On this occasion, we want to delve into the importance of the private sector in the conservation of the Amazon Rainforest. How, from people and companies, great objectives can be achieved and how their contribution translates into the protection of the Amazon, the heart of planet Earth.
How did it all start?
Arbio was created with the objective of protecting the Amazon ecosystem in the Madre de Dios rainforest, in an area of woods heritage of all Peruvians. From the beginning, friends were invited to collaborate and years later, this system was oriented for private companies to join by adopting forest areas.
In 2010, when the initiative to conserve the Amazon forest began to take shape in the face of the threats that were expected to come from the new Interoceanic highway, the Arbio team developed a system of donations and contributions that could involve everyone in the protection of the Amazon.
This is how the sponsorship of hectares was created to finance the work in this conservation concession. Each person could choose an area within the 916 hectares map and, after a donation payment, this person was financing the conservation and protection of the forest in a significant way: with one hectare in his or her name. With this, the new protector of the Amazon not only received a digital certificate, but could also view, on the concession map on the web, his name as protector of the selected area.
Plataforma de conservación del bosque 2019
Protecting large Amazon trees
With that innovative system for the environmental sector, starting in 2018, the modality of adopting large trees was also launched. This was possible thanks to the fact that Arbio has a database with the trees that it censuses and monitors in the concession, these having been located, measured, studied, and entered into its database and adoption system for large trees. Thus, with the same idea of hectares, people could get involved by directing their donation to protect a specific large tree, subsequently receiving a digital certificate with the tree’s information, and even being able to give it as a gift to another person on some special occasion.
In constant evolution
Both systems – both the hectares and the trees – evolved over time, in light of suggestions from our donors, market demand, the evolution of technology, better capabilities, and, just as in nature, constant evolution.
The trees grew, not only in number, due to the constant explorations in the concession, which allowed us to discover and monitor more ancient trees; but also in options on how to be adopted. Currently, the system has customizable certificates, where if desired, the person can adopt a tree for themselves or in the name of someone else, as an anniversary gift or for the birth of a baby.
A very interesting option is to give the protection of a centenary tree to the family or person who has lost a family member. A tree is given in memory of that person who died, so that in their name a being that gives us life is protected in the Amazon. It is a gift that carries a profound message of transcendence to honor the life and memory of the person who leaves us, a different option than the flower crowns that fill the wakes and finally dies and ends up in the trash.
The private sector in the conservation of the Amazon Rainforest
On the other hand, the hectare system that financed Arbio’s operations changed drastically in the best way to take this service to the next level. People want to support the conservation of the Amazon, and companies are made of people. And the beauty of that fact was present when, in 2021, after the launch of the new forest adoption platform aimed at companies, BanBif showed interest in sponsoring hectares in the name of the bank for its 30-year anniversary. Not just one or two hectares as personal sponsorship used to work, but 30. Their commitment to the protection of the Amazon forest and trust in Arbio’s work opened the doors so that other companies interested in supporting but did not know how, could have this option of conserving the forest among its sustainability and environmental strategies.
Currently, Arbio has large companies as allies and with great pride, their logos and names appear on the concession map on the website.
It also offers the Arbio Guardabosques stamp, which some companies have been using to accompany their digital signature in corporate emails.
This 2024, Arbio has around 20 allies, large, medium and small companies that understand their responsibility to the planet and allow the conservation work of this forest to be possible. Foreign companies such as Little Saints (USA), Blossom Inspirations (USA) and Regenerators (DEN) have also joined. Among the national allies are Grupo AJE, FBBVA, SPH, BanBif, Hoteles Ananay, Grupo Vida Sol, Mitsui Automotriz, Ignis, Caja Arequipa, Caja Cusco, Go NetWork, Revoredo y Asociados.
How to join?
Contact an Arbio representative to learn more about their corporate conservation packages. In addition to the forest area to be protected, the packages include gift certificates for large trees, support for corporate communication campaigns, own audiovisual material, internal talks for collaborators or for specific target audiences.
The work of forest conservation is everyone’s task, will you join?