Historical outline
Ver en EspañolIn the 80's, when the foundation was created, the national scene regarding conservation wasn't as prolific as it was decades ago. Nevertheless, the idea of creating an institution capable of supporting public actions towards preserving the natural Peruvian patrimony began to be considered in the society. There were even several attempts to create such institution, but it wasn't consolidated.
Overseas there were many organizations willing to donate money for Peru's environmental conservancy. However, they did not find a local and trust-worthy institution with the ability to administrate and execute financial funds. Is because of this situation that the three founders Eng. Manuel Ríos Rodríguez, Carlos F. Ponce del Prado (R.I.P) and Dr. Marc Dourojeanni, signed the foundation act in October 22 of 1984. Since its early years of existence, ProNaturaleza began to consolidate its presence in the country. Between 1985 and 1987 the institution managed 4 to 20 projects; and between 1988 and 1989 40 projects around the country were managed.
In 1990, only six years after its creation, ProNaturaleza became the most important private institution of social wealth dedicated to the conservancy of Peru's biological diversity. In the 90's, the institution traced two great action lines: conservancy according to themes and institutional actions to strengthened the ability to collect financial funds. And so, from 1991 to 1993 we supported Peru's Government by managing 76% of the National System of Natural Areas Protected by the State. In addition, several workshops were executed and several publications were published in order to create an environmental conscience in the country regarding the protection of Protected Natural Areas (PNA).
ProNaturaleza's outstanding work was worldwide recognized in 1992 when it won the 15th edition of the J. Paul Getty Award for Wildlife Conservancy. Also, as a part of its institutional policy, the institution helped in the creation of a fund that contributes to finance the management of the Protected Natural Areas. That is how PROFONANPE was created.
Between 1996 and 2000 the institution experienced and important growth and several long-term projects were achieved. In 2002, ProNaturaleza had 150 employees that operated across the country using their experience and knowledge in conservation. In addition, several ecotourism projects were initiated and the collaborations of private companies and eco business were consolidated.
New topics like environmental education (...and support to the communitary ambiental monitoring on the Camisea's Natural Gas infrastucture...). Starting in 2004, several changes were made in the institutional structure in order to make it more agile and modern so it would respond effectively to a society that has new challenges and concerns.
Currently, ProNaturaleza is working in two basic lines: conservation and management of biological species; and socio environmental (monitoreo) of energy projects. In order to achieve this, we have Regional Offices in Iquitos, Oxapampa, Pucallpa and Madre de Dios; and we are also present in Tumbes, Lambayeque, Cusco, Ayacucho, Ica and Huancavelica.
