Photo: Kimmy Ramírez
Rooted in resilience – stories of women transforming Peruvian agriculture
Biomonitor4CAP is a European-funded project that develops innovative biomonitoring methods to measure the impacts of agricultural practices on biodiversity and ecosystem services. By integrating multiple stakeholders, modern technologies and ecological indicators, the project seeks to support evidence-based policy design under the European Union’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). It aims to strengthen biodiversity monitoring in rural landscapes and promote more sustainable farming systems.
As part of the Initiative, a delegation of the German Agriculture Society (DLG) visited Peru, a key partner of BioMonitor4CAP, to meet local actors working at the intersection of agriculture, biodiversity and community development. In this context, they met three women whose leadership is helping shape more sustainable futures in their regions. Irene Chamaya Correa, Estela Ulloa and Anamelva Zambrano Yaringaño are not only participants in the project – they are central to its goals, demonstrating how local knowledge and inclusive practices can support biodiversity and rural resilience.
The sampling sites in Peru cover three known natural regions: coastline (avocado plantations in Ica), highlands
(Pampa Hermosa Sanctuary, Junin) and rainforest (cocoa plantations in Padre Abad, Ucayali).
Case 1: cacao and community – a woman’s vision for regenerative agriculture in Ucayali
In Peru’s Ucayali rain forest region, in the east of the country, Irene Chamaya Correa is helping shape a more sustainable approach to agriculture. Originally from Cajamarca, a thin thread always tied her to the jungle, and what originally started as a visit to her parents became permanent, and Ucayali, her new home. Later she became involved in cocoa farming, and what once was a small plot grew into a productive farm and a broader commitment to environmental and community development. Learning about cacao is where she found the meaning of life and learned to love nature. “I once cared for human lives; now I care for all life,” she notes.
Irene started with two hectares of cocoa and gradually expanded to eight, intercropping with native trees like lupuna, mahogany and copaiba, but the most relevant for her are the “paliperro” stands she planted years ago. During the flowering season, the paliperro trees attract bees and different bird species. For Irene, it is especially beautiful to see how birds and insects are once again occupying spaces that always belonged to them. Her farm now serves as a local example of ecological and productive balance – and is also a research site within the BioMonitor4CAP project, where regenerative practices and biodiversity are being monitored.
As the second-time president and also founder partner of the Colpa de Loros cocoa cooperative, Irene has helped introduce sustainable farming methods and improve market access. She also supports social initiatives such as a circular economy project that transforms cocoa by-products into compost and biochar.
The vision of the cooperative has been clear since the beginning: as organic producers, they are aware of the importance of biodiversity, forest conservation and soil restoration and, as Irene mentions, nature’s tight relationship with health. This is why, each year, they provide tree stands to their partners, whose work is also focused on restoring soil’s fertility and biodiversity conservation, so that they can plant them in their plots,. Here, Irene recognises the key role of their allies for these tasks.
However, things are not becoming easier for the cooperative. In a changing climate, the increase in rain unpredictability asks them to adapt more and faster each year. Irene also calls everyone to have an active role in environmental conservation, “planting trees to give life today and to ensure children of tomorrow can enjoy it too” is what motivates her. Her leadership reflects a practical blend of environmental awareness and inclusive engagement – values that align closely with the BioMonitor4CAP project’s goals.
Irene Chamaya’s message is clear: “Care for life. Protect the resources we still have – the water, the environment.
Above all, avoid agrochemicals and stop deforestation. Plant a tree each day, to restore the colour and life to nature.”
Photo: Courtesy of Irene Chamaya
Case 2: from fields and tradition to future – how Andean women shape sustainable agriculture
In the central Andes, Estela Ulloa returned to her ancestral village of San Pedro de Churco during the pandemic and quickly became a key figure in local development. With a background in environmental engineering, she coordinated the construction of a road connecting the village to nearby towns and helped preserve traditional agricultural practices, including the seven-turn crop rotation system.
Estela works with farmers to establish community rules that prohibit chemical pesticides and support biodiversity-friendly practices. She collaborates with the Servicio Nacional de Areas Naturales Protegidas por el Estado SERNANP (National Service of Natural Areas Protected by the State) and the Universidad Científica del Sur (Scientific University of the South) through the BioMonitor4CAP project to promote participatory research and ecotourism. These efforts aim to protect ecosystems while offering young people alternatives to migration.
Her work has led to tangible improvements, including government-supported agricultural tourism and the installation of sanitary facilities in all village households in the region. Estela also challenges traditional gender roles, encouraging women to participate in decision-making and develop small-scale tourism services. Her leadership is helping to redefine women’s roles in Andean communities and create new opportunities for economic independence – all while contributing to the Initiative’s broader mission of linking biodiversity conservation with rural development.
Estela Ulloa helped preserve traditional agricultural practices, including the seven-turn crop rotation system.
Photo: Kimmy Ramírez
Case 3: beyond boundaries – a woman’s vision for conservation and community in Peru
Anamelva Zambrano Yaringaño, a forestry engineer, leads two protected areas in the central Amazon: Santuario Nacional Pampa Hermosa and Bosque de Protección San Matías–San Carlos. These biodiverse regions are home to species such as the spectacled bear, the puma and the jaguar, as well as ancient cedar trees.
Her work focuses on conservation, ecological corridors and community engagement. She supports scientific research, student fieldwork and sustainable tourism, and collaborates with the BioMonitor4CAP project to integrate local knowledge into conservation strategies and promote participatory science.
In a field where women are underrepresented, Anamelva fosters inclusive leadership and mentorship. Her approach bridges science and tradition, policy and practice, and emphasises territory as a living space with cultural and ecological significance. She works to ensure that forests, rivers and mountains remain vibrant and accessible for future generations – an effort that directly supports the Initiative’s goals of long-term biodiversity monitoring and community-based stewardship.
Santuario Nacional Pampa Hermosa is one of the protected areas forestry engineer Anamelva Zambrano Yaringaño leads.
Photo: Kimmy Ramírez
These three women are not only advancing technical solutions – they are building trust, creating opportunities, and redefining leadership in rural Peru. As active contributors to the BioMonitor4CAP initiative, their work shows that sustainable development is most effective when it grows from within communities, and when women are given the space to lead.
Martina Clausen, DLG Research & Innovation, Berlin, Germany.
Contact: m.clausen@dlg.org
Susan Medina, Universidad Científica del Sur, Lima, Peru.
Sandra Duarte, Universidad Científica del Sur, Lima, Peru.
The authors would like to thank Irene, Estela and Anamelva for sharing their experiences for this article.
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