The ASL celebrated its 10th anniversary since the first phase of the program was approved by the GEF Council during the 7th Annual Conference in March in Georgetown, Guyana, where 100 participants gathered to reflect on a decade of impactful interventions toward integrated Amazon conservation and sustainable development. The conference showcased the ASL's success in fostering regional collaboration between public, community, and civil society stakeholders, and fostered a discussion around past achievements, present accomplishments, and future priorities.

The ASL regional team facilitated engaging discussions, knowledge exchanges, and a visit to the National Toshaos Council, an organization of Indigenous community leaders advocating for their rights and promoting collaboration with the government. Opening speeches by Guyana’s Minister of Amerindian Affairs, the World Bank’s country resident representative, and the GEF Secretariat set the tone in commemorating the ASL’s 10-year journey and the transformational changes the regional and national projects have achieved.

The Sustainable Finance Solutions for Nature Conservation workshop, co-hosted by the ASL (financed by the GEF and led by the World Bank), with WWF, IDB, and the Bezos Earth Fund, took place from April 2–4 in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia. The event gathered over 90 experts to discuss sustainable finance solutions for nature conservation in Latin America and the Caribbean, with sessions focused on the Amazon region. Participants exchanged strategies to bridge the funding gap for biodiversity. The workshop aligned with the Global Biodiversity Framework’s Target 19, emphasizing collaboration and strengthening national capacities.

In Rondônia’s Lago do Cuniã Reserve, researchers recorded over 2,700 caimans in 2024, revealing high population density during the dry season. The study, supported by ASL Brazil, involves local communities in biodiversity monitoring and has tracked caiman populations for 20 years. It provides key data on reproduction, health, and habitat use while promoting safety and education. Findings show that sustainable management is resulting in positive outcomes not just in terms of biodiversity conservation but community capacity building. Photo credit: ICMBio Relatório de Monitoramento

A remarkable sighting of a jaguar (Panthera onca) was recorded in the Serranía de La Lindosa and Angosturas II Forest Reserve in Guaviare, highlighting the region’s value as a natural refuge for wildlife. Led by the CDA Corporation and local ecotourism allies, the Heart of the Amazon initiative involves community-based monitoring to support conservation efforts. Local participation is key to identifying and preserving biodiversity while strengthening ties between communities and nature. The program aims to not only track species but also to understand animal behavior and ecosystem dynamics. This scientific knowledge helps shape strategies for long-term ecological balance and sustainability.

Art and environmental education can drive powerful change in conservation. In Limoncocha, Ecuador, a 30-meter mural titled Living Wetlands, Connected Landscapes was created in honor of World Wetlands Day to celebrate local biodiversity and community resilience. The mural was supported by the ASL Ecuador project with collaboration between the government, CI-Ecuador, and local residents to highlight the importance of wetlands and ecological connectivity and contribute to awareness raising. Photo credit: Richard Armas

The climate crisis disproportionately affects women and deepens inequalities such as access to resources that are becoming more scarce (land, water, and food) and the exercise of their rights to freedom of expression, association, and participation. This often increases women’s unpaid care work, reduces economic opportunities, and heightens vulnerability—especially in rural areas.

Alcira Amasifuén and Charito Reátegui are members of the Network of Women Entrepreneurs and Businesswomen of Huánuco, a key partner of the PPS project and a permanent platform through which they have been contributing to sustainable landscape management, biodiversity conservation, and climate action.

Photo credit: Nuria Angeles, UNDP Peru

Discover their stories in the podcast "On the Road: Gender and Climate Change"

Overcoming Droughts and Securing the Amazon’s Future = Our Future

April 28, 2025

10:30 am – 12 pm EST

With simultaneous interpretation in English, Spanish, and Portuguese

The Amazon is facing increasingly frequent droughts due to climate change and human activity, threatening ecosystems and local livelihoods. This webinar, hosted by the ASL and the World Bank’s LAC Drought Initiative, will explore community-based and innovative adaptation strategies with experts from Peru and Colombia sharing research, insights, and real-world solutions.

Find recordings of previous ASL webinars here.

The Amazon Sustainable Landscapes Program (ASL), funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and led by the World Bank, adopts an integrated regional approach across Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela. Its primary objective is to enhance integrated landscape management and ecosystem conservation in priority areas of the Amazon.