Meet the 29 Finalists of the Amazon Indigenous Rights and Resources (AIRR) Project

Local and indigenous communities in the Amazon Rainforest stand as one of the most important stakeholders against deforestation. As natural conservationists who have protected the rainforest for thousands of years, they are equipped with ancestral indigenous wisdom and hold the key to unlocking the richness offered by the immense biome that nurtures our planet and provides immeasurable benefits to our food systems and health.

The Amazon Indigenous Rights and Resources (AIRR) project aims to empower indigenous populations to become more visible and active actors in the Amazon economy in ways that conserve rainforest biodiversity and build environmental resiliency.

The project is co-implemented by NESsT in partnership with World Wildlife Fund (WWF), indigenous organizations, and the Coordinator of the Indigenous Organizations of the Amazon Basin (COICA), with support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

These partners are working together to amplify the voices of indigenous peoples in the economic development of the Amazon by supporting indigenous-led enterprises to grow in an equitable and sustainable manner. Specifically, NESsT provides indigenous enterprises with tailored business mentoring, technical training, and financing, helping them to expand into new markets and integrate their goods and services into established value chains.

In 2019, NESsT began the search for indigenous-led enterprises in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru, mapping and evaluating more than 750 conservation enterprises that improve the livelihoods of indigenous communities in the remote regions of the Amazon.

Following the launch of its open calls, NESsT received 311 applications from enterprises in Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, and Brazil that operate across more than 20 different sustainable value chains and impact over 200 indigenous communities that represent approximately 300 ethnicities.

After a rigorous due diligence process that examined the impact and scaling potential of each enterprise, NESsT selected 29 indigenous enterprises to support through the AIRR project.

Meet the AIRR indigenous enterprises

These indigenous enterprises have set out to bring innovative products to the market that respect both their heritage and the environment. From cultivating Amazonian plants with medicinal properties to producing aguaje (Mauritia flexuosa) oil, the business models of these enterprises highlight the importance of conserving the environment and the autonomy of these communities in owning their entrepreneurial activities.

In Peru

Asociación de Productores de Plantas Medicinales – The association seeks to promote the sustainable use of Amazonian plants with medicinal properties as a strategy to improve the quality of life of the inhabitants of the Kichwa native communities in San Martín. Their products include sangre de grado (resin of Croton lechleri), garlic sacha (Mansoa alliacea), jergón sacha (Dracontium loretense), black basil (Ocimum sanctum), mucura (Petiveria alliacea), chanca piedra (Phyllanthus niruri), bolsa mullaca (Physalis peruviana), guayusa (Ilex guayusa Loes), cat's claw (Uncaria tomentosa), among others.

Asociación Bosque de las Nuwas– An eco-tourism company made up of members of the Shampuyacu native community from the Awajún ethnic group in San Martín. The company manages a nursery with more than 100 varieties of medicinal plants while also ensuring the food security of the local community through the preservation of different types of cassava, a root vegetable at risk of extinction.

Asociación de Mujeres Organizadas Choco Warmis - The association consists of 24 women from the Kichwa native community in San Martín who are dedicated to the production and commercialization of 100% cocoa bars, 45% cocoa bars with shica shica (fruit of Aiphanes horrida), sacha inchi (Plukenetia volubilis Linneo), peanut nibs, as well as chocotejas (chocolate-based confection) filled with exotic fruits from the area, such as orange, creole tomato, passion fruit, taperiba (Spondias dulcis), grape, and starfruit. All ingredients are supplied by the indigenous communities in San Martín.

Frutiawajún S.A.C. - The enterprise is led by the Awajún community who produces and markets frozen ungurahui (Oenocarpus bataua) and aguaje pulps to the markets of San Martín, Pucallpa, and Lima. These fruits grow in the forests of the Awajún communities of Alto Mayo, do not require any trimming of palm trees, and are processed with specialized machinery in a proprietary processing plant located in the community.

