Amazon Region Protected Areas Program (ARPA)

Project would support expansion and consolidation of strict protected areas in the Amazonian region. Three specific objectives have been identified: (i) identify and create new strict protected areas; (ii) effective establishment of these new areas; and (iii) develop long-term sustainable management tools and mechanisms for effective protection within all Amazonian strict protected areas. The project emerges from a GOB commitment to expand effective strict protection in the Amazon to cover at least 10% (37 million ha) of the biome (370 million ha). Although it is expected that all costs associated with the project will be of global benefit and incremental, GEF grant funds will act as seed capital to catalyze additional funds to cover a significant share of project costs.