£2 a day basic income helps protect Peruvian Amazon rainforest

UKPulse Health Desk

A two-year pilot project in Peru's Asháninka region found that almost 90% of participants adopted environmentally beneficial practices after receiving unconditional basic income.

• Almost 90% of participants adopted environmentally beneficial practices, such as collective reforestation and restoration of critical water sources.
• Households unable to afford nutritious food fell from 73% to 26%, reducing the incentive for forest burning and logging.
• The project also saw a reduction in migration, with fewer people forced to leave their homes to find work.

Why this matters: The findings suggest that unconditional basic income can be an effective tool in protecting globally important ecosystems and supporting Indigenous stewardship.

What this means for you: If similar projects are implemented, it could lead to a reduction in deforestation and forest burning in other regions.