2016Latin America Annual Report

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Thanks to your incredible support, The Nature Conservancy (TNC) has continued to expand the scope, scale and pace of our efforts across Latin America. Cutting edge science and innovation guide everything we do—from helping decision makers find the least damaging ways to connect communities in the Amazon to determining how best to use nature to safeguard water supplies for the region’s major cities. From Chilean and Peruvian fisheries to Patagonian, Colombian and Mexican livestock ranches and Brazilian soy fields, we are working with individuals and industries to boost production while increasing conservation. In place after place, we are demonstrating that development and conservation need not be at odds with one another.

True to our legacy of collaboration, our work draws on a wide range of partnerships with governments, rural communities, indigenous leaders, businesses, research institutions and not-for-profit organizations. Unifying actions around a common goal, we are unleashing models of collective impact that bring together stakeholders across sectors and integrate policy, markets, finance and investment to realize change on the ground.

Our Water Funds work illustrates this powerful approach. Fifteen years ago in Quito, Ecuador, TNC pioneered its first Water Fund, a model that enables water users to invest in conservation of critical headwaters to protect water supplies downstream. Today, our growing portfolio of Water Funds includes 19 funds across Latin America. These funds have engaged more than 200 private and public partners and leveraged nearly $100 million in investments that have led to the protection and conservation of more than 4 million acres through reforestation and sustainable crop management. TNC’s Latin America staff has advised cities in Africa and China on how to launch Water Funds. The Inter-American Development Bank recognized with its 2016 ‘Operating Solutions’ award the outstanding contribution of this model to solving a critical challenge in Latin America.

This year we have launched two new vehicles of collective action—Green and Blue Growth Compacts—to accelerate our efforts across Latin America’s lands and oceans. These collaborative approaches unite producers, governments, companies, financial institutions and other influential stakeholders to develop models that promote sustainable growth while reducing habitat destruction. One example is in the Brazilian state of Pará, which is on the frontline of deforestation in the Amazon. Our partnerships with ranchers, farmers, government and food companies have led to the first-ever sale of ‘deforestation-free’ beef in supermarkets across Brazil and also to the expansion of sustainable cocoa production on already cleared lands. Cocoa is native to the Amazon, can be grown in mixed systems with natural forests, and is highly profitable. These efforts align well with the Governor of Pará’s recent public commitment to achieve zero net deforestation by 2020. This work serves as an exciting example of how key actors can come together to promote economic growth and environmental sustainability under one mutually supportive agenda.

I hope you take pride in the many accomplishments described in this report. With your help, we are bringing our unique combination of science, innovation and partnerships to transform Latin America into a global model of sustainable growth.

On behalf of my colleagues—our team of 300 Conservancy staff in Latin America—I would like to extend a big thank you, obrigado, gracias for your support!

Aurelio Ramos Regional Managing Director, Latin America

The Nature Conservancy

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Dear Friends,

The central question facing the planet in the 21st century is how to balance growth with the conservation of natural habitat. Latin America is a region of the world where it is vitally important that we get it right and where there are opportunities to do so—if we act quickly.

Latin America is changing fast. Massive natural systems like the Amazon rainforest, the Patagonian grasslands and the Pantanal wetlands hold magnificent natural wealth and sustain more than half a billion people. This expanding population, with climbing demand for energy and food, combined with a warming climate, threaten to destroy the very world we depend on for our survival. The challenge is to find innovative ways to manage our growing needs for food, water, energy and development for long-term prosperity. This is precisely why The Nature Conservancy is applying its scientific expertise, pragmatic approach and collaborative partnerships to advance a set of innovative solutions: Water Funds that use nature to provide clean water for our cities; Green Growth Compacts that intensify both food production and habitat protection; Blue Growth Compacts that catalyze sustainable use and conservation of marine resources; and the Mitigation Hierarchy, which frames licensing and planning to avoid, minimize or compensate for the negative impacts on biodiversity from infrastructure projects.

With a deep commitment to nature and people, the Latin America Conservation Council is an unprecedented group of global leaders brought together by The Nature Conservancy to help promote and implement these creative solutions at a scale that matters. I am proud to support the Conservancy and to serve on this Council.

Through this report and under each theme, you will see that The Nature Conservancy is charting new paths—triggering a “paradigm shift” that unlocks the value of nature. A globally recognized “convener,” the Conservancy brings together public and private allies to take these innovative models to scale.

Celebrate your part in these accomplishments—and help us accelerate our progress! With innovative ideas and your support, we will continue to prove that Latin America can lead the world to a sustainable future.

Luis Alberto Moreno President, Inter-American Development BankMember, Latin America Conservation Council

www.laconservationcouncil.org

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16% of the Earth’s land surface

40% of the world’s species

6 of the world’s

10 most biodiverse

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25% of the Earth’s forests

30% of the world’s freshwater

2nd largest reef in the world

Latin America is home to astonishing natural beauty and biodiversity. It is the land of jaguars and sloths, pink river dolphins and humpback whales, condors and macaws. And for the better part of each year, it hosts millions of migratory birds. With 40 percent of the world’s species, more than a quarter of the Earth’s forests and the second largest reef on the planet, the region is a true biodiversity “superpower.”

From the vast Amazon Basin to frozen glaciers high in the Andes, Latin America holds a third of the world’s freshwater resources. However, 28 of the region’s largest cities experience seasonal water shortages affecting millions of people.

While Latin America is the largest food exporting region in the planet, most of its agricultural potential has not been tapped. Latin America’s deforestation rate is already triple that of the rest of the world, so any expansion could make a rapidly deteriorating situation even worse.

The region is in the midst of a development boom. According to one industry analysis, investment in 10 infrastructure sectors—from oil and gas to waterways and mining—will top $37 trillion in the coming decade. There are 513 hydropower projects on the drawing board to tap into the region’s abundant hydropower potential.

