Basic Income Protects Amazon Rainforest

A groundbreaking unconditional basic income project in the Peruvian Amazon has shown promising results in protecting the rainforest. The two-year pilot, involving 211 participants across three communities, provided regular cash transfers. Researchers observed that nearly 90% of participants engaged in environmentally beneficial practices, including reforestation and decreased forest burning.

Furthermore, the initiative led to a substantial reduction in food insecurity, with affected households dropping from 73% to 26%. Reduced migration was another key outcome, with fewer individuals compelled to leave their homes for work. This stability allowed more community members to remain and actively contribute to forest conservation efforts.