Cocha Cashu Biological Station is on the banks of the Manu River, in the forest. Manu Biosphere Reserve, Peru

Amazon Biosphere Reserves Project

Improving resilience and halting biodiversity loss in the Greater Amazon Basin
Implemented with the support of LVMH

The Amazon Biosphere Reserves Project seeks to halt the degradation of forest areas, conserve biodiversity and ecosystems, and support alternative livelihoods for communities and Indigenous peoples.

Since 2021, the project has supported more than 42 initiatives aimed at regenerating ecosystems and developing sustainable employment opportunities for local communities by combining scientific knowledge with local and indigenous knowledge in order to reduce negative impacts on biodiversity and improve resilience to climate change. The project supports place-based initiatives to promote sustainable production and resource management, improve territorial governance and support the added value of socio-biodiversity products.

8
biosphere reserves

in Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador and Peru

5%
of the Amazon Basin,

incorporating 86 protected areas

1.3 million
people

facing common challenges across boundaries

42 initiatives
supported since 2021

The Amazon Biosphere Reserves Project provides a framework that reconciles conservation and sustainable use. The UNESCO biosphere reserves network in the region enables knowledge sharing to conserve biodiversity throughout the basin, including key threatened species such as the giant arapaima fish, the Amazonian manatee, black caiman and river dolphins.

In parallel of strengthening coordination and governance within the designated sites, the Amazon Biosphere Reserves Project is reinforcing the development and implementation of Youth Networks that involve young leaders and representatives in the management and decision-making of their biosphere reserves.

 Amazon Biosphere Reserves Project map

Objectives

Reducing deforestation and forest degradation
Biodiversity and ecosystems conservation
Promoting alternative livelihoods

for local communities and Indigenous peoples

Thijs Biersteker author of Amazonium, exhibition at UNESCO Headquarters during the 42nd General Conference 2023

Partner

This project is the result of an effective partnership with the private sector. 
It is implemented with LVMH, UNESCO’s top private partner for biodiversity initiatives.

LVMH logo (while letters on a black background)