Peru Andean Biodiversity Fund: S/6.8M for Nature-Positive Business

The Andes are one of the most biodiverse places on Earth. They are also one of the most fragile. Climate change, mining, and unsustainable agriculture are threatening the ecosystems that Indigenous communities have stewarded for millennia.

The Peru Andean Biodiversity Enterprise Fund is a bold experiment: Can we make conservation profitable?

With grants of up to PEN S/6.8 million (approx. $1.8M USD) per enterprise, this program funds businesses that do two things at once: generate income for local communities and protect the environment.

We are talking about enterprises that harvest wild botanicals (like maca or sacha inchi) using sustainable methods. We are talking about alpaca fiber cooperatives that manage grazing to prevent overgrazing. We are talking about ecotourism lodges that fund wildlife monitoring. We are talking about “Payment for Ecosystem Services” (PES) schemes where downstream water users pay upstream communities to protect watersheds.

This is not charity. This is capitalism with a conscience. The grant pays for the infrastructure, the certifications, and the market access needed to turn a subsistence activity into a thriving export business.

Key Details at a Glance

Detail	Information
Grant Amount	Up to PEN S/6,800,000 per enterprise
Application Deadline	May 2, 2025
Focus Areas	Botanicals, Alpaca/Vicuña Fiber, Ecotourism, Watershed Services
Key Requirement	Must demonstrate “Additionality” (conservation beyond baseline)
Managing Entity	SERFOR (National Forest and Wildlife Service)
Funding Source	GEF (Global Environment Facility) / MINAM

What This Opportunity Offers

Capital for Certification Getting “Organic” or “Fair Trade” certification is expensive. It requires audits, traceability systems, and documentation. This grant pays for that. It also pays for “Biocommerce” certification (a Peruvian standard for biodiversity-friendly products).

Processing Infrastructure Raw quinoa sells for pennies. Washed, sorted, packaged quinoa sells for dollars. The grant funds the washing machines, the sorting tables, and the packaging equipment that move you up the value chain.

Market Access The program connects you to international buyers. They organize trade missions to Europe and the US. They help you get into the “Specialty Foods” market where consumers pay a premium for products with a story.

Ecosystem Monitoring You are not just selling a product; you are selling a promise. “This alpaca fiber comes from a ranch that protects vicuña habitat.” To prove that, you need data. The grant funds camera traps, biodiversity surveys, and GIS mapping to document your conservation impact.

Who Should Apply

This is for Community-Based Enterprises. It is not for multinational corporations.

Ideal Candidates:

The Quinoa Cooperative: You are a group of 50 farmers in Puno. You want to build a central processing facility to wash and package quinoa for export.
The Alpaca Association: You are in Cusco. You want to install a fiber-sorting machine and get “Responsible Alpaca Standard” certification.
The Ecotourism Lodge: You are in the cloud forest. You want to build a research station that attracts scientists (who pay to stay) while monitoring bird populations.
The Botanical Harvester: You sustainably harvest “cat’s claw” (uña de gato) for the herbal medicine market. You want to get organic certification and build a drying facility.

Eligibility Checklist:

Legal Status: Must be a registered Peruvian entity (Asociación, Cooperativa, EIRL, SAC).
Location: Must operate in the Andean highlands (typically above 2,500 meters).
Community Partnership: Must have a formal agreement with the local Indigenous community (Acta de Asamblea).
Conservation Plan: Must have a “Plan de Manejo” (Management Plan) approved by SERFOR or the regional environmental authority.

Insider Tips for a Winning Application

I have worked with biodiversity enterprises in Latin America. Here is how to win this grant.

1. The “Free, Prior, and Informed Consent” (FPIC) Rule If you are working on Indigenous lands, you must have FPIC. This means the community held an assembly, discussed the project, and voted to approve it. You need the signed minutes (Acta) from that assembly. Without it, your application is dead on arrival.

