Agroforestry & fruit trees for Amazonian families

Hola friends,

We’re excited to share an update from our work in the Peruvian Amazon, highlighting the community of General Merino. Our visit in December 2024 was our furthest journey during our week-long set of projects, but the warm welcome and enthusiasm for the work made every mile worthwhile.

Riverside erosion is a major challenge here in the Amazon, where deforestation and historical shifts in land use have led to soil loss, threats to local livelihoods, and vulnerability to climate change. A simple, viable, and welcome solution is to plant multifunctional trees in riverside communities.

Along the riverbank in General Merino, 300 native trees adapted to seasonal river flooding — such as aguaje, camu camu, coconut, caimito, macambo, and copoazu — were planted to stabilize soils and protect against further erosion and runoff. An additional 1,500 trees, including edible and medicinal species like copaiba, sangre de grado, açaí, and citrus varieties, were distributed to local families to support small-scale sustainable agriculture.

Planting trees in riparian communities like this provides multiple benefits: their roots anchor the soil, reducing erosion and safeguarding the riverbanks, while their fruits contribute to food security and income generation for families.

This integrated approach supports both environmental restoration and the resilience of the community.

We are deeply grateful to the nearly 100 community members who came out to help plant these trees and to our partners at CONAPAC for their invaluable coordination. Together, we are supporting healthier ecosystems, household incomes, and community resilience in the Peruvian Amazon.

In gratitude,

The FTPF Team