Grantee Spotlight: Dr. Rosa Vásquez Espinoza
On the Edge Fund, Conservation grantee spotlight
05/05/2025
Ever been up to your ears in bees? Dr. Rosa Vásquez Espinoza has, and for good reason.
As a Peruvian chemical biologist, former National Geographic Explorer, and founder of Amazon Research Internacional, Rosa collaborates with indigenous communities to illuminate and protect Amazonian ecosystems, as well as fighting for their rights. Her latest project is with the Ashaninka tribe, high up where the Amazon meets the Andes mountains – any guesses on which species she’s protecting?
Rosa’s story and work
The Avireri-Vraem Biosphere Reserve in Peru spans a remarkable altitude range from 280 to 6,271 metres, encompassing 12 distinct ecosystems across the Amazonian rainforest, Yungas, and Andean Region. It’s a biodiversity super spot, home to 257 endemic animals and 307 endangered plant species.
8,000 indigenous members belonging to 22 communities of the cultures Ashaninka, Machinguenga and Kakinte, represented by the Communal Reserve EcoAshaninka, also call this area home. The area is named after ‘Avireri’, a mythical Ashaninka hero celebrated for shaping the world and protecting it from invaders, symbolising a rich cultural heritage intertwined with natural conservation.
On the Edge will support Rosa and her team over the next couple of years to effectively restore and protect the biodiversity of the high-altitude rainforests within the UNESCO-recognised Natural Biosphere Reserve of Avireri-Vraem in the Peruvian Amazon. The project will focus on conserving its unique flora and fauna, including notable EDGE species, and enhancing the livelihoods and conservation capabilities of the local indigenous communities.
Name:
Dr. Rosa Vásquez Espinoza
Country of origin:
Peru
Species of choice:
Stingless Bees
Giant Armadillo (VU)
South American Tapir (VU)
Where to from here?
Catch our Animal Sensemaker episode featuring Stingless bees
In the Amazon and tropical places around the world, armies of stingless bees spend their days collecting nectar from plants and flowers across the forest. Listen here.
Back to On the Edge fund
Discover more about how you can get involved with protecting nature’s underdogs, here.
