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We often include announcements in the GCF newsletter about new protected areas or conservation trust funds that GCF has helped to support. But now we want to celebrate the first disbursement of the recently established Vilcanota Polylepis Endowment, a fund created to support a growing network of private conservation areas (PCAs) in the mountains outside of Cusco, Peru. These PCAs help protect the last remaining fragments of high-altitude forests of Polylepis trees, while bringing many benefits to the indigenous communities that live in this unique landscape.
The Vilcanota endowment was established in 2011 in collaboration with the American Bird Conservancy (ABC) and the Peruvian national fund, Fondo de las Américas (FONDAM). The fund is administered by FONDAM, and the assets are managed by a local Peruvian investment management firm. One year after being established, the $2 million in starting capital has grown significantly from investment returns, and, in August 2012, FONDAM disbursed the first grant from this endowment. This first grant will play an essential part in supporting the recurrent management costs for conservation efforts led by the Peruvian NGO, Asociación Ecosistemas Andinos (ECOAN).
Congratulations to our partners at ECOAN, FONDAM, and ABC for their great work in getting this new fund off to a successful start. We expect this fund will help support these important efforts for many years into the future.
Learn more about the Polylepis Fund and GCF’s involvement.