Our purpose is clear. It is to protect biodiversity, as well as safeguard the future of humanity—our water, food security, economic and social stability are critical for our survival.

The Nature Conservancy’s work in Latin America spans 16 countries from Mexico’s Baja California in the north to Argentina’s Patagonia on the continent’s southern tip. Over the past 40 years our work has evolved in tandem with TNC’s institutional mission. The scale of our work has expanded from site-based projects to a whole-system approach that integrates protected areas, indigenous territories, productive lands, freshwater, oceans and infrastructure development. Our funding has transitioned from a high dependency on U.S.-based sources to a variety of funders: in-region volunteer leaders, businesses and local government agencies, as well as bilateral and multilateral institutions.

True to our legacy of collaboration, we draw on a wide range of partnerships with governments, rural communities, indigenous leaders, businesses, research institutions and not-for-profits organizations.

The Nature Conservancy’s Latin America Program

LATIN AMERICA the world’s most biodiverse region

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Together, we are developing innovative, scalable and essential models to protect the region’s spectacular natural heritage while providing the food, water and energy that people need to live and prosper.

As this annual report highlights, we are aligning our work under four unifying goals that represent TNC’s best opportunities to advance its mission in the region:

WATER: Employ nature to safeguard freshwater for Latin America’s most at-risk cities for water shortages.

LANDS: Double food production with no new habitat loss.

INFRASTRUCTURE: Design major energy, mining and transport infrastructure to have no-net impact on natural capital.

OCEANS: Catalyze sustainable use and conservation of Latin America’s oceans and coasts.

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WATER Employ nature to safeguard

freshwater for Latin America’s most at-risk cities.

Healthy watersheds are essential to water security; they also help us mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change and create more resilient cities. Water Funds strategically convene public and private stakeholders to pool and focus investments in watershed conservation; they promote reforestation and programs that help local farmers improve their practices and diversify their income. Conserving and restoring nature throughout watersheds is an essential component of water security for cities.

2020 Goals:40 Water Funds underway.

500,000 hectares (1.2 million acres) of natural habitat conserved, restored, or positively impacted by Water Funds.

More than 80 million people benefited by positive effect on their water sources.

Leverage $500 million in investments in watershed conservation.

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350+ participants from 22 countries and various sectors exchanged innovative ideas to contribute to water security during the 3rd Biennial Water Funds meeting hosted by the Latin American Water Funds Partnership in Bogota in June 2016. During the event, Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos spoke about the value of water to Colombia’s future and Grammy Award-winning singer Carlos Vives talked about our joint efforts to launch a new Water Fund in Santa Marta. Partnership founders—FEMSA Foundation, Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Global Environment Facility and TNC—celebrated their five-year achievements: 19 Water Funds launched, more than 200,000 hectares (~500,000 acres) conserved, nearly 1.6 million hectares (4 million acres) impacted through reforestation and sustainable crop management, 200 private and public partners engaged and $100 million leveraged. The Partnership agreed to another five-year commitment that will fuel the next phase of the water funds initiative in this region.

3 new Water Funds: Agua Tica, Costa Rica’s first Water Fund, launched in October 2015 to help safeguard water sources for 2.5 million people in San Jose’s metropolitan area by promoting the conservation of the Tarcoles watershed, one of the largest, most biodiverse and most polluted basins in Central America.

Guayaquil Water Fund, launched in November 2015 to safeguard water sources for 3 million people in Guayaquil, Ecuador’s most populous city by investing in the conservation of the Daule River watershed.

Madre Agua Water Fund, launched in November 2015 to help safeguard water sources for 2.4 million people in Cali, Colombia.

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Carlos Vives, singer; Mark Tercek, president and CEO of The Nature Conservancy; Luis Gilberto Murillo, Colombia’s minister of the environment and sustainable development; Juan Manuel Santos, president of Colombia; Luis Alberto Moreno, president of the Inter-American Development Bank; Carlos Salazar, CEO of FEMSA; during the 3rd Biennial Water Funds held in Bogota in June 2016.

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opportunities to replenish their water footprint in local aquifers. More projects are to come as FAMM seeks to conserve and restore 150,000 hectares (375,000 acres) in the northern Mexican city’s watershed to improve water security for 1.1 million people in Monterrey.

26 public and private organizations signed Chile’s first-ever watershed management agreement to conserve the Maipo basin upstream of Santiago. Through a pilot project TNC is building the case for the protection of the basin’s high Andean wetlands to improve water quality and quantity for millions of city dwellers.

2% of the water tariff collected by the Water and Sewage Department of Brazil’s Jaguariúna municipality will be invested in conservation projects, including the Jaguariúna Watershed Program, of which TNC is a partner.

More than 365,000 hectares (902,000 acres) have been mapped in key Brazilian watersheds Guandu, Piracicaba, Capivari, Jundiaí, Camboriú, Alto Tietê, and Rio Doce—paving the way for conservation and restoration projects that will help safeguard water sources for millions. Nearly  $56 million were invested by TNC and partners to implement water conservation projects in these watersheds in 2015. 

The Water Funds model received the Inter-American Development Bank’s 2016 Operating Solutions award. Granted by a panel of experts, the award targets an idea that has been implemented with support from the multilateral institution and has provided a groundbreaking contribution to solving a critical challenge or problem for Latin America and the Caribbean.

Water Funds helped Coca-Cola meet its three-year goal to replenish 4.3 million cubic meters of water through a $4.8 million conservation investment in Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala and Panama.

The Green-Blue Water Coalition raised $17 million in gifts and pledges towards its $118 million, five-year funding goal. Launched in Brazil in November 2015, the initiative helps safeguard water sources for 42 million people in 12 metropolitan regions by investing in conservation actions in 21 watersheds. Supporters include Ambev, Coca-Cola/FEMSA Brasil, FEMSA Foundation, Klabin, Kimberly-Clark, Faber-Castell, McDonald’s franchiser Arcos Dorados, Unilever, Bank of America, Merrill Lynch and PepsiCo.