2. The “Additionality” Test The evaluators will ask: “What conservation is happening because of this project that wouldn’t happen otherwise?” If you are already harvesting quinoa sustainably, that is great, but it is not “additional.” You need to show a new conservation action. For example: “We will set aside 20% of our land as a no-harvest zone for vicuña breeding.”

3. The “Biocommerce” Principles Peru has a national “Biocommerce” framework (based on UNCTAD principles). Your proposal should explicitly reference these principles: * Conservation of biodiversity. * Sustainable use of biodiversity. * Fair and equitable sharing of benefits. * Socio-economic sustainability. * Compliance with national and international regulations. * Respect for the rights of actors involved.

4. The “Market Validation” Letter Don’t just say “We will sell to Europe.” Get a Letter of Intent (LOI) from a buyer. “If Cooperative X gets certified, we (Company Y in Germany) commit to purchasing 10 tons per year at $Z per kilo.” This proves demand.

5. Gender and Youth The fund prioritizes projects that empower women and young people. If your cooperative has a “Women’s Committee” or a “Youth Leadership Program,” highlight it. Show the percentage of women in decision-making roles.

Application Timeline

January-February 2025: Preparation

Action: Hold the community assembly. Get the FPIC.
Action: Update your “Plan de Manejo” if it is expired.

March 2025: Proposal Writing

Action: Write the technical proposal. This is the heart of the application.
Action: Prepare the biodiversity baseline. What species are present? What is the current condition of the ecosystem?

April 2025: Budget & Letters

Action: Get quotes for equipment. “We need a quinoa washing machine. Here is a quote from Supplier X for S/50,000.”
Action: Secure the LOI from the buyer.

May 2, 2025: Submission

Action: Submit via the SERFOR online portal.

Required Materials

Business Plan: 3-5 year financial projections.
Conservation Plan: The “Plan de Manejo” showing sustainable harvest limits.
Community Agreement: The signed Acta from the assembly.
Biodiversity Baseline: A survey of the ecosystem (can be done by a consultant or university).
Market Study: Who will buy the product? At what price?

What Makes an Application Stand Out

The “Triple Bottom Line” Show that your project is good for:

People: Jobs, income, health.
Planet: Biodiversity, carbon sequestration, water quality.
Profit: A viable business model.

Indigenous Knowledge Integration If your project uses traditional ecological knowledge (e.g., “Our ancestors knew which plants to harvest and when”), document it. This is a unique selling point for international buyers.

Traceability Can you trace every bag of quinoa back to the specific plot of land where it was grown? Blockchain, QR codes, and GPS mapping are all tools that impress evaluators.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Ignoring the “Benefit-Sharing” Requirement If you are harvesting on communal land, the community must receive a share of the profits. This must be formalized in a contract. “We will pay 10% of net revenue to the community fund.” Vague promises don’t work.

Over-Promising on Conservation Don’t say “We will save the Andean condor.” That is not measurable. Say “We will restore 50 hectares of native grassland, which is condor foraging habitat, and we will monitor condor sightings quarterly.”

Weak Financial Projections If your financial model shows you will be profitable in Year 1, the evaluators will doubt you. Most nature-based businesses take 3-5 years to break even. Be realistic.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use the grant to buy land? Generally, no. The grant is for “productive infrastructure” and “working capital,” not for land acquisition.

Do I need to be certified before I apply? No. The grant can pay for the certification process. But you need to show a clear plan and timeline.

What is the “co-financing” requirement? You usually need to contribute 20-30% of the total project cost. This can be “in-kind” (e.g., volunteer labor, donated land use) or cash.

Can I apply if I am not Indigenous? Yes, but you must have a formal partnership with the Indigenous community. You cannot extract resources from Indigenous land without their consent and participation.

How to Apply

Visit SERFOR: Go to www.serfor.gob.pe.
Download the Guidelines: Read the “Bases del Concurso” (Call for Proposals).
Register: Create an account in the online application system.
Submit: Upload all documents before the deadline.

The Andes are not just a place. They are a living library of biodiversity. This grant is your chance to be a librarian—protecting the knowledge while sharing it with the world.