Peru: The role of youth in the development and conservation of BIOAY

Since 2021, UNESCO Peru and LVMH have supported more than 42 initiatives through the Amazon Biosphere Reserves Project. The aim is the recovery and conservation of ecosystems, as well as strengthening the youth network, creating opportunities for sustainable economic development (SDG 8) in local communities. One notable example of these efforts is the Oxapampa-Asháninka-Yánesha Biosphere Reserve (BIOAY), located in Pasco.

The vast territory of BIOAY covers approximately 1.8 million hectares, consisting of a network of protected natural areas. It is home to more than 116,000 people, including Asháninka and Yánesha indigenous groups, who coexist with Austro-German migrants and people from all over Peru. The reserve reconciles biodiversity conservation with the sustainable use of natural resources in management practices, generating experiences and knowledge that help shape young people as agents of change, entrepreneurs, and promoters of an environmentally respectful society.

"Being young and living within the Biosphere Reserve is an opportunity to demonstrate my abilities and the strength we have as young people to be part of development and change, as well as to keep the reserve active," says Rosmery López, a zootechnician, prominent coffee producer, and coordinator of the BIOAY Youth Technical Group. This organisation started in 2018 and now has nearly 40 members from five districts within BIOAY, engaging young people from indigenous communities in the areas of Constitución and Puerto Bermúdez (Oxapampa – Pasco).

As a team, they have organised various events to exchange experiences and launched strong management and conservation efforts. One example is the first international forum they held in 2019, which included the participation of young representatives from the biospheres of Ecuador and Uruguay. Their examples inspired and helped them develop a national roadmap and action plan, documents that enabled them to become part of the reserve’s Management Committee. In recent years, they have promoted learning spaces not only on conservation, ecotourism, and agricultural practices, in which they specialise, but also on birdwatching, wildlife care, digital marketing, and most importantly, identifying the role and potential of young people in their communities.

Rosmery is a committed natural leader, though she did not always have such a positive outlook on farm work and life in Villa Rica. Her perspective changed when she attended the UNESCO IberoMAB Forum in 2018.  

"With the support of institutions, training, and capacity building for young people and women, it changed my mindset that farm work is only about production. Now I know there are other options, such as training in barista skills and coffee tasting," she remarked.

On the other hand, Dani Alberdi, a psychologist and young entrepreneur in the sausage business in Villa Rica, explains how the COVID-19 emergency was a difficult time but also presented an opportunity. For her, youth innovation is vital to enhancing everything the biosphere reserve offers, improving the quality of various products, and contributing to the empowerment of her locality. She asserts that this allows new ventures to emerge, expanding the market and increasing the visibility of the BIOAY brand.  

"It makes the ventures more well-known; in terms of marketing, it allows us to receive orders nationwide," Dani said.

Dani is an example of success and innovation with her business, a bridge that keeps ancestral culinary traditions alive while adopting sustainable practices. Her community involvement also stands out, and she is aware of the challenges of working with young people, having started her professional experience in the Youth Department of Villa Rica’s Municipality. She points out that the remoteness of many native communities and social issues are the main challenges, but she remains motivated. Dani recognises the work being done by BIOAY’s youth, striving for a more equitable society that is reconciled with the natural environment. She also encourages those who are not yet actively involved to join collectives, volunteer programmes, to study, and always return to their communities.
 

Just like the stories of Rosmery and Dani, there are many other examples of young people whose energy, motivation, and creativity sustain BIOAY. Camila is one such example; with her language skills, she translates documents in search of more opportunities to improve her surroundings. Similarly, Jennifer, as a social communicator, develops social media strategies to showcase the work of the Technical Group and the wonders of the biosphere. Then there’s Patricia, who works towards innovation and improving local production. She studied agricultural engineering with the goal of enhancing coffee quality through environmentally friendly techniques.

The Oxapampa-Asháninka-Yánesha Biosphere Reserve (BIOAY) is a wonderful natural area to live in, with an amazing variety of ecosystems, endemic species, and natural resources. Young people can harness all of this by driving responsible initiatives and generating development opportunities for their communities. The aim is to leave a legacy that maintains the balance between biodiversity conservation and human progress.