The Peruvian Amazon

Peru is home to the second-largest portion of the Amazon Basin, after Brazil, and the region plays a vital role in global biodiversity and planetary health. This documentary photo essay was created along the Tahuayo River, a tributary of the Peruvian Amazon, near the Tamshiyacu–Tahuayo Protected Area. The project examines how Indigenous knowledge systems and traditional environmental stewardship help protect the rainforest, in comparison to Western conservation and development models.

Focusing on the village of Chino, the photo essay explores the evolving relationship between humans and nature. It also highlights the growing influence of Western culture, infrastructure, and globalization, revealing how even remote Amazonian communities are affected—reshaping local traditions, livelihoods, and the surrounding natural environment. Special thanks to Amazonia Expeditions for making this documentary photography project possible.