SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF FLOODED FORESTS IN THE PERUVIAN AMAZON: INSTITUTIONAL COORDINATION FOR THE PRODUCTIVE AND SUSTAINABLE USE OF NATURAL RESOURCES

Abstract

Flooded forests in Peruvian Amazonia are highly diverse socio-ecological systems and are strategic for food security and the livelihoods of rural populations. Their high fertility, particularly in systems associated with rivers of Andean origin, results from dynamic geomorphological processes and the continuous input of alluvial sediments, which sustain key activities such as seasonal agriculture, fisheries, forestry extraction, and traditional agroforestry systems. However, these ecosystems are facing increasing degradation driven by illegal gold mining, oil spills, agricultural expansion, land tenure insecurity, and limited state presence. In addition, weak coordination among local, regional, and national governmental institutions with management responsibilities generates regulatory overlaps and conflicts of authority that hinder the sustainable management of these ecosystems. The study identifies structural factors that constrain their productive use, particularly the absence of clear land tenure policies, the lack of incentives for agroforestry systems adapted to prolonged flooding regimes, and limited interinstitutional coordination. Based on scientific evidence and territorial experiences, the high potential of flooded forests to contribute to sustainable development is highlighted through the provision of food, timber, aquatic resources, and ecosystem services, including carbon sequestration. Finally, three strategic intervention actions are proposed—conservation, management and restoration, promotion of the Amazonian bioeconomy, and strengthening of governance—recognizing that secure land tenure is an essential condition for effective and sustainable management.