The Chamber of Commerce of Indigenous Peoples of Peru - CCPIP and Conservation International signed a cooperation agreement to promote activities that contribute to the sustainable management of natural resources, their environmental services and the conservation of biological diversity in Peru, through the promotion of development and capacity building of the indigenous peoples of the Peruvian Amazon.
The agreement, signed the 31st of May of the present year, was signed by Shuar Velásquez Ruiz, president of CCPIP and Luis Espinel Cuba, vice president of Conservation International Peru.
A priority for Conversation International Peru is the increasingly close collaboration with indigenous peoples and local communities to conserve the Amazon, mitigate the effects of climate change and generate opportunities for sustainable development that impact directly the well-being of local populations.
"In this effort of promoting the sustainable development of the Amazon, we know that we must go beyond protected areas, and focus on other productive territories, and for that, collaboration with indigenous peoples is key. With this agreement we can support indigenous businesses and ventures, facilitating and boosting sustainable initiatives in the Amazon," said Luis Espinel during the signing of the agreement.
For its part, the Chamber seeks to empower and support the indigenous peoples of the Amazon on market economy-related issues and generate business opportunities while preserving their ancestral values. The Chamber brings together indigenous businesses and commercial productive associations to provides them with technical and academic support, defends their economic rights and generates alliances with strategic sectors to promote partnerships among sustainable businesses.
"This is a very fruitful agreement given that we both have a common goal: identify and enhance opportunities for sustainable development. We seek to coordinate efforts to strengthen indigenous businesses, increase their knowledge in economic matters and formalize new ventures, always ensuring that the development we promote enhances ancestral knowledge too," added Shuar Velásquez.
The agreement marks a starting point to find synergies between both organizations and build a joint work plan. This agreement is part of the Amazon Business Alliance led by the United States Agency for International Development USAID, the Government of Canada and Conservation International. The Alliance promotes economic development based on the sustainable use of natural resources in order to improve the quality of life of communities of the Amazon that conserve standing forests and mitigate the impacts of climate change. To this end, the Alliance supports different Amazonian ventures, works with local and indigenous communities, investors, public sector, corporate partners and civil society organizations, in order to create the necessary conditions for green investments to grow, with an intercultural, gender and rights approach.
About CCPIP:
It is a national organization focused on promoting economic opportunities with the indigenous peoples of Peru based on their ancestral values, redistribution, reciprocity and responsibility, whilst preserving their cultural identity. The Chamber brings together indigenous business ventures and productive associations and provides technical and academic support, defends their economic rights and generates alliances with strategic sectors for the development of sustainable businesses.