29 July 2020, Geneva – The Peru Coalition for Sustainable Production has launched as a multi-stakeholder space for dialogue, commitment and action promoting sustainable jurisdictions and free-deforestation value chains in Peru, with a focus on the Peruvian Amazon. It seeks to achieve this through the creation of private-public partnerships that tackle the key hurdles in the transition to deforestation-free supply chains, in this country of 32 million people, of which approximately 25% of workers are employed in the agriculture sector.
Peru has the second-largest portion of the Amazon rainforest after the Brazilian Amazon. The Peruvian Amazon makes up 60% of the country, more than any other country. Peru is also one of the world’s most biologically diverse countries, including the largest number of bird species, more than 1,800, and the third-largest number of mammal species, more than 450.
The Peru Coalition for Sustainable Production was originally conceived in 2017 within the framework of Expo Amazónica, a major business fair in the Peruvian Amazon. On 17 July 2020, the coalition was officially launched during a virtual event, bringing together key decision-makers from the national government, regional governments, the private sector, civil society organizations, indigenous peoples groups and academia.
Photo: Marlon del Aguila Guerrero/CIFOR
The coaltiion is supported by the Tropical Forest Alliance (housed at the World Economic Forum), which supports other such public-private coalitions advancing the transition to deforestation-free supply chains impacting key tropical forests around the globe.
During the launch event, Paula Carrión, Deputy Minister of Agricultural Policy within Peru’s Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation highlighted the key role of the government in the accomplishment of international climate and forest commitments and the need for a coordinated approach together with stakeholders, highlighting that, “As such, we have a great responsibility in the sustainable management of our natural resources and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.”
Peru’s Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation joined the Tropical Forest Alliance in January 2019, reaffirming the nation’s leadership position in supporting public-private partnership solutions for sustainable deforestation-free agriculture. In December 2019, the Peruvian government increased its climate change commitment, announcing at the global Climate Change Conference that it had set a new goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 35% before 2030. With its official launch by the Peruvian government, the Peru Coalition for Sustainable Production is not positioned to play an important role in achievement of this goal.
During the launch event, companies shared some of the advances they are making. Grupo Palmas, highlighted advances in their palm-oil production, including the development of a sustainability policy, which importantly guides production decisions; as well the completion of studies on areas of high-value of conservation and high carbon stocks.
“The principal challenge,” highlighted Sandra Doign, Sustainability Manager of Grupo Palmas, “is having a shared understanding on the issues of sustainable production and forest protection.”
Prashant Jalan, President of Olam Peru, a major global food and agri-business supplier, shared Olam’s forward-thinking strategy in sustainability, which is founded on providing a better livelihood for producers while addressing sustainability and climate change.
Civil society organizations and indigenous peoples groups are also key participants of the coalition, enriching the dialogue with the inclusion of different perspectives based on ancient forest protection knowledge. Shuar Velazquez, from the Native Commerce Camera, shared proposals for the creation of an indigenous bank, and a sustainability certification seal managed and awarded by the indigenous communities.
Through this rich dialogue and sharing of experiences at its official launch, the coalition realized its objective of sharing and supporting innovative sustainable production initiatives. The coalition also set its strategic approach and its coordinated deforestation-free supply chain agenda. Steering groups were established on the topics of cocoa and amazon fruits, while large-scale jurisdictions were identified as target areas – strongly positioning the coalition to accelerate and scale up its members efforts.
Join the Coalition for Sustainable Production
The Coalition for Sustainable Production is open to new members that are committed to sustainable production in Peru.
For more information, please contact a member of the coalition’s Executive Committee: Laura Avellaneda (from Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation, lavellaneda@minagri.gob.pe), Patricia Patrón (from Ministry of Environment, ppatron@minam.gob.pe), Ada Lis Rosell (Solidaridad, adalis.rosell@solidaridadnetwork.org) and Dennis Armas (from National Forest and Wildlife Service, darmas@serfor.gob.pe)
Note:
The Coalition for Sustainable Production is a multi-stakeholder mechanism to advance dialogue, commitment and action that seeks to promote sustainable jurisdictions and free-deforestation value chains in Peru. it was officially launched on 17 July 2020 and works to generate private-public alliances that tackle challenges linked to achieving deforestation-free supply chains; and to promote an adequate sustainable business environment by improving enabling conditions that address key barriers.
More information about the Tropical Forest Alliance available at: https://www.tropicalforestalliance.org/
Media Contacts:
TFA Communications: Jennifer Ferguson-Mitchell (Switzerland), jfm@weforum.org
TFA Coordinator for Perú and Colombia: Javier Ortiz, Javier.ortiz@solidaridadnetwork.org
TFA Sub-Coordination in Peru: Daniel Coronel, daniel.coronel@solidaridadnetwork.org