Cooperativa de Servicios Múltiples Shipibo Konibo Xetebo - The cooperative provides technical assistance, permaculture education, and commercialization services to 80 Shipibo Conibo families of the Bellaco plantain in the districts of Masisea and Iparia in the Ucayali Region. The surplus production of these low-emission agricultural techniques is distributed across national and international markets in order to obtain permanent economic income.

Asociación Social de Pescadores Artesanales de Paiche Puitsatawarakana Kukama – Aspappuku - An association of 117 partners from 7 Kukama-Kukamiria native communities of the Lagunas district, within the Alto Amazonas Province in Loreto, that is dedicated to the breeding, processing, and marketing of Paiche (Arapaima gigas). The organization was established within the framework of the "Forest Entrepreneurs" project executed by WWF in alliance with the Cocama Cocamilla Federation (FEDECOCA) and the Regional Coordinator of Indigenous People in San Lorenzo (CORPI-SL).

Asociación de Manejo de Bosques Naturales Esperanza - The association is of the Parinari native community in Loreto and is dedicated to the production of natural aguaje oil. The oil is harvested sustainably using ancestral technology, in addition to other methods including ripening the fruits in water heated in the sun, manual pulping, boiling over a fire with wood, and extraction by decantation.

Asociación de Mujeres Productoras Charapi de La Comunidad Nativa Musakarusha – Río Pastaza: An association comprised of women from the native community Musa Karusha of Loreto who are dedicated to the activity of harvesting taricaya eggs (Podocnemis unifilis), applying ancestral techniques to ensure the maintenance of the populations of this species.

Asociación de Productores Kemito Ene: An association that brings together Ashaninka indigenous people to produce and export organic certified coffee, cacao, and other cacao derivatives. This association comprises 462 families, to whom it provides direct technical assistance on sustainable agroforestry practices. The association purchases grains from its indigenous families and then sells them in national and international markets (Europe and Australia). In 2019, Kemito Ene was awarded the Ecuatorial Prize by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), as an outstanding example of a solution for climate change that combines local sustainable development with conservation.

Asociación Forestal Indígena Madre de Dios – AFIMAD: An indigenous association that brings together 12 native communities belonging to seven different Indigenous Peoples (Ese-eja, Shipibo Conibo, Kichua Runa, Yine, Harabut, and Machiguenga). This association directly benefits 245 families that are involved in the sustainable harvest of Brazil nuts (Bertholletia excelsa) that are sold to national and international markets with organic and fair-trade certifications.

In Colombia

Econawa: A family-owned eco-tourism company that seeks to preserve the habitat and traditional culture of the Awá community. Working with ten families, the company provides a variety of services to tourists, including lessons about the Awa culture and boat excursions in the Amazon rivers.

Comaiji: An association formed by 15 Murui families that are committed to maintaining the balance between preserving the rainforest and providing for its community members. The social enterprise produces 100% pure oil from Amazonian palms such as aguaje (known locally as canangucha or buriti) that are used for medicinal purposes.

Centro Etnoartística Achalay: A social enterprise that offers rural accommodations to tourists to promote Pasto indigenous art and culture and support local communities. For tourists who want to connect with nature without interruptions, the ethno-artistic center curates outdoor experiences that allow people to enjoy the diverse landscape in the Amazon rainforest.

Amazonica de Colombia: A social enterprise that produces cacay (Caryodendron orinocense), aguaje, and sacha inchi oil, which are raw materials used for the cosmetic, nutraceutical and pharmaceutical industries. Their products are cultivated through an agroforestry approach and collected by the Pasto indigenous community of Putumayo. The company currently works with 20 indigenous families and has client bases in Cali, Bogota and Medellín.

Asociación Shinyak, An association that makes furniture and wooden crafts such as traditional masks decorated with indigenous symbols. To preserve their Kamentsa ancestral culture and equip young indigenous generations with employable skills, the company trains many young people in the craft of wood carving.

Arte Colibrí-Artesanías, An association of Kamentsa Indigenous People led mainly by women. It promotes ancestral culture through artistic designs. The company offers products such as handle weaving, wool weaving, beaded weaving, and various wood carvings. Their work reflects the pictograph and engravings on the surfaces of rocks that are found across Putumayo today. The company’s artworks have participated in fairs in Colombia, Switzerland, and France.

