The mission of Amazon Fund International mission is to work with indigenous people in support and development of initiatives committed to the conservation of nature and culture in the Amazon region. In addition, we work with local indigenous leaders to inform and educate communities and the government of the dangers and economic pitfalls of hydrocarbon exploration and exploitation. These efforts also include capacity building for indigenous community groups to manage threats to their culture and environment.

The Amazon contains more than half of the planet's remaining rainforests and is the largest and most species-rich tropical rainforest on earth.  One in ten known species in the world live in the Amazon Rainforest. The irreplaceable treasure of biodiversity is under dire threat from rapid deforestation which drives species to extinction, destroys indigenous cultures, and accelerates global warming and climate change.

Presently, our work is focused in the region of Bolivia's Madidi National Park and Pilón Lajas Biosphere Reserve - communal lands comprising one the Earth’s biodiversity “hotspots”.  We collaborate extensively with Amazon Fund, our sister organization in The Netherlands (www.amazonfund.eu).

Two new projects are included in our portfolio:

Biodiversity, Ethnobotany, and Drug Discovery
Bolivia’s rich biodiversity and indigenous knowledge may be of great benefit for human health as well as the Bolivian economy, most especially the local indigenous communities. Thus, one aim is to develop supporting projects in both herbal medicine and drug discovery with strong safeguards to prevent biopiracy.

Non-Timber Forest Products
In addition to potential herbal medicines and novel pharmaceuticals, Amazon forests can be sustainable sources of products that avoid forest degradation. Capacity building in this arena is a means to sustainable development that benefits culture and biodiversity.

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