Monitoring Pollution in the Huallaga River (Peru)
In 2025, Saving Rivers and Lakes and Asociación Ecológica León de Huánuco began systematic monitoring of the Huallaga River, a major tributary of the Amazon. Fieldwork along six sites—from its high-Andean source to the city of Huánuco—revealed clear patterns of pollution from mining, agriculture, and urban waste. The results confirmed that while the river shows some recovery downstream, contamination remains persistent. This project marks our transition toward data-driven environmental advocacy, using scientific evidence to support local communities and influence public policies for river protection.
Protecting Environmental Defenders (Amazon Region)
This joint project between Saving Rivers and Lakes, DIB, Diálogos, and Aktion Amazonas responds to growing deforestation and violence against environmental defenders in the Bolivian and Peruvian Amazon. The initiative develops a Safety Awareness and Risk Reduction Strategy to protect local and Danish staff working in vulnerable areas and conducts a comprehensive study on violence and environmental crime in the Amazon. By combining research, training, and advocacy, the project strengthens the protection of human-rights defenders and supports evidence-based action to safeguard both people and nature.
River and Ecosystem Awareness (Huánuco, Peru)
In 2023, our team in Huánuco worked closely with schools and communities to raise awareness about river conservation and ecosystem recovery. Together with local teachers and parents, we created school gardens using recycled materials and compost, turning learning into action. Workshops and storytelling materials connected environmental education with local culture, inspiring children and families to protect rivers like the Higueras and Huallaga. The project achieved strong community engagement and behavior change, as families adopted sustainable practices and local authorities began integrating environmental education into the school curriculum.
The Voices of the Global South (Denmark)
“The Voices of the Global South” is a series of six events in Aarhus and Copenhagen featuring speakers from Latin America and Africa who share first-hand experiences tackling development and environmental challenges. Through their stories, the project invites Danish students and NGOs to engage more deeply with global issues and co-create solutions. By showcasing successful case studies—from reforestation in Mexico to renewable-energy projects in Rwanda—the program promotes a shift from awareness to action and builds stronger connections between the Global South and North.
Aware Project (Abuja, Nigeria)
Launched in 2024, the Aware Project, in partnership with the Pan African Care (PAC) Foundation, addresses plastic pollution in Nigeria through education, advocacy, and community action. By working with two schools and organizing clean-ups at key sites such as Jabi Lake, the project promotes sustainable waste management and ecosystem protection. Students, teachers, and volunteers receive training on recycling and environmental stewardship, while meetings with local authorities support the integration of these practices into local policies. The initiative is building a network of community-based volunteers committed to keeping waterways clean and healthy.
Baltic Cup: Clean Games (Aarhus, Denmark)
In 2021, Saving Rivers and Lakes, in collaboration with the Clean Games Baltic Cup, organized the International Clean-Up Day in Aarhus, a large community-driven event focused on cleaning Brabrand Lake and the University Park. Students from Aarhus University and local volunteers took part in a day of environmental action. Through trash collection, sorting games, and awareness activities, participants removed waste while learning about global river pollution and sustainable practices. The initiative fostered environmental responsibility and demonstrated how collective action can protect local ecosystems while connecting local engagement to global environmental challenges.
Esperanza Project: COVID-19 Oxygen Plant (Huánuco, Peru)
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Saving Rivers and Lakes coordinated an emergency project in Huánuco to respond to the acute lack of medical oxygen in local hospitals. With international and local partners, we established an oxygen generation plant capable of producing 96,000 m³ of oxygen, filling more than 9,600 cylinders and directly helping over 25,000 patients. The initiative improved healthcare capacity during the most critical months of the pandemic. The plant was later donated to the regional hospital to ensure long-term benefit.
Diagnosis Study Of The Higueras River (Huánuco, Peru)
Since 2019, in Huánuco, Saving Rivers and Lakes has been dedicated to the goal of restoring the Higueras River, which has faced significant pollution and degradation. Our studies have revealed significant pollution from garbage and faecal matter, impacting water quality and public health. The studies have identified critical sectors, after evaluating hydrological and hydraulic infrastructure conditions. The results of monitoring water quality, shows high levels of nitrogen, phosphorus, and heavy metals, more vulnerable to the effects of pollution, drought, and disease. Therefore, our ongoing efforts include implementing proposals of waste treatment, reforestation, and community education to promote sustainable practices and improve river health.