Peru

The Amazon faces a range of challenges that threaten its current extent and functionality, as well as its future resilience. At the heart of the Peruvian Amazon lies Tambopata, in the department of Madre de Dios – the primary focus of the Wyss Academy’s work in South America. As one of the most biodiverse and culturally rich places on Earth, Tambopata is a landscape where multiple realities coexist: protected areas, Indigenous communities, farmers, and expanding urban centers.

This rich diversity creates both opportunities and tensions as different ways of life and production overlap. While some practices sustain forest ecosystems, others place them under increasing pressure. Today, the territory faces interconnected challenges, from deforestation and pollution to unequal access to social and economic opportunities. Our ambition is to transition from the extractive model that has shaped Tambopata for so long toward a regenerative pathway in which healthy forests, resilient livelihoods, and inclusive governance reinforce one another.

Hosted by the International Potato Center, our South America Hub brings together Indigenous Peoples, public institutions, researchers, and businesses to co-create a shared vision for the transformation of the territory.