3 watersheds that supply water to Lima, Peru will benefit from a historic agreement signed by Lima’s Water Fund (Aquafondo) and the Peruvian government water utility Servicio de Agua Potable y Alcantarillado de Lima (SEDAPAL) to use 1% of water tariffs to fund watershed restoration. As a founding member of Aquafondo, The Nature Conservancy actively participated in the negotiation process with SEDAPAL to highlight the importance of nature to water security. TNC and its partners submitted three pilot projects to launch the first phase of a new ~$100 million fund that is being capitalized by Lima’s water tariff to invest in watershed conservation and climate change adaptation.

300 hectares (740 acres) were restored by Mexico’s Monterrey Water Fund (FAMM), with support from Coke-bottler ARCA Continental, brewery Cuauhtémoc Moctezuma Heineken Mexico and PepsiCo. The broad-based alliance engages competitors in projects that benefit all actors and provide each company with

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“Colombia is very fortunate. Our water availability is five times the world’s average. We have half of the world’s paramos—true water factories. This is both a privilege and a responsibility. It is our duty to safeguard our paramos and protect our water sources for future generations.”Juan Manuel Santos, president of Colombia.

“Water Funds are much more than a simple model. They are vehicles to implement green governance, making a more sustainable future a reality… The Water Fund Partnership is not just an example of what can be done, but of what must be done to face the world’s development challenges, partnering across sectors with various agents of change to reach a common goal.” Luis Alberto Moreno, president of the Inter-American Development Bank and member of the Latin America Conservation Council, United States.

“Water issues affect companies and individuals alike. Water is essential to guaranteeing the wellbeing of people. For FEMSA, water security goes beyond our own economic activities. In their mission to create economic and social value through business and institutions, Water Funds play a strategic and fundamental role. We realize that it’s no use just to have a sustainable company. Sustainability occurs in the communities and in the region.”Carlos Salazar, CEO of FEMSA and member of the Latin America Conservation Council, Mexico.

“By investing in nature-based solutions we are sharing more value with society because the gains are not limited to one company or another; they ultimately benefit the entire population.”Pedro Massa, director of shared value for Coca-Cola, Brazil.

“Many people in Rio de Janeiro do not know where the water they use comes from. And that was the reason to create the project in this region, to preserve our water, to benefit more than 10 million people in Rio de Janeiro. Since the project started, we have already noticed more wildlife. Species that we had not seen in years are now reappearing.”Benedito Leite Filho, president of the Quilombola Association of Lidice Municipality, Brazil.

“In 2015, we brought together indigenous communities, local officials, NGOs and businesses in Santa Marta, to launch the “Pearl of America”—an initiative to motivate citizens to work together on behalf of the city. Water resonated with everyone. It was evident that we could get things done and join efforts around water—our common concern. And now we are working on the Santa Marta Water Fund to address water issues in our city.”Carlos Vives, singer, Colombia.

“This place is very important to us. This is where our water comes from, for our community, for our county, our region. That is why we believe it is so important to plant trees here. With support from Paute River Water Fund (FONAPA), TNC, Coca Cola and Gualaceo municipality, we have already planted 16,000 trees.” Lilian Uyaguari, president of the Irrigation Board, community Carmen Jadan, Ecuador.

“Water is vital for sugar mills. The main motivation for the Sugar Association to participate in the Water Fund has been to unify efforts with various sectors to protect water and achieve long-term sustainability.”Claudia Calero, director of environment for sugar cane farmer’s association, ASOCAÑA, Colombia.

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LANDSDouble food production with

no new habitat loss.

Global agricultural production must double over the next 35 years in order to keep pace with population growth and an expanding middle class. Latin America is already the largest food exporting region in the world, although it has reached only a small fraction of its potential. Becoming a leader in sustainable harvests would enable Latin America to exploit its additional food-production potential without inflicting further damage on its natural ecosystems and their services. TNC’s Lands Strategy in Latin America focuses on doubling agriculture and livestock production through environmentally sustainable models, while avoiding deforestation and habitat loss in the region and contributing to climate change mitigation.

2020 Goals: 10 million hectares (24 million acres) under climate-smart and environmentally-sound agriculture management in ecologically important landscapes.

10 companies committing to eliminate habitat conversion from their supply chains.

8 million hectares (20 million acres) of high ecological valued landscapes protected or restored through Green Growth Compacts.

20 external outreach platforms (social and formal media) raising visibility about resilient/environmentally-sound agri-culture and influencing global agendas.

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TNC’s Valdivian Coastal Reserve became the 1st forest carbon project in Chile to achieve Climate, Community and Biodiversity Standards verification. The standard certifies that the Reserve protects some of the world’s last temperate rainforests helping to mitigate climate change, and that it fosters sustainable livelihoods for neighboring communities while ensuring the conservation of native species, like the critically endangered Darwin’s fox. More than $1 million in carbon credits have been sold since launching the carbon project in 2014.

“La Cien,” a newborn bison, brought the bison population to 100 at TNC’s ranch in El Uno Ecological Reserve, a regional demonstration site for sustainable grasslands management located in the heart of Mexico’s Chihuahua Desert. Despite encountering multiple challenges since the arrival of the first bison at the ranch in 2009, the herd is finally deemed healthy, mature and viable. Bison is a keystone species for grassland ecosystems that once stretched across North America from Canada through northern Mexico. With its platform site at El Uno and a substantial “seed conservation herd,” TNC, together with Mexico’s Commission on Protected Natural Areas and the National Bison Recovery Working Group, can now expand bison reintroduction in additional areas within their historic range in Mexico.

82 family farmers in São Felix do Xingu (Pará state, Brazil) participated in the Sustainable Cocoa project, implementing sustainable agroforestry systems in 310 hectares (765 acres), combining cocoa with native tress and banana, açaí, manioc, pineapple and corn crops. Crop integration diversifies production, increases yields and makes the most of resources that would otherwise not be utilized by a single crop.

