As we’ve already announced in our expedition report, our research and forest guardian stations now finally have self-sufficient energy!
We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the Audi Environmental Foundation, which co-funded the installation of the solar panels and the batteries required for a sustainable, self-sufficient power supply! Together with local solar installers from Soleil Ambiental, we transported all the equipment to the Secret Forest and set it up in March and April.
Resident researchers and forest guardians live and work at the two stations in the heart of our protected areas. The researchers carry out long-term biodiversity monitoring and conduct project-based research to collect important environmental data, which we use for environmental education and share with you, our donors. The forest guardians patrol our protected areas daily to protect the flora and fauna from illegal logging and poaching, and are in constant contact with the local communities.
The WI Peru team is growing steadily, and we are absolutely delighted that more and more Peruvians are getting involved in protecting the rainforest! Naturally, we also want to provide the forest guardians and researchers in our protected areas with a decent livelihood – because this automatically improves the quality of our research work. However, our two stations are located in an area far removed from any central power supply, and living conditions for all residents are basic. Nevertheless, we need to keep charging equipment for drone batteries, air quality sensors, camera trap systems, lamps for night-time research missions to analyse biodiversity, research equipment and fridges up and running. Until now, we have sourced the necessary energy exclusively from fossil fuels. Fortunately, that has now changed!
Since April 2024, the solar power network has been saving 3,500 litres of petrol a year for the generators, which we have replaced entirely with solar energy! The solar stations have dramatically improved the quality of life on site, as electricity is now available at all times. The two systems even offer the possibility of storing energy for several days of rain! What sounds like a matter of course to us brings an enormous amount of freedom to our teams in the rainforest. They can now communicate with the outside world and carry out internet research at any time, and thus organise their daily routines in a much more self-determined way!
The installation of the systems has another fantastic and important side effect: the solar panels at the forest guardians’ station were erected as a roof structure with a sturdy base – and thus form the previously missing roof of our new Green Classroom! In future, this is set to serve as a central venue for community and environmental education projects.
