Amazon allocated $15 million in nature-based projects in the APAC region. The funds are a part of the $100 million Right Now Climate Fund by Amazon.
The company established the funds in 2019 to increase climate resilience and biodiversity. It also tries to bring social benefits to the communities where the company functions.
Kara Hurst, Global VP for sustainability, Amazon, said,
“The Asia-Pacific region is home to vast forests and rich coastal environments, but it is also highly vulnerable to climate change, biodiversity loss and land degradation,”
“To protect the region from the impacts of climate change and preserve biodiversity, we will need both large-scale and local action – and we’re committed to investing in both”
Amazon and Centre for Wildlife Studies partnership for the Wild Carbon program
The company will invest $3 million, from the APAC funds in nature-based projects, in India.
Amazon is partnering with the Centre for Wildlife Studies (CWS) to plant 300,000 trees in the Western Ghats in three years. Such activity will make carbon sinks, enhance livelihoods, and wildlife conservation.
The Western Ghats hold the UNESCO World Heritage Site significance. It fosters more than 30% of wildlife species in India. It includes the worlds largest population of wild Asian elephants and tigers.
Amazon will spend $1 million to support CWS in the Wild Carbon program. The program aims to back 10,000 farmers in planting and maintaining one million fruit-bearing, timber, and medicinal trees.
Dr Krithi Karanth, CWS Executive Director, said,
“We have designed the Wild Carbon program with an unwavering commitment to wildlife conservation, and also poverty alleviation through livelihood support.”
“By partnering with and incentivizing farmers to be part of the solution, we will be able to facilitate buffer habitats for tigers, elephants 7umand other endangered species,”
Further partnerships of CWS, backed by Amazon, are with 2,000 family farms. The partnership will result in the creation of natural buffer zones. These zones allow farmers access to high-value trees and reduce human-wildlife conflict in such regions.
Dr Karanth said further,
“Amazon’s support enables us to plan and build a program that is self-sustaining in the long term. The farmers will receive upfront support to select tree types that serve both their livelihoods and the wildlife, whilst also receiving technical assistance, agroforestry training, and support for replanting failed saplings,”
CWS will develop high-quality monitoring systems using drone and remote sensing technology. CWS plans to operate the funds for ground surveys to verify program outcomes and advance research on the positive impact of farmers on reforestation opportunities.
