Peru Amigos del Oso Nº 350

The El Oso Project was created to help protect the forests surrounding coffee farms near the Santuario Nacional Tabaconas Namballe nature sanctuary in San Ignacio. Many of these farms sit in the buffer zone of this protected area, where bears and other wildlife are under increasing pressure and face the risk of being lost forever in this region. A big part of the project focuses on organic farming practices and certification. These standards don’t just improve coffee production they also encourage farmers to take an active role in protecting local ecosystems and safeguarding species that are at risk.

To support this balance between farming and conservation, the project provides native tree species for replanting areas that need restoration, helping regenerate forests with plants that naturally belong there. Farmers also receive coffee seedlings suited to growing within forest environments. Practical support is another key part of the initiative. Solar drying tents have been introduced to improve coffee processing, along with 200-litre fermentation drums. Farmers have also been given roofing materials to build composting areas, which reduces the need to purchase fertilisers. Instead, coffee cherry waste can be broken down and reused as compost, cutting waste and lowering environmental impact while improving coffee quality.

Over the past few years, the El Oso Project has continued to grow. To support that growth, the wider cooperative has now been included, these members are known as the “Amigos of El Oso.” By expanding the network, more farmers can take part and more funds can be directed toward protecting wildlife. A larger cooperative also means more opportunities to run workshops and share knowledge. At the same time, the cooperative distributes native forest trees for farmers to plant alongside their coffee crops. This helps maintain a careful balance between productive farming and long term forest conservation.