AgroLAC 2025, a multi-donor funding platform created by the IDB, Dow Chemical, and TNC in September 2015 to propel sustainable agriculture in Latin America, raised $15 million. TNC serves on AgroLAC 2025´s Steering Committee and is working closely with IDB to operationalize its role as executing partner of 30% of the contributions to the fund through channeling resources to projects that demonstrate increased productivity with no habitat loss.

The 1st certified sustainable beef produced by TNC’s “Field to Table” initiative is being sold at Walmart stores in two of Brazil’s states and its Federal District as a result of a partnership with Walmart and food-processing company Marfrig. Initially, the ‘deforestation-free beef’ is being sourced from our demonstration project in São Felix do Xingu, in the Brazilian Amazon with plans to expand from 16 to 300 farms in three years. Walmart has committed to monitoring deforestation throughout its entire Brazilian supply chain by the end of 2017. A $50 million grant from the Betty and Gordon Moore Foundation was awarded to TNC, World Wildlife Fund (WWF), and the National Wildlife Federation to create the “Collaboration for Forests and Agriculture (CFA)” for Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay. The initiative is designed to complement corporate pledges to get deforestation out of supply chains and trigger an industry shift towards verified deforestation-free beef and soy production—saving 2 million hectares (5 million acres) from habitat conversion by 2020.

TNC acquired the 5,200-hectare (13,000-acre) Fortín Chacabuco, an emblematic working ranch that is set to become Argentina’s 1st demonstration site for sustainable grasslands in Patagonia. Located about 20 minutes from Bariloche, the acquisition permanently protects Fortín Chacabuco from development and its new ‘conservation open lab’ status will help embed conservation in Argentina. It will show ranchers, government officials and the local community that nature and people can thrive together under science-based conservation and collaboration agreements such as the sustainable grazing protocol that TNC and partners are implementing in Patagonia. Huge thanks to Sam Gary Jr. and family for donating 80% of the funding needed for this historic purchase!

6 million native trees were planted in Brazil in 2015, bringing the total to 29 million trees planted since the launching of the Plant a Billion Trees Campaign in 2008. To date, 11,000 hectares (27,000 acres) have been restored in Brazil’s Atlantic Forest.

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A new 3.3 million-acre national park was created in the heart of the Peruvian Amazon in November 2015. Larger than Yosemite and Yellowstone combined, Sierra del Divisor National Park is one of the most pristine and largest protected areas in Latin America. TNC contributed scientific data needed to jumpstart the declaration and engaged indigenous and local communities on land use planning and sustainable livelihoods.

2,637 Colombian ranchers—mainly owners of small size plots in areas of high biodiversity and low income levels—have adopted sustainable practices that protect critical habitats while increasing production and profits. Extensive ranching occupies a third of Colombia and is one of the leading causes of deforestation. Thanks to a six-year, $28-million grant from the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) and the United Kingdom’s Energy and Climate Department, TNC and partners are promoting sustainable ranching at the largest scale ever attempted in Colombia. To date, ranchers have transformed 105,000 acres to environmentally-friendly practices and converted 22,600 acres to silvopastoral systems (integrating native trees with fodder banks). 1,706 ranchers are receiving payment for ecosystem services (a financial incentive to adopt sustainable practices and set aside conservation areas on their lands). Over 1 million native species have been planted.

More than 3,000 farms spanning 4 million hectares (10 million acres) in 4 municipalities in the fast-expanding agricultural frontier of Brazil’s western Bahia state, were registered into the Municipal Environmental Portal (PAM). TNC designed the portal to facilitate compliance with the Forest Code—a legislation that requires landowners to maintain a percentage of their property under native vegetation. In addition to donating PAM, TNC trained municipal staff to use the tool and launched a Guide for Good Practices in Agriculture and Water Use, a comprehensive guidebook that includes practical advice for farmers and policy recommendations for governments to encourage sustainable production.

100 indigenous environmental agents began training to implement the Territorial and Environmental Management Plan on the Indigenous Lands in Oiapoque Amapá state, and Pará state, Brazil.

1,200 indigenous Cofan in Ecuador and 600 indigenous Shipibo in Peru have increased their incomes from activities related to sustainable resource use and conservation, as part of a five-year project funded by USAID and led by a consortium of 30 local organizations, including TNC, to strengthen governance and promote sustainable livelihoods in three key regions of the Andean Amazon: Sucumbios, in Ecuador, and San Martin and Ucayali, in Peru. In Ucayali, 3 communal production committees were created, trained and have already commercialized 5.5 tons of farm-raised Paiche (the largest fish in the Amazon) over the past 2 years. In San Martin, the Shambuyaku community has quadrupled cocoa production while reducing deforestation and halting the expansion of the agricultural frontier. In Ecuador, the consortium helped equip and train 60 community park rangers at six Cofan indigenous territories and provided technical assistance to 100 Cofan families to implement sustainable production of organic cocoa and coffee, as well as paiche and cachama fish farming. The project has helped enact nearly 100 policies, regulations and agreements related to conservation and sustainable development.

A 3-state network of governmental, NGO and academic institutions partnered with TNC to launch the Maya Forest Watch. The initiative uses satellite imagery, drone-generated aerial data and field data gathered by community members to analyze and monitor land use changes to inform development decisions, policy, and community action. This work is vital to promoting sustainable landscape management at all levels—from public policy to community actions on-the-ground—and advancing towards our shared 2030 goal of net-zero deforestation in Mesoamerica’s largest remaining swath of tropical forest.

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“As the planet grows to 9 billion people, everything becomes scarce. How do we bring the best practices, the best technologies, the best economic, environmental, and social solutions to the table on everything we do? The decisions we make now will impact generations for decades to come.”Andrew Liveris, chairman & CEO of The Dow Chemical Company and member of the Latin America Conservation Council, United States.

