New multi-year programme launched to protect and connect critical forest landscapes in South America

With the Andes as a dramatic backdrop, we launched our new and ambitious Forest4Life Partnership Programme in La Paz. The initiative marks the beginning of a long-term effort to protect vital forest ecosystems in Bolivia and Peru - benefiting biodiversity, local communities, and the global climate.

Over the next four years, the programme will be implemented in key ecoregions in the two countries, focusing on areas that play a critical role in maintaining ecological balance and supporting local livelihoods.

“We are in the midst of a global nature and climate crisis that demands more than isolated interventions. This programme is a concrete example of how long-term partnerships and locally led natural resource management can address the underlying drivers of deforestation and create lasting, cross-border solutions.” - Toke Nyborg, Director, Aktion Amazonas

View over La Paz - Bolivia’s capital, dramatically situated at 3,600 metres above sea level in the Andes. Foto: Toke Nyborg

The programme is funded by the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs through CISU and implemented in collaboration with partners in both countries, including ACCA, FCBC, and ACEAA.

At its core, the initiative seeks to strengthen the capacity of local civil society organisations and Indigenous communities to manage forest ecosystems sustainably. Designed as a multi-phase effort, the programme will expand over time, building on lessons learned in each phase.

Its approach centres on three interconnected priorities: supporting sustainable livelihoods through forest-based economies; strengthening conservation through community monitoring, territorial planning, and wildfire preparedness; and increasing the influence of local actors in environmental decision-making.

A defining feature of the programme is its landscape-based approach, working across protected areas, Indigenous territories, and surrounding land-use zones. By improving connectivity between these areas, the initiative supports biodiversity, enables species movement, and helps maintain essential ecosystem functions. At the same time, it promotes development pathways that align conservation with local economic needs.

The programme is part of the international forest conservation alliance SAFCA (South American Forest Conservation Alliance), which works to advance long-term forest conservation in the central-western region of South America. Through coordinated efforts across countries, it aims to protect and connect some of the world’s most important forest landscapes.

The launch of the Forest4Life Partnership Programme signals a shift away from short-term project cycles towards a long-term, phased, and systemic approach - designed to deliver lasting impact for forests, people, and the climate.