The project's intervention area plays a vital role in supporting biodiversity and ecosystem functionality within the broader Amazonian landscape. Key ecological benefits include the recovery of riparian zones supplying the Palcazú River and its tributaries, benefiting an estimated 5,000 people through improved water quality and hydrological regulation. Restoration will also improve forest connectivity between Yánesha and Ashaninka communities and the San Matías-San Carlos Protected Area, enhancing habitat for species such as jaguar (Panthera onca), white-lipped peccary (Tayassu pecari), deer (Mazama americana), and iconic Amazonian trees like mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla), tornillo (Cedrelinga catenaeformis), and cedar (Cedrela odorata). Soil stabilization will be enhanced through root structures of native trees, mitigating runoff and erosion, and improving resilience to increasingly erratic drought and rainfall cycles. The project will also restore forest cover to support ecosystem services and biodiversity, including climate regulation, pollination, and nutrient cycling. Permanent monitoring plots with stratified sampling and georeferenced subplots will be used to track tree growth, survival, and landscape change.

The project will directly engage 65 Yánesha and Ashaninka families from five native communities, offering tangible social and economic gains. Indigenous women will assume active roles in seedling production, plantation management, and potentially leading value-added initiatives, thereby enhancing their leadership and agency. The cultivation and trade of native and agroforestry products, including cocoa, will provide short-, medium-, and long-term income. By year five, cocoa harvests are projected to yield up to 500 kg/ha under communal conditions, translating to an estimated monthly income of S/ 1,500 during the harvest season. The initiative will also benefit an additional 40 families indirectly through local supply chains in transport, food trade, and field labor. Culturally, the use of native species supports the continuity of ancestral knowledge and spiritual connection to the land, while capacity-building activities improve technical and organizational skills across generations. FECONAYA’s governance capacity will be strengthened, fostering stronger collaboration with state institutions and generating visibility for Indigenous-led restoration. Finally, the project opens doors for educational outreach, student and researcher engagement, and broader public awareness about the importance of Amazonian forest restoration.