As part of international efforts to address climate change, the
announced in New York City the relaunch of the Sierra Verde (Green Highland) program.
It entails a US$300 million investment over the next five years and aims to reforest 50,000 hectares in the Peruvian Andes.
The announcement was made during a meeting organized by Rainforest Alliance entitled: "Investing in Peru of the Future: Sustainability, Competitiveness, and Global Climate Leadership through its Farming and Indigenous Communities."
The event was held as part of the High-Level Week of the 81st United Nations General Assembly session.
This session was attended by Ministers Carlos Espa (Foreign Affairs), Vladimiro Huaroc (Environment), and Peru's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Carlos Pareja.
It brought together representatives of multilateral development banks, foundations, and private investors interested in promoting sustainable investment in the South American country.
Sierra Verde Project
During her remarks, the President explained that the project will create more than 350,000 jobs, preserve 100 million cubic meters of groundwater, and benefit 100 communities.
Likewise, the Head of State said the initiative seeks to harness the country's natural wealth to boost productive development in the Andes.
"Peru is a country with immense national wealth and diversity, one of the top on the planet, from its coast and Andes to the Amazon, which is home to an extraordinary combination of marine and Amazonian resources, soil, and biodiversity," Fujimori stated.
"We want this extraordinary natural wealth to play a different role in our development strategy," she added.
In this context, the top official emphasized that the country has a foundation on which to build this strategy, comprising public policies, investment, environmental commitments, scientific knowledge, and the participation of communities living in these territories.
"We are not starting from scratch. Peru already has policies, programs, public investment, ecosystem services mechanisms, climate commitments, scientific knowledge, and the extraordinary experience and leadership of our Indigenous and rural communities," she emphasized.
In this regard, the President explained that Sierra Verde is aimed at restoring water resources, improving land, and strengthening communities' productive systems through reforestation and ecosystem management.
She recalled that the program was launched 28 years ago by her father, former President Alberto Fujimori, and highlighted the importance of continuing public policies that have demonstrated favorable results.
Referring to that experience, she particularly underscored the impact that this type of project can have on the lives of communities.
"My father was an agricultural engineer, and for me, the most important aspect was talking to the community and listening to how this project changed their lives," Fujimori said.
"Most of you, who are experts in this type of investment, understand that it makes sense when you talk to the citizenry and they accept the investment and are grateful for what we are doing," she added.
It is worth recalling that the relaunch of Sierra Verde was a proposal put forward by President Fujimori during the electoral campaign.
At the time, she announced that, if elected, she would resume the program launched by her father, which was aimed, among other measures, at building infiltration trenches and reservoirs to retain rainwater and restore land through reforestation.
In this regard, the Head of State indicated that protecting ecosystems must at the same time translate into better opportunities for the populations living in these territories, as well as opportunities for new investment.
"I invite you to visit Peru to see these projects and give us more ideas, because we do not need to come up with new projects; you are the experts. I am here to learn and listen. I am also here to warmly welcome you if you wish to visit Peru," Fujimori emphasized.
Community development
During his participation in the Rainforest Alliance meeting, Environment Minister Vladimiro Huaroc said one of the objectives is to link ecosystem conservation with sustainable economic opportunities for communities while also creating conditions conducive to private investment.
"That is why we want to build, together with our partners, an investment portfolio that combines climate impact, economic viability, and tangible benefits for communities," he stated.
The Cabinet member explained that this strategy includes financial partnerships, environmental support funds, and financing mechanisms to turn initiatives with environmental and social impact into viable and scalable investments.
"Peru has much to contribute. We have extraordinary natural wealth, communities that have protected these territories for generations, and a climate architecture that we are strengthening. On that basis, we can connect conservation, production, and competitiveness," he said.
Minister Huaroc indicated that the next step will be to scale up these initiatives and mobilize investment so that ecosystem conservation, productive transformation, and the sustainable use of resources generate greater opportunities for development, employment, and competitiveness for Peru.
(END) NDP/ETA/JCR/MVB