Intersecting Pathways: Biodiversity Loss, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, and Socioeconomic Vulnerabilities in Peru’s High Carbon Stock Regions

Pradel, W.; Juarez, H.; Gutierrez, D.; Casallas, I.; Sosa, C. 2024. Intersecting Pathways: Biodiversity Loss, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, and Socioeconomic Vulnerabilities in Peru’s High Carbon Stock Regions. CIP.

Peru's high carbon stock regions, encompassing some of the world’s most biodiverse ecosystems, face mounting pressures from deforestation, land use change, and socioeconomic vulnerabilities. This study explores the spatial overlap between biodiversity loss, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and socioeconomic challenges—including poverty, human development, and childhood stunting—across 252 districts in Peru's Amazon and Andean regions. Employing Local Indicators of Spatial Association (LISA) and socioeconomic data from 2016–2019, the analysis reveals weak-to-moderate correlations between environmental degradation and socioeconomic factors. Despite limited global associations, the study identifies critical hotspots, particularly in San Martín, Ucayali, and Huánuco, where poverty, deforestation, and low human development index (HDI) intersect. These findings highlight the urgent need for integrated strategies to mitigate deforestation, promote socioeconomic development, and achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). By prioritizing interventions in these areas, Peru can advance its commitments to climate change mitigation and biodiversity conservation while addressing persistent social inequities.