Regional programmes: Latin America and Caribbean (LAC)

From the dry forests of northwestern Mexico’s Chihuahuan desert to the temperate rainforests of southern Chile and Argentina

The WWF Latin America and Caribbean Forest Programme champions forest conservation projects from the dry forests of northwestern Mexico’s Chihuahuan desert to the temperate rainforests of southern Chile and Argentina.

In this vast area, WWF is addressing key threats to the region’s biological and landscape diversity, such as illegal and unsustainable logging, agricultural expansion, cattle-raising, unsound infrastructure projects, fires caused by humans, and climate change. The programme focuses on three key actions:

Protect
Major efforts in the region include the designation of protected areas and their improved management. Significant conservation successes have been achieved in Brazil, Chile, Peru and Bolivia.

Responsible forestry
In addition, WWF champions certification as a tool to ensure well-managed forests, both at the community level through community forestry certification projects, and at the market level with the development of trade networks for certified products such as Jagwood+ in Central America. Currently most of WWF’s certification work focuses on Peru, Bolivia, Guyana, and Central America.

Restore
WWF is also involved in innovative conservation finance mechanisms such as Debt for Nature Swaps, payments for environmental services and carbon knowledge projects to promote forest restoration. Countries involved in these initiatives include Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, Guatemala and Colombia.