- His career in the recovery of degraded ecosystems of Cusco and the strengthening of community capacity to cope with forest fires, you receive one of the international recognitions more important in science and conservation.
Lima, July 2026. – Marlene Mamani Solorzano, a biologist peruvian and Restoration Specialist and Andean Community Relations Conservación Amazónica – ACCA, has been recognized as National Geographic Explorer, a distinction that highlights people who develop research and innovative solutions in order to understand and conserve our planet.
This recognition will enhance the work of Marlene comes to driving alongside communities andes of Cusco, where he works in the restoration of degraded ecosystems, the recovery of the wetlands and grasslands, and the strengthening of the local leadership to respond to threats such as forest fires and the effects of climate change.
Along with the recognition of Marlene, the National Geographic Society has awarded funding to support their work, strengthening their leadership with communities andes.
As part of this new momentum, the project will strengthen the capacities of 9 brigades, community-based prevention and control of forest fires in 7 communities: Japu Nation q'ero, Idmanosa, Jajahuana, Ttoccohuaylla, Lucuybamba, Ccochaccochayoc and Sweet, in addition to supporting the restoration of 6 acres of wetlands and grasslands andean in the rural community of Japu, ecosystems critical for the regulation of the water, the biodiversity and the livelihoods of local populations.
A career built with communities
Through his work, Marlene Mamani has been accompanied by processes of conservation and restoration in the territory , promoting a close relationship between science, local knowledge and community participation. That has led her to gain national and international recognition for the work done.
“The true conservation is done hand-in-hand with the communities. They know their territories, facing directly the environmental challenges and have a critical role in finding solutions to restore and protect these ecosystems. This recognition is for all the people who work day to day for the preservation from their territories,” said Marlene Mamani, a Specialist in Restoration and Andean Community Relations Conservación Amazónica – ACCA
Restore the Andes to ensure water and biodiversity
Ecosystems andean, like the wetlands and grasslands, serve essential functions for the environmental balance: store and regulate water, are home to a great biodiversity, and contribute to the adaptation to climate change. However, currently facing pressures due to soil degradation, forest fires and climatic variations.
Faced with these challenges, Conservación Amazónica – ACCA along with allied organizations promotes a model of conservation collaborative, in which communities are actively involved in the recovery and protection of their territories and strengthen their knowledge, organization, and response capabilities.
“For those of us who work with Marlene in Conservation Amazónica – ACCA, this recognition of his leadership fills us with pride, because it reflects the impact of the work that, together, we have been building with the local populations, and our allies. Conservation is a collective effort that integrates scientific knowledge, local knowledge, and the commitment of people who, like her, are driving to or from the territory lasting changes in favor of ecosystems and communities,” said Ronald Catpo, Director of Conservation Areas at Conservación Amazónica - ACCA.
A recognition of the leadership peruvian conservation
The recognition as a National Geographic Explorer highlights the importance of supporting local leadership that generate responses to current environmental challenges. Through this support, Marlene will continue to promote actions of ecological restoration and community building in the peruvian Andes. Mamani is the second National Geographic Explorer of ACCA; Ruthmery Pillco Huarcaya, scientific quechua indian, was named earlier Explorer for his work in conservation of the andean bear.
This work developed from Conservación Amazónica – ACCA along with the farming communities in the Cusco, is part of Action AndeanOne of the initiatives of forest restoration largest of South America, led by communities. Co-founded by Global Forest Generation (GFG) and the Association Ecosystems Andinos (ECOAN), Action Andean works in five andean countries (Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador and Peru), with a view to 100 years to restore and protect a million acres of forests, andean and promote the protection and restoration of the ecosystems of the Andean Amazon.
About Conservación Amazónica – ACCA
Conservación Amazónica — ACCA is a peruvian organization non-profit that has been working since 1999 to preserve and strengthen the ecosystems of the andean Amazon of Peru, through the science, the technology and the community association. ACCA operates in a variety of ecosystems, from the high Andes to the amazon basin, supporting the creation and strengthening of protected natural areas, forming the next generation of conservationists and developing programs of applied research in three biological stations. ACCA is a key partner of Action Andean and a member of the Alliance for the Conservation of the Amazon, a network that works to promote conservation and sustainable development in 50 million hectares shared between Peru and Bolivia. More information acca.org.pe.
About Acción Andina
Acción Andina is one of the movements of restoring indigenous forest and is led by larger communities of South America, which works in the five andean countries to restore and protect a million acres of forests, andean. Co-founded by Global Forest Generation and ECOAN, the initiative has been recognized as a Flagship Initiative of Restoration World by the United Nations and winner of the Prize Earthshot 2023. More information accion-andina.org.
About Global Forest Generation
Global Forest Generation (GFG) is a non-profit organization with headquarters in the united States, classified as a 501(c)(3) dedicated to sustaining forest ecosystems critical but neglected all over the world. GFG amplify and scale the local efforts of ecosystem restoration through the mentoring of new leaders, conservationists, the union of partners of conservation based on different ecosystems and the provision of resources, tools, and technologies of otherwise inaccessible. The flagship initiative of GFG, Action Andean, is the movement of restoration indigenous forest and led by communities, the largest of South America, with more than 12.5 million trees planted, 26 projects in five countries and aims to restore one million hectares of forests andean to 2045. Action Andean has been recognized as a Flagship Initiative of Restoration World by the United Nations and winner of the Prize Earthshot 2023. More information globalforestgeneration.org.