In Ecuador

Andi Wayusa: An association that produces an energy drink made from dried wayusa leaves and sweetened with stevia. The Kichwa people harvest the wayusa leaves from their community family farms and manufacture the products in a local plant.

Asociación de Mujeres Cofánes de Dureno Soku: An association of women of the Cofán nationality that produces hand-crafted accessories including bracelets, belts, shigra, purses, and masks with traditional Cofán design, using raw materials sourced from sustainably harvested plants. Its products are sold within the community and to tourists.

Asociación Challwa Mikuna: An association of the Kichwa nationality, from Orellana that creates products made from the fruit of the chonta palm(Bactris gasipaes), including flour, noodles, cookies, slices of chonta in vinaigrette, jam, etc. The association sources their chontaduro from partner farms then dries and grinds the chonta fruits manually. It also uses these chonta fruits as the main ingredient in its restaurant.

Asociación Shuar Cultural Center: A tourism company run by an association of people of the Shuar nationality from Orellana. In addition to teaching visitors about their culture, it also offers traditional drinks called Tsuak that are made from medicinal plants.

Empresa Comunitaria El Pilchi Lodge y Mandi Wasi: An association that offers tourism services that include accommodation, transportation, crafts, and cultural services to visitors, sharing their traditions with others via dance, gastronomy, music, and stories. This company is led by the Kichwa people.

Centro de Turismo Comunitario Ila Kucha: An eco-tourism company led by people of the Kichwa nationality from Orellana. Its main attraction is the Taracoa lagoon where they offer activities including boat tours, bird-watching, and camping. It also sells hand-crafted artisanal products.

In Brazil

Cooperativa de Produção e Desenvolvimento do Povo Indígena Paiter Suruí – COOPAITER: The cooperative represents the Paiter Surui ethnicity and produces Brazil nuts and coffee. It supports more than 100 families in the indigenous territory Sete de Setembro, in the northwest region of Mato Grosso.

Instituto Munduruku: Located in the indigenous territory Apiaká-Kayabi, in the northwest region of Mato Grosso, the instituto produces Brazil nuts and impacts around 50 Munduruku families.

Associação Indígena Kawaiwete: The association produces Brazil nuts and supports more than 100 Kayabi families, living in the indigenous territory Apiaká-Kayab, in the northwest region of Mato Grosso.

Associação Bebô Xikrin do Bacajá – ABEX: Based in the indigenous territory Trincheira Bacajá, southeast of Pará, the association represents the Mebengokrê – Xikrin ethnicity and produces Brazil nuts, babaçu (Attalea speciosa) oil and,cumaru (Dipteryx odorata) seeds and benefits more than sixty families. ABEX also produce handicrafts such as notebooks, cases, fanny packs, dresses, among other products, with their own graphic painting, and support around 150 women.

Associação de Moradores Agroextrativistas e Indígenas do Tapajós – AMPRAVAT: An association that produces and sells cassava and derivatives (flour, tapioca, dried beiju, tucupi). Recently AMPRAVAT added cassava wine and black tucupi (ancestral sauce made from cassava) to their production based in the indigenous territory Tupinambá in Pará. In addition, they produce non-conventional food plants and six species of mushrooms, teaching community members how to use, consume and sell them.

Casa de Cultura Karajá: The enterprise is a cultural store that exhibits and sells handicrafts, including beads, ceramic, and wood dolls, from 50 families spread across 18 communities of the Araguaia Indigenous Park in Mato Grosso.

Associação Indígena Xavante Ripá de Produtividade e Etno-desenvolvimento – AIXRPE: The association is a part of the Xingu Seed Network and represents more than 30 families of the Xavante ethnicity. It produces seeds of trees and native plants for restoration plantations in the region. The association is based in the indigenous territory Pimentel Barbosa, in the northeast of Mato Grosso, an area that has been threatened by agribusiness expansion (soy production and cattle ranching).

This blog is made possible by the generous support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents are the responsibility of NESsT and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government.