Peruvian Trust Fund for National Parks and Protected Areas

The Peruvian Trust Fund for National Parks and Protected Areas, best known by its Spanish acronym PROFONANPE (Fondo de Promoción de las Áreas Naturales Protegidas del Perú), is a Peruvian private non-profit organization specialized in raising and efficiently administering financial resources for programs and projects that contribute to biodiversity conservation and to climate change mitigation and adaptation. It describes itself as Peru's environmental fund, offering innovative alternatives for environmental care, and as the country's most important private environmental fund, with more than 30 years of institutional work. PROFONANPE's origins lie in a seed capital that was directed both to institutional support and to financing conservation activities in protected natural areas. Its institutional design was adapted to the administration of trust funds, making it the first organization of its kind in Peru to operate with such a structure. The fund was formally linked to the creation of the National Fund for Natural Protected Areas of the State (FONANPE) through Decreto Ley n.º 26154, established as an intangible trust fund for the conservation, protection and management of Peru's protected natural areas, constituted with resources from international technical cooperation donations and complementary resources transferred by the public and private sectors, and administered by PROFONANPE. Its mandate covers several functions: contributing to the conservation, protection and management of protected natural areas (ANP); financing activities that strengthen the technical and operational capacity of SERNANP, the state agency responsible for protected areas; promoting environmental protection, the strengthening of environmental management, the sustainable use of natural resources and environmental heritage; and promoting attention to environmental liabilities in order to prevent or mitigate damage to ecosystems and protect human health and the environment. PROFONANPE operates nationwide through synergies and alliances with public and private institutions, non-governmental organizations and international partners. Its service lines include "Naturaleza Sostenible" (long-term financing through intangible or preserved funds), "Fondo Naturaleza" (mobilizing complementary financial resources), and "Diseño de iniciativas" (designing and executing sustainable development projects). It also maintains a knowledge hub with hundreds of publications, a data observatory to monitor the implementation of its interventions, and free courses. Among its flagship communication campaigns are "Humedales del Datem," which seeks to improve the resilience of indigenous communities in the Datem del Marañón region, improve their livelihoods and reduce greenhouse gas emissions caused by deforestation; "Historias que Escalan," which strengthens bio-businesses in the Peruvian Amazon through partially reimbursable financing and business advisory services; and "Latidos del bosque seco," which restores dry forests on Peru's northern coast, increasing community resilience and securing means of production together with non-governmental, public and private allies. In 2020, PROFONANPE absorbed the functions of the extinct National Environmental Fund (FONAM) under Decreto de Urgencia n.º 022-2020 issued by then President Martín Vizcarra Cornejo.

PROFONANPE's history is rooted in the creation of the National Fund for Natural Protected Areas of the State (FONANPE) through Decreto Ley n.º 26154. FONANPE was established as an intangible trust fund dedicated to the conservation, protection and management of Peru's protected natural areas, constituted with resources from international technical cooperation donations and complementary resources transferred by the public and private sectors. PROFONANPE was designated to administer this fund. The organization began with a seed capital oriented both to institutional support and to financing conservation activities in protected natural areas. This design allowed the government and its international allies to commit resources through the negotiation of debt-for-nature swaps. PROFONANPE was the first organization of its kind in Peru to have a design adapted to the administration of trust funds. Over more than 30 years of institutional work, PROFONANPE has consolidated its position as Peru's most important private environmental fund. It has been characterized by creating, developing and implementing innovative processes in administrative and fund management, as well as in participatory management and the involvement of the private sector. Its work continues throughout the country through synergies and alliances with public and private institutions and other organizations. In 2020, PROFONANPE absorbed the functions of the extinct National Environmental Fund (FONAM), based on Decreto de Urgencia n.º 022-2020 issued by then President of the Republic Martín Vizcarra Cornejo. This expanded its mandate to include the promotion of environmental protection, the strengthening of environmental management, the sustainable use of natural resources and environmental heritage, and attention to environmental liabilities. Today PROFONANPE manages long-term financing through intangible or preserved funds, mobilizes complementary financial resources, designs and executes sustainable development projects, and maintains a knowledge hub with more than 740 publications, a data observatory and free courses. Its flagship communication campaigns include Humedales del Datem, Historias que Escalan and Latidos del bosque seco, addressing wetland resilience, Amazonian bio-businesses and dry forest restoration respectively.

• Creation of the National Fund for Natural Protected Areas of the State (FONANPE) through Decreto Ley n.º 26154, to be administered by PROFONANPE.

• PROFONANPE begins operations with seed capital for institutional support and conservation financing.

• PROFONANPE becomes the first organization of its kind in Peru with a design adapted to trust fund administration.

• 2020: PROFONANPE absorbs the functions of the extinct National Environmental Fund (FONAM) under Decreto de Urgencia n.º 022-2020.

• 2021: Publication of 'Sistema de Gestión Ambiental y Social de la Facilidad financiera para bionegocios Amazónicos' and other reports.

Peru's most important private environmental fund, specialized in the capture and administration of financial resources for biodiversity conservation and climate action.

• Naturaleza Sostenible

  Long-term financing through intangible or preserved funds.

• Fondo Naturaleza

  Mobilization of complementary financial resources.

• Diseño de iniciativas

  Design and execution of sustainable development projects.

• Hub de Conocimiento

  More than 740 publications, a data observatory and free courses.

1. 1Profonanpe - Aliados para la conservación de la naturalezaprofonanpe.org.pe
2. 2Profonanpe - Comprometidos con el cuidado del planetaprofonanpe.org.pe
3. 3Nuestras convocatorias – Profonanpeweb.profonanpe.org.pe
4. 4Peruvian Trust Fund for National Parks and Protected Areaswikidata.org
5. 5Fondo de Promoción de las Áreas Naturales Protegidas del Perúes.wikipedia.org