“The history of Brazil’s environmental registry (CAR1) began with TNC’s projects. It was your experiment. I thought to myself: ‘These guys are crazy. Mapping thousands of properties? Using satellite images?’ But it is working. It is decreasing deforestation. This is TNC’s contribution to our country.”Francisco Gaitano, deputy minister of the environment, Brazil.

“The deforestation rate in São Félix was enormous and the municipality was charged as one of the largest culprits of deforestation in the country, which led to its embargo. The embargo was an imposition of the Ministry of the Environment to force the municipality to conform to environmental law. Then, TNC became a partner to help farmers register in the Rural Environmental Registry and make their properties compliant with the Forest Code. And from then on, there was a big change due to the paradigm shift in the environmental policy itself and a push to engage in conservation activities.”Denimar Rodrigues, secretary of the environment, São Félix do Xingu (Pará), Brazil.

“The Territorial and Environmental Management Plan is a communication tool between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples that shows how Indigenous communities want to take care of their land and their territory. Each Indigenous group has its strategies and uses tools such as ethno-mapping and ethno-zoning so that non-Indigenous can understand what the Indigenous peoples are doing.”Aline Mayumi, indigenous affairs specialist, National Indian Foundation, Brazil.

“I used to earn a living by making handicrafts. About three years ago, I also started raising paiches. I feed paiches three times a day, sometimes by myself, sometimes with my son. It takes about an hour. You have to do it a little bit at a time. I had never thought I could make money from raising paiches. I have been able to purchase a gas stove, clothing for my children and helped pay for my brother’s studies.” Kelly Rodriguez, member of the Paiche Production Committee of the Calleria Shipibo indigenous community, Ucayali, Peru.

“We used to think clearing the forest was the answer. Today we have a new vision. We know that we need to protect it, and that is what we are teaching our children.”Janete Pallaro, farmer, Santarém, Brazil.

1) The Brazilian Forest Code, which strictly limits deforestation, requires that all private lands are registered in the Rural Environmental Registry (CAR in Portuguese). Registration, along with satellite and other mapping technology, enables the government to link deforestation with actual properties and property owners, creating accountability. TNC helped the municipal government in São Félix do Xingu, a municipality nearly the size of Portugal, register almost 90 percent of its lands, paving the way for government agencies to implement actions to reduce deforestation.

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“TNC provided technical assistance, soil analysis, advice. They are teaching me lots of stuff. I am producing more on my land.”Naídes Lourenço de Carvalho, farmer, São Félix do Xingu, Brazil.

“Fishing is our ancestral job, our grandparents used to fish paiche. But now we have learned technical skills to manage our production. It has not been easy. It has taken many meetings and lots of work. We never thought it would be possible for us to raise and sell paiche directly to restaurants. There is great demand for community-based produce. I am very happy. It is a dream come true.”Teddy Cairuna, president of the Paiche Farming Committee of Nuevo Saposoa Shipibo indigenous community, Peru.

“I have protected 17 acres of forests on my ranch. I use fewer chemicals, more organic fertilizer and compost. I have added garlic to forage banks to help keep parasites away. I have planted mixed species to improve cattle nutrition, and now I am able to feed them year round.”Mercedes Murillo, cattle rancher, Colombia.

“The project taught us how to use GPS, maps and compasses…it taught us leadership skills, monitoring and even first aid.”Pedro Queta, community park ranger, Rio Cofanes commuity, Ecuador.

“I love being a park guard. I am proud to be a Cofan. What motivates me is to take care of nature, which to me means taking care of life, taking care of our future. We harvest what we need to survive and we provide space to other living beings. Animals need the land, too.”Alex Lucitante, Cofan Avie community, Sucumbios, Ecuador.

“Fortin Chacabuco is a conservation dream come true for The Nature Conservancy in Argentina.  From the beginning we planned for the property to become a learning center, as it offers a wonderful opportunity to demonstrate how conservation is essential to making people’s lives better.  Fortin Chacabuco will expand the reach of conservation in Argentina, and will help shape the way lands and waters are managed across the continent to ensure a healthy planet for future generations.”Georgia E. Welles, TNC Argentina trustee and emeritus member of the Global Board of Directors, United States.

“I came to Pará in 1979 to become a cattle rancher. At that time, things here went on unchecked, without monitoring, and we were always encouraged to clear more and more forests to get more pasture for livestock. Now, by preserving it, I earn more. We used to think that the more forest we took down, the more money we made. We now know that it does not work that way. With technical assistance from TNC, my productivity has improved. Results are visible! TNC’s project in São Félix do Xingu will be our municipality’s redemption.”Lazir Soares de Castro, cattle rancher, São Félix do Xingu, Brazil.

“The livestock chain is a priority for Walmart. Our strategy includes not only monitoring Amazon beef sold in our stores, but also supporting the development of sustainable livestock production in Brazil. That is why the partnership with TNC is so important; the “From Field to Table” project mobilizes all the sectors in the supply chain and achieves relevant results on several fronts, from forest preservation and increased productivity on farms to offering a quality product to consumers.”Luiz Herrisson, director of sustainability and corporate affairs, Walmart Brazil.

“The Valdivian Coastal Reserve’s carbon project is one of the many ways that TNC seals its commitment to perpetuating this important protected area. Other ways include its close engagement with the local community, its constant promotion of science and research, and its excellent park rangers and conservation staff. This passion and effort need financial support, and the carbon bonds contribute to funding conservation work essential for Chile.”Eduardo Silva, Ph.D., researcher and lecturer, Department of Ecology and Biodiversity, Andres Bello University, Chile.

