When we speak of Amazonian waters, we refer to the waters that originate in the Andes and flow thousands of kilometers to the Atlantic Ocean, carrying nutrients and sediments that sustain one of the most biodiverse ecosystems on Earth. Amazonian waters, along with the forests that surround them, play a crucial role in the regional water cycle. These rivers form the largest headwater system in the western Amazon and support fisheries that feed millions of people.

The rivers of the Amazon are not isolated. They form an interconnected network with wetlands and floodplain forests that together sustain both biodiversity and the lives of hundreds of communities and cities in the region. However, this network is under threat. Large infrastructure projects such as roads, hydroelectric plants, and waterways risk fragmenting aquatic ecosystems, altering river flow, and disrupting the natural dynamics of biodiversity and its benefits to society.
 

Through the Amazon Waters initiative, WCS in Peru promotes research, the conservation of hydrological connectivity and its interconnection with terrestrial ecosystems, and the sustainable use of water and fishery resources, using a watershed-based approach. This involves coordination among local actors, regional authorities, and the national government.
 

  

Our conservation strategy

1. Fisheries and wetlands: We work with national and regional fishery authorities to improve regulatory frameworks and establish monitoring systems that support informed decision-making. We generate information and share success stories to promote basin-level fishery management among Indigenous peoples and local communities—helping conserve aquatic biodiversity, strengthen food security, and create sustainable economic opportunities.
    
2. Sustainable infrastructure: We recognize the need for infrastructure in national development. Therefore, we advocate for infrastructure projects in the Amazon to be implemented with minimal impact on aquatic ecosystems and cultural systems. We produce data to understand watersheds and the cumulative impacts of infrastructure projects. We also build decision-makers’ capacities and promote an informed public regarding investments and alternative infrastructure options that support sound decision-making.