the support of Rainforest Foundation US (RFUS), recently facilitated agreements with two additional communities in the region—Bufeo Cocha and Santa Rita de Mochila—to transfer knowledge and capacities to collectively protect the region’s standing forests and the high biodiversity they sustain.

Between these two new projects, Wren members are facilitating the protection of an additional 3,000 hectares of Amazon rainforest!
The tech-enabled rainforest protection project is scaling-up as of August 2020 to Bufeo Cocha (which has roughly 5,500 hectares (ha) titled and a 2,000 ha conservation area) and Santa Rita de Mochila (which has roughly 1,000 ha titled and an 800 ha conservation area).

Preventing the spread of COVID-19, an ongoing threat to the region

Despite the devastating impact of COVID-19 across the region, project communities are finding new ways to cope to continue their important work. Fortunately, these communities enjoy internet access, allowing for project implementation, information and evidence delivery to be carried out remotely, mitigating undue health risks.

Meanwhile, FECOTYBA and Rainforest Foundation US have implemented new protocols to ensure that project activities do not increase exposure to community monitors.

Among the COVID-19 crisis prevention measures being taken are:

  • Implementing strict socially distanced meetings and virtual communications
  • Providing personal protection equipment to indigenous community monitors and leaders who must travel
  • Providing updated information on the COVID-19 crisis and increasing coordination with government authorities
  • Providing humanitarian aid as needed to communities in the region

- The Wren Team

Mimi, Landon, Ben, and Taylor