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INFRASTRUCTUREDesign major energy, mining and transport infrastructure to have no-net impact on natural capital. A boom in energy, mining and transport infrastructure threatens some of Latin America’s greatest remaining natural landscapes. To build infrastructure or not, is not the issue, but rather how infrastructure will be built and whether it can be done in a way that causes minimal impact to Latin America’s natural wealth. TNC is contributing its science expertise to help governments, companies and communities make ecologically-sound decisions to balance development, conservation and society’s needs. Our strategy is rooted in the mitigation hierarchy. This is a three step process: avoid impacts to ecologically or culturally sensitive areas; minimize impacts that will occur as a result of development (including on-site restoration); and provide offsets for remaining unavoidable impacts (often referred to as compensation). The end result will be less conflictive development, greater transparency in planning processes and fewer impacts on Latin America’s magnificent natural heritage.

2020 Goals:

4 countries adopting mitigation hierarchy-based licensing system (avoid, mitigate, compensate).

3 countries adopting “Hydropower by Design” approach—transitioning from single-project focus to a strategic, full-basin planning approach that balances ecological, economic and social considerations for the siting of future dams.

Spearhead establishment of world’s first Early Planning Fund to help advance basin-wide and landscape-scale planning efforts.©

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TNC hosted a series of “gaming” workshops to build interest in SIMA (Decision Support System for the Magdalena Basin), a new modeling tool due for completion in 2017, to help decision makers avoid and minimize potential impacts of hydropower development in Colombia’s most important basin, the Magdalena. More than 60 “players”—including environmental, energy and planning officials, researchers and media—learn smart infrastructure principles by siting dams, agriculture and protected areas, and seeing their cumulative impacts on a fictional basin.

TNC’s work in the Magdalena Basin continues to serve as case study for sustainable hydropower development and a laboratory of innovative tools (like SIMA). The project was featured at the South-South Exchange sponsored by IDB and TNC in Colombia in September 2015 and at the International Association of Impact Assessment Symposium on Sustainable Mega-Infrastructure and Impact Assessment, held in December 2015, in Panama. Government agencies, corporations, consultants, financing institutions, policy analysts, research institutes, universities, and other NGOs have attended these events and learned about our tools and approaches.

TNC entered a formal cooperation agreement with the Province of Chubut in Patagonia, Argentina to help ensure that infrastructure development in the region–mostly related to energy—is carried out with no net impact on nature. This agreement, the first of its kind in Argentina, creates an opportunity to incorporate the mitigation hierarchy (to avoid, minimize and compensate for the impacts of large infrastructure projects) prior to Patagonia’s development boom. Twenty-six specialists contributed to data on biodiversity areas and identified potential mining and energy projects. A decision-support software tool will be used to help draft provincial guidelines for the application of the mitigation hierarchy.

The 1st blueprint of the 124-million-acre Tapajós River basin was completed and discussed with leading decision-makers in the basin to promote collaborative planning and integrated basin management. The blue print will guide compensation funds to create new protected areas.

TNC completed an innovative science-based “Hydropower by Design Tool” in Mexico’s Coatzacoalcos River basin to promote a basin-scale approach that considers the potential social and environmental risks of hydropower development. The tool maps multiple development scenarios, with options for meeting energy needs while minimizing impacts on people and nature. TNC recently renewed a collaboration agreement with Mexico’s principal electric company, the government-owned Federal Electricity Commission (CFE), to replicate the Coatzacoalcos’ model in other basins. Coatzacoalcos is also serving as a global model for sound planning of hydropower development. Results from the project were presented at the International Hydropower Association Congress in Beijing, China and featured in TNC’s 2015 Power of Rivers publication. TNC sponsored a technical exchange between Mexico and Peru where CFE experts shared their experience with 50 Peruvian officials, which led to a new collaboration to test the approach in the Peruvian Amazon.

Brazil’s first ever proposed Guidelines for Good Corporate Practices with Indigenous Peoples for companies doing work near or in Indigenous lands—mostly large infrastructure initiatives—were approved and validated by the private sector and indigenous peoples. Led by TNC, representatives from 30 companies and 200 leaders and technicians from 72 different Indigenous peoples in Brazil took part in this important milestone that builds the foundation for the creation of certification standards in the country. The proposed guidelines were presented in November 2015 in Brazil and at the Paris Climate Change Conference (COP 21) in December 2015.

50 key stakeholders from several Latin American nations participated in a South-South Exchange on Watershed-scale Planning for Hydropower Development to review, discuss and critique a number of approaches, projects and best practices on sustainable hydropower development and impact compensation. TNC concluded an early environmental assessment of the Ferrogrão Railway in Brazil, in partnership with soybean traders like Cargill, Maggi and Dreyfus, influencing its location and route and providing recommendations for forest conservation and indigenous rights. The Brazilian government approved the modified design.

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“The Latin America Conservation Council is calling for governments and the private sector to consider the environment in every decision. Smart infrastructure is key to the development of Latin America because doing it the wrong way is very harmful. If we are not responsible now, what future are we leaving for our children?”Enrique Garcia Rodríguez, president of the CAF- Development Bank of Latin America and member of the Latin America Conservation Council, Bolivia.

“Who are our opponents? They usually are companies that work on large initiatives in indigenous lands. And in this scenario, we play on opposite teams. But now, all of a sudden we are at a workshop, talking to them, creating some sort of partnership. And it behooves us to reach a common ground, to seize this new opportunity for a dialog with companies so that we can arrive at an agreement that would be fair to both parties, and so we can walk together.”Paulo André Karajá, graduate of the Amazonian Center for Indigenous Training (CAFI), Brazil.

“The idea that you can still progress and develop as a country while being mindful of environmental concerns is what we are looking for and we are learning every day. We have a lot of work to do, but I believe we are beginning to get traction.” Stanley Motta, director of Copa Holdings and member of the Latin America Conservation Council, Panama.

