High Andean forests, particularly Polylepis, capture water from glacial run-off as well as mist rising from the cloud forests below. They slowly release the water to build permanent streams and wetlands, as well as carbon-rich soil and ecosystems. They also serve as natural water reservoirs which provide water to local communities and cities.  Areas without forests are increasingly experiencing disastrous cycles of drought and flood.

This impact is linked to migration out of communities and into urban centres, which inevitably puts more pressure on natural resources. High Andean Forest restoration therefore helps to increase water security, provides new incomes, boosts community health, and counteracts cultural loss.

TUI Forest Peru is pledging to grow and plant a total of 1.9 million native trees. This includes building and maintaining 20 community-run nurseries and training nursery technicians, leading to the restoration of approximately 800 hectares. The 20 nurseries officially have one full-time nursery technician each, but they are communally managed in line with the social organisation of these high Andean communities, where many people take turns taking care of the growing saplings. Training on seedling propagation is carried out throughout the year by ECOAN.

TUI Forest Peru also protects 10,000 hectares of existing forest by helping to establish and maintain Private Conservation Areas (PCAs). alongside 21 local communities, including the titling of ancestral land. This will help to preserve more than 22 IUCN-listed species. as well as preventing soil degradation from glacier runoff. Protected Conservation Areas in Peru are recognised by the government and are evaluated and renewed every two years. Communities cannot apply to establish these areas unless they have a legal entitlement to the lands. In Vilcanota, approximately 8,600 hectares are already under protection through PCAs, and over the next three years, several of these will require renewal, and at least one new area will be established.

Administration of protected areas also involves forest fire prevention and management. In Vilcanota, 3 forest-fires operation centres will be maintained, which involves providing equipment, training local community members and delivering general educational workshops on preventing and managing forest fires.

TUI Forest Peru will maintain 40 km of nature trails, providing them with informative signage and building infrastructure on the Vilanota Trek.  This ecotourism experience covers nine government-recognised conservation areas managed by 14 communities, as well as ongoing standing forest protection sites and reforestation activities. This infrastructural investment will positively impact approximately 10,800 community members who use the trails themselves to travel and earn from the income of camping sites.

Used by over 5,000 tourists each yesr, the Vilcanota Trek is the main tourist trek through the Sacred Valley of the Incas after the Inca Trail leading to Macchu Picchu. Also included in this work with the community are signed agreements regarding the management of the Vilcanota Trek and protected areas in general, the provision of clean cookstoves, and environmental education workshops. The cookstoves are produced locally, bought by ECOAN, and delivered to local communities with whom they have signed agreements regarding native forest reforestation and conservation management.

Overall, TUI Forest Peru will actively involve 10,000 people in restoration and conservation activities, including seed and cutting, collection, plant propagation, reforestation campaigns, maintenance and construction of ecotourism facilities, boosting local livelihoods.