
Having been raised in the UK, Paddington has given me a certain perspective about bears from Peru. I know they don’t really wear blue jackets and keep marmalade sandwiches under their hats, but on a recent field trip to the region it was incredible to learn what they really get up to in the cloud forests of the Andean mountains.
The Peruvian Amazon is the second-largest expanse of Amazon rainforest after the Brazilian Amazon and covers nearly 60% of the country. It is one of the most biologically diverse areas on Earth as well as being home to over 60 indigenous ethnicities and an estimated 15 uncontacted tribes. My visit was to meet potential partners and see on-the-ground the challenges and solutions to deforestation.

Gold-mining in the lowland Amazon
We set off into the jungle by boat, leaving the bustling frontier town of Laberinto. I was told the population of the town has increased dramatically in the past few years due to the boom in small-scale gold mining.
The four-hour boat ride to our destination made that abundantly clear. Along the entire water route were crude, artisanal crane-like machines digging out the riverbed, sifting it, mixing it with mercury to separate any small quantities gold, and dumping the remains. Each one small in scale, but the sheer abundance along every part of the river was staggering.
The mercury is absorbed into the forest and the waterways and can end up hundreds of kilometres downstream, impacting the health of communities directly and through the fish they eat as well as affecting the wildlife[i]. This small-scale mining is eating away at the rainforest and from the air we got a clearer view of overall scale.


The price of gold has increased 160% in the last ten years and people can earn as much as $100 a day mining in the area. As a result, the industry has attracted people from across the region. While the local town has benefitted from this influx, indigenous peoples and local communities have had their waters polluted and their lands desecrated.
Authorities have repeatedly tried to act, but their actions are rarely able to have any lasting impact due to the massive scale, dispersed nature, and competition for limited resources with other pressing issues including corruption at some levels.
When we finally arrived at our destination, the Los Amigos Biological Station, we saw that another way is possible. The research centre is a haven for nature, science and ecotourism. Having hosted more than 213 research projects, the team works deeply with local communities, the uncontacted peoples in the neighbouring reserve as well as protecting 360,000 acres of pristine rainforest. But as the team know all too well, much more needs to be done to address the underlying drivers of deforestation in the region. This could be more resources for control and enforcement, better sustainable livelihood options, biological research, or stronger rule of law and governance.
Cloud forests in the Andean Amazon
From the lowland rainforests we journeyed upstream, following the rivers towards their headwaters in the Andes mountains.
Water vapor from the lowland basin forests follows a similar route. As it moves westwards across the South American continent it reaches the Andes, rises and cools, creating the clouds that blanket the mountains. This constant supply of moisture makes cloud forests among the most biodiversity-rich ecosystems, despite them only being 1% of the world’s forests. In addition, they perform an essential environmental function, absorbing the moisture and rain like a sponge and releasing it gradually into streams and rivers, replenishing water supplies throughout the region.

Our destination, Wayqecha Cloud Forest Research Station, sits 3,000 meters above sea level in the southeast of Peru. It is home to multiple research projects, including looking at the impacts of climate change on this vital and fragile landscape. As temperatures warm, plants and animals are moving to higher altitudes in search of cooler conditions. The Climate Corridors project is trying to understand these patterns and create a network of routes and habitats for species to move to and seek refuge.

These climate impacts are very real. The garden at Wayqecha has over 200 species of orchid – as many as in the whole of North America – but last year was one of the driest on record, and many of these orchids died. Ironically then, in one of the wettest places on earth, the team has decided to install an irrigation system to prevent future losses.
These cloud forests also face more direct and immediate threats. We saw the impacts of overgrazing and clearance for fast-growing, thirsty plantations of eucalyptus and pine. However, the importance of native trees for water conservation is increasingly understood by local communities, as are the restoration efforts and economic gains from increased sustainable practices. Marlene Mamani (pictured), who works for a Peruvian non-profit organization called Conservación Amazónica (ACCA), showed us a native tree nursery and told us about her work with local communities to restore the Andean forests.

And it’s not just humans who will benefit from habitat restoration. For this is also the home of the Andean bear. We met with Ruthmery Pillco, a biologist, National Geographic Explorer, and one of the foremost experts on the bear. She’s based in Wayqecha is has been taking reality TV to a whole new level. Ruthmery has attached camera collars to bears to capture their daily life. Over the course of four months this has revealed behaviours never before documented; a ‘bears-eye’ view. Bears also play a key role in ensuring the integrity of the rainforests, dispersing seeds across a huge area through their droppings.

Ruthmery also told us about the profound cultural significance of the bear in Andean culture. As well as scientific research, the Wayqecha station also hosts community leaders and cultural events to sustain these traditions.
Communities at the centre
The ecosystems of the lowland rainforest and the cloud forests were very different, as are the challenges and threats. But it was clear in both cases, to protect them means working with local communities to find viable solutions that met and respect their needs as well as those of the environment they live in.
The Jacobs Futura Foundation is deeply grateful for the warmth and kindness shown by everyone we met in Peru. As well as experiencing a vibrant culture, rich with tradition, it was a privilege to meet so many inspiring people. As Paddington advised, “get out there and explore, there’s always a new friend around every corner.”

Of course, the Paddington stories are more than just simple tales of an adventurous bear. They are about acceptance of differences, and about empathy and compassion. The little bear has a lesson for us all in 2025.
Justin Johnson, CEO
Acknowledgements
Our thanks to the Andes Amazon Fund and Conservación Amazónica and their amazing teams for hosting us, and particular mention to Enrique Ortiz for sharing his passion and expertise as our guide.