“We want Indigenous Peoples, business and governments to work together and build a better country for all; and we want companies to assess their work. Before, our motto used to be demarcate lands, preserve life, but today this is not enough. We need to discuss the future of our children and so we want to start a dialogue with companies. COIAB brings a message of future understanding and collaboration. We want to be understood and we also want to understand. Knowledge is essential for this to happen.” Marcos Apurinã, general coordinator of the Coordination of Indigenous Organizations of the Brazilian Amazon (COIAB), Brazil.

“Argentina is at the threshold of a development boom. Many of the big infrastructure projects in energy, mining and transportation planned for the next 30 years will be sited on Patagonian lands and water. Twenty million acres of Patagonia’s grasslands have already succumbed to desertification due to overgrazing, poor watershed management, infrastructure development, and climate change. So, how can we continue to meet Argentina’s development needs and at the same time protect nature? I am convinced that TNC’s Smart Infrastructure approach is the key for finding a solution. Rather than focusing on the impacts of each individual project, we need to consider impacts and solutions at a scale that encompasses the whole region and, ultimately, the whole country.” Federico Zorraquin, chair of TNC Argentina Trustee Board, Argentina.

“As energy sector developers, the smart infrastructure approach, during the early stages of the Coatzacoalcos River basin development, has been our entry into the world of sustainability. The scientific and interdisciplinary focus we developed hand-in-hand with TNC has allowed us to rethink the ecological and social relationships that are woven throughout the territories where we plan to develop our projects.”Jorge Eduardo Capitaine Díaz, hydroelectric project manager of the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE), Mexico.

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OCEANS Catalyze sustainable use and

conservation of Latin America’s Oceans and Coasts.

Latin America’s oceans and coastline support a tremendous wealth of marine habitats and species. Mangroves, coral reefs, and sea grass beds are critical spawning and foraging sites for fish and other species, and provide critical services to neighboring communities. Coral reefs act as storm barriers by reducing wave energy. Mangroves ease erosion and flood risk. Latin America harbors a quarter of the world’s mangroves and the second largest barrier reef system in the world—the Mesoamerican Reef. Latin America’s oceans feed millions of people and are the basis for national and local economies. Peru, Chile, Mexico, Argentina and Brazil consistently rank within the top 25 largest fisheries in the world.

Sustaining our species and growing our economy does not need to come at the cost of healthy oceans. Development that is planned, based on science and focused on sustainability can lead to a future where people and oceans thrive together. TNC is playing a catalytic role in marine conservation by mobilizing political will along with private and public resources to target solutions that are scalable and that leverage our expertise in fisheries, marine spatial planning, climate risk resilience, and conservation finance.

2020 Goals: Bring 8 million hectares (20 million acres) of well-connected marine habitat under improved protection.

Reform fisheries management in 4 countries that account for approximately 50 percent of the region’s wild seafood harvest.

Empower at least 10 coastal communities to incorporate natural infrastructure—mangroves, marshes and coral reefs—to increase their resilience to extreme climate events. ©

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In the Pacific Ocean waters of Peru and Chile, TNC is working with fishers, industry and government agencies to promote sustainable practices in the Humboldt Current, one of the most biodiverse and most productive marine ecosystems on the planet.

10 scientists from Peru’s Ocean Institute (IMARPE) were trained on the use of FishPath, a decision-support system to assess, monitor and help manage data-limited fisheries. In collaboration with the Science for Nature and People Partnership (SNAPP), we have completed stock assessments for chita (or peruvian grunt), a finfish that is both economically and culturally important for Peru´s coastal communities. These results encouraged IMARPE to use FishPath to monitor 10 coastal fisheries. Similar efforts are underway in Mexico.

120,000 students learned about TNC’s sustainable fisheries work in Peru through virtual classes offered through Nature Works Everywhere. TNC’s work with Ancon’s fisheries served as a case study for challenges faced by global fisheries. Videos, teacher’s guides, student hand-outs and interactive story maps were produced in English and in Spanish.

Our Baja Marine Initiative secured $9 million from Televisa Foundation, Helmsley Trust and Walton Family Foundation, among other donors, to create effectively managed coastal and marine areas covering 10 million-hectare (~25 million acres) by 2021. Fisheries and replenishment zones were identified in 3 priority areas; 5 surveillance cameras were installed to increase enforcement in a monitoring pilot; 70 community members were trained to gather data to improve fisheries management; 6 coastal communities participated in workshops on sustainable income generating alternatives that could help diversify their income while they allow fish stocks to replenish.

In partnership with academia and the Environmental Hydraulics Institute of Cantabria, TNC completed the first economic model of the Mesoamerican Reef’s coastal protection services in the Mexican Caribbean. Studies estimate that the reef reduces up to 26% of economic losses caused by storms. This analysis will help mobilize funds from the federal government and the tourism industry towards reef restoration and management as a viable alternative to investments in gray infrastructure for climate risk reduction. It will also support the design of the very first insurance policy covering reef damage inflicted by storms.

TNC convened 34 representatives from public, private and academic sectors to design a replenishment zone network spanning the four countries of the Mesoamerican Reef (Mexico, Belize, Guatemala and Honduras). Based on sound science and stakeholder consultations, the network will expand replenishment zones to include underrepresented habitats in the countries’ protected areas. In addition, we have secured investments from Belize’s private sector and fishing cooperatives for the development of a restorative aquaculture system, including capacity-building and business models to be replicated across the region in order to relieve fishing pressure and help restore ecosystems.

50 families from small fishing communities in Los Rios region in southern Chile are benefiting from training and state-of-the-art technology for the sustainable management of their fishing grounds, resulting in improved traceability and market access and their deep engagement in gathering and interpreting data to create sustainability indicators.

60 fishers at Ancon, a fishing community north of Lima, Peru, received ‘on-the-job’ training to test new approaches to assess their fish stocks and set local, community-enforced management rules. Improved management has helped the community access markets that reward good fishing practices and governance, including some of Peru’s most renowned high-end restaurants, such as Maido (ranked 13th best restaurant in the world!). Ancon Benthic Fishers and Divers Association has recorded a 30% increase in revenues from responsible sourcing.

