Linking Local Action With Global Change - Field Trip and Exchange to Peru 2026

By: Emma Hansen, Ylva Aamodt & Ditte Tange Rasmussen

How does local actions connect to global challenges, particularly in forest conservation and sustainable development? And how can land outside protected areas be managed sustainably? In April 2026 a group of students joined a study exchang to Peru to explore these questions.

In April 2026, we joined a study exchange trip to Peru organised by Aktion Amazonas as part of the Academists for the Amazon (AKAM) project. Our group consisted of 15 Master’s students from the University of Copenhagen, studying Geography & Geoinformatics, Climate Change, and Nature Management. Through fieldwork in Lima and Madre de Dios, the trip explored how local actions connect to global challenges, particularly in forest conservation and sustainable development.

Madre de Dios, a sparsely populated region in the Peruvian Amazon, is one of the most biodiverse areas on Earth. While much of its forest remains intact, it faces increasing pressure from deforestation. Agricultural expansion has long been a driver, but in recent decades gold mining has become a major threat. Mining leaves behind devastated landscapes and widespread mercury pollution, harming both ecosystems and human health. Rapid infrastructure development and migration have further accelerated these pressures.

Conservation cannot rely on regulation alone

One of the most striking insights was the region’s deep connection to global markets. Rising gold prices fuel mining expansion, while conservation efforts simultaneously protects larger areas of the forest. This creates a sharp contrast between preserved and degraded landscapes, raising an important question: how can land outside protected areas be managed sustainably?

We also witnessed alternative paths. Visits to a cacao-producing community and a Brazil nut cooperative highlighted sustainable livelihoods that depend on maintaining intact forests. Brazil nut harvesting, for example, requires natural forest ecosystems and involves minimal disturbances, demonstrating how economic activity can align with conservation.

At the same time, challenges remain. Mining continues to expand in areas with weak governance, driven by global demand. Conservation cannot rely on regulation alone, education and awareness, especially among younger generations are essential for long-term change. We witnessed this first hand as we had the pleasure for participating in many events alongside Peruvian university students from Universidad Nacional Amazónica de Madre de Dios (UNAMAD), Universidad Nacional de San Antonio Abad del Cusco (UNSAAC) – Puerto Maldonado and Universidad Andina del Cusco (UAC) – Puerto Maldonado in Madre de Dios as well as Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina (UNALM) in Lima.

How to bridge a crucial gap?

Another key takeaway was the gap between local sustainable practices and global regulatory systems. Many farmers already operate socially and environmentally responsible but lack the documentation and large volumes required for international standards. Bridging this gap is crucial for connecting local sustainable producers to global markets.

Finally, the trip underscored why this matters beyond Peru. European consumption has been linked to supply chains that can drive deforestation. Supporting sustainably produced goods and raising awareness are ways we in Denmark and the EU can contribute. Importantly, environmental defenders, volunteers and NGOs in the Amazon face significant risks by raising their voices for nature, a safety we often take for granted. This privilege comes with a responsibility to amplify the local voices and the challenges they face on the forefront of deforestation.

This experience made one thing clear: local actions in the Amazon are deeply intertwined with global systems, making protecting the forests a shared global responsibility.