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The "flying rivers" protecting the water cycle

The Wampís guard the phenomenon that supplies water to three Andean countries

By United Nations Development Programme

August 31^st, 2022

An Indigenous community with a vision for the future, the Wampís, a collective of 85 Peruvian native communities has a history that spans more than 7,000 years. The Wampís Nation protects the largest tropical forest in the world, and today, after decades of intense fighting to defend the land, they are leading a powerful effort to confront the water crisis by protecting the “flying rivers”.

The Wampís Nation is in the northeastern part of the Peruvian Amazon, near the border with Ecuador. Their territory is divided by the Kampankis Mountains, with the Santiago River to the west (also called the Kanus) and the Morona River (also called the Kankaim) to the east. Despite this natural division, the Wampís have maintained their ties for thousands of years, and have become one of the most active Indigenous communities in the fight against climate change.

The "flying rivers" protecting the water cycle

The "flying rivers" protecting the water cycle

The "flying rivers" protecting the water cycle

FLYING RIVERS: FROM MYTH TO REALITY

The Wampís Nation’s forests cover more than 1.3 million hectares within Peru, but through the flying rivers, they supply water for three countries. This phenomenon, studied by Brazilian scientist Antonio Nobre, occurs when clouds over the Amazon are blown to other parts of the continent, maintaining a water cycle that is vital for agriculture.

The flying rivers of the Wampís Nation’s forests can cause rains more than 3000 kilometers away, vital for Peru's agriculture and that of its surrounding countries. Photo: UNDP Peru-PPD/Nuria Angeles

Flying rivers are caused by the sheer scale of evaporation and transpiration in the forests. According to Nobre, a leafy tree transpires 1,000 litres of water each day on average. Estimates by biologist Jorge Gálvez Roeder indicate that the Wampís Nation’s forests may see evapotranspiration of 34.5 billion litres of water per day, which generates rainfall in Peru, Ecuador, and Colombia.

The "flying rivers" protecting the water cycle

The "flying rivers" protecting the water cycle

The "flying rivers" protecting the water cycle

“Flying rivers aren’t a myth; they’re real. You could also technically call it evapotranspiration or the water cycle,” says Elio Nawech, an agricultural engineer and member of the Wampís community.

The forests preserved by the Wampís Nation ensure water security for regions at risk of drought. Protecting the flying rivers safeguards water for consumption, for agriculture, and for maintaining life in areas that would otherwise experience desertification.

Peru's flying rivers provide much needed rainfall to drought-prone regions. Protecting the Wampís Nation’s forests is vital as the effects of climate change become more pronounced. Photo: UNDP Peru-PPD/Nuria Angeles

These forests help mitigate climate change by storing 522 million tons of carbon. But they also capture 57 million tons of carbon per year and contribute to the national goal of reducing emissions by 2030, according to studies in the Autonomous Territorial Government of the Wampís Nation’s Climate Strategy and Ambition report.

The Wampís Nation’s forests are an important carbon sink. However there are genuine concerns that deforestation can transform carbon sinks into carbon sources. Photo: UNDP Peru-PPD/Nuria Angeles

A DAUNTING REALITY

“We have been fighting so that our land remains uncontaminated, so that our forest continues to exist for the coming generations,” says Teófilo Kukush, the pamuk—or most senior representative—of the Wampís Nation.

Conserving the forests is not easy. Every day, Teófilo confronts illegal loggers cutting cedar, mahogany, tornillo, and other trees. This degrades the forests and causes it to lose its ecological and economic value. It facilitates deforestation because the felling brings the arrival and expansion of roads, farms, and other spaces.

The "flying rivers" protecting the water cycle

The "flying rivers" protecting the water cycle

Rivers aren’t safe either. Illegal mining uses mercury, cyanide, and other chemicals, which damages health, exterminates forests, and contaminates riverside ecosystems. The expansion of agricultural areas for monoculture or subsistence agriculture also causes forest loss and degradation. According to the National Strategy for Forests and Climate Change, the direct causes of deforestation are mainly linked to the expansion of agriculture and ranching, followed by illegal mining, oil spills, and other causes.

The "flying rivers" protecting the water cycle

The "flying rivers" protecting the water cycle

The "flying rivers" protecting the water cycle

These problems have led the Wampís Nation to declare a state of emergency while they await the assistance of the Office of the Ombudsman, the Public Ministry, and other appropriate organizations to restore harmony and peaceful coexistence.

Forests in Indigenous territories have been shown to be better preserved than other forests. That is why they encourage innovative solutions to safeguard environmental services.

The Amazon basin has already lost about 17% of its forest area and in the last 20 years, Peru has lost 2.6 million hectares of its forests. Photo: UNDP Peru-PPD/Nuria Angeles

TARIMAJ PUJUT, A LEGACY FOR THE WORLD

The Wampís Nation seeks Tarimaj Pujut—a dignified life in harmony with nature. Although they are an ancient community, their worldview spans the collective imagery of their 15,000-plus members. In Wampís songs and legends, it is common to find mentions of mythical beings such as Nunka, Entsa, and Nunkiu, who represent the land, water, and underground. Nayaim, in the sky, is home to the sun (Etsa), the moon (Nantu), the stars (Yaa) and other interconnected beings with spiritual power.

Their vision of living well is a legacy for the world.

“Our dream is to preserve our forests and rivers in perpetuity for all generations,” says Teófilo.

The Wampís forest is not simply a source of livelihood for its inhabitants, but also a source of spirituality. Teófilo Kukush's calling is simple: protect it at all costs for the upcoming generations. Photo: UNDP Peru-PPD/Nuria Angeles

Their fight transcends borders because it helps preserve global environmental services using local lands. This concept, also known as ICCA, recognizes, strengthens, and protects the world’s Indigenous communities and native peoples who conserve vital territory for the planet.

In September 2021, after a participatory and self-empowering process, the Wampís Nation joined the ICCA Registry and the UN Environment Programme’s World Database on Protected Areas.

The initiative, which has a presence in 26 countries, helps protect Indigenous lands. It is implemented by the United Nations Development Programme through the GEF Small Grants Programme (SGP), with support from Peru’s Ministry for the Environment and financing from Germany’s Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection.

The ICCA registry of which the Wampís Nation is now part, showcases the crucial role that indigenous peoples and communities play in conservation. Photo: UNDP Peru-PPD/Nuria Angeles

INVESTING IN CONSERVATION IS INVESTING IN THE FUTURE

If we take into account that almost 60 percent of the land in Peru is in the Amazon and is home to at least 51 registered Indigenous communities, the benefits of the flying rivers multiply exponentially.

Therefore, it is crucial that this innovative initiative proposed by the Wampís Nation has access to financing so that it can continue protecting the rivers and forests, strengthening Indigenous economies based on nature, and promoting local efforts for the sake of global ones.

“We believe that carbon bonds or environmental funds can be transferred to autonomous governments so that we can create sustainable projects and benefit directly,” says Teófilo.

The "flying rivers" protecting the water cycle

The "flying rivers" protecting the water cycle

The "flying rivers" protecting the water cycle

The sun takes a long time to set in the land of the flying rivers. Children play soccer in the evenings while the local programming plays on the radio. Simultaneously, silently, the forests continue to safeguard water for this part of the world.

Footnotes

UNDP and the SGP support the Wampís Nation and its work to preserve the flying rivers and ecosystem services.

FootNotes

UNDP and the SGP support the Wampís Nation and its work to preserve the flying rivers and ecosystem services.

© 2026 United Nations Development Programme

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