TNC’s Humboldt Current project was featured in the International Symposium on Capacity Building for Sustainable Oceans as an innovative example of capacity building for oceans.

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“The Walton Family Foundation shares The Nature Conservancy’s belief that healthy oceans, strong economies and vibrant communities are not mutually exclusive. The mission of our environment program is to improve lives and secure healthy ocean and river ecosystems by aligning environmental, social and economic interests. We are proud to support TNC’s work to create healthy and sustainable fisheries in southern Chile by sharing best management practices with local artisanal fishing communities as well as the organization’s efforts in Mexico to build the capacity of government agencies to improve fisheries management in the region.”Peter Bryant, senior program officer of the Walton Family Foundation, United States.

“Through the years we have witnessed the depletion of the fishing resources that sustain our livelihoods. We organized ourselves to find solutions, but despite our best efforts, things did not improve. We realized our practical knowledge was not enough. We started working with TNC two years ago. We are learning how to gather data, interpret results and come up with our own rules, such as temporary closures of fishing grounds and catch/fish size limits. This knowledge is enabling us to understand how our actions affect the quantity and quality of our fisheries. It also helps us plan ahead and negotiate commercial deals. These results are encouraging us and other fishers to engage in responsible fishing. Change will take time, but our group is committed to improving our practices and our livelihoods.” Hector Samillan, artisanal fisher and president of Ancon’s Divers and Shellfish Fishers Association, Peru.

“The fishers are very interested in learning how to monitor what is happening in the seabed, where the commercially important shellfish are. They learned monitoring techniques quickly, since they are familiar with species and already have vast knowledge about the sea. These workshops provided men and women tools to monitor marine resources and improve their livelihoods sustainably.”Loreto Pino, researcher at the Austral University of Chile.

“When we first heard about these workshops, I had no idea of what to expect. But then I understood the idea, and realized that as fishing associations we do not manage information from the seabed, and this project is teaching us to do just that.  I am very enthusiastic and want this to continue.”Patricia Ponce, member of the Huiro Fishing Association, Chile.

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Getting the Price of Water Right (Policy Brief) (English/Spanish).

Peru continues to lead the way in Latin America with new laws mandating investments in watershed conservation and climate adaptation. This is a case study on the country’s pioneering efforts to invest in green infrastructure in watersheds that provide water for cities in Peru. http://waterfunds.org/en/publications

Bridging Theory and Practice for Hydrological Monitoring in Water Funds. (English).

Through case studies of monitoring water funds in Latin America, this publication links scientific theory and on-the-ground implementation cases in various geographies and conditions. It discusses successes, challenges and lessons learned that can be applied to improve monitoring systems and to inform other watershed-related ecosystems services projects. http://waterfunds.org/en/publications

PUBLICATION HIGHLIGHTS

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Power of Rivers Report (English)

In this report TNC shares an approach to planning for hydropower development at a watershed scale in a way that optimizes energy and biodiversity outcomes and minimizes adverse impacts on local communities; three Latin America watersheds where TNC is working—Coatzacoalcos (Mexico), Magdalena (Colombia) and Tapajós (Brazil)—were highlighted as pioneers. http://www.nature.org /ourinitiatives/habitats/riverslakes/power-of-rivers.xml

Proposed Guidelines for Good Corporate Practices with Indigenous Peoples in Brazil Business. (Portuguese)

Provides guidelines to foster collaboration between the business sector and Indigenous Peoples in Brazil to promote good practices that contribute to mutually beneficial relationships. The book was produced by the Business and Indigenous Peoples Initiative, an effort TNC has been leading since 2012 to foster dialogue among companies, governments, NGOs and Indigenous representatives. http://www.tnc.org.br/quem-somos/publicacoes/boas-praticas-empresas-e-povos-indigenas.pdf

An Opportunity for Water Security in 25 Cities in Latin America (English/Spanish/Portuguese).

Key findings from ground-breaking analysis undertaken by TNC and the Science for Nature and People Partnership (SNAPP) of where conservation can help improve the health of watersheds that provide water to Latin America’s largest cities. Produced in collaboration with partners including Natural Capital Project, IDB, CAF, University of Kassel and McGill University, among others. http://waterfunds.org/en/publications

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Experiences on Sustainable Rural Development and Biodiversity Conservation in the Yucatan Peninsula(English and Spanish)

This book and online platform compile experiences and results from the TNC-led Mexico REDD+ Program, delving into the implementation of sustainable rural development practices to advance forest conservation. Reducing emissions from deforestation and degradation (REDD+) is a mechanism developed within the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change as an option in global efforts to mitigate climate change that recognizes the importance of forests for biodiversity and for supporting the livelihoods of communities. This publication was made possible by the generous support the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Claudia and Roberto Hernández Foundation and Fundación Alfredo Harp Helú. Online Platform: http://biosakbe.com/desarrollo_rural_sustentable/ Book: http://www.biosakbe.com/desarrollo_rural_sustentable/docs/english/experiencias.pdf

A Guide to Good Practices for Environmentally Friendly Roads (English, Spanish and Portuguese)

Produced with technical and financial support from the Inter-American Development Bank, CAF-Development Bank of Latin American, Dow, Caterpillar, and the Latin America Conservation Council, the guide is a unique industry collaboration on this topic, which will be used in upcoming trainings for government, industry and civil society leaders. http://www.nature.org/cs/groups/webcontent/@web/@panama/documents/document/prd_258473.pdf

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A Guide to Good Practices forEnvironmentally Friendly Roads

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Join us in our mission! 

Established in 1951Our MissionTo conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends

Largest conservation nonprofit in the world

40 years of experience In Latin America

An innovative, science-based approachTo solving challenging conservation issues

A collaborative, non-confrontational styleThat focuses on solutions

Strong partnershipsWith governments, businesses and communities

Successful projects And ability to replicate on a large scale

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