In 2015, the Peruvian forestry sector comprised 3,556 companies related to silvicultural management and wood harvesting; this represents only 14.5% of the total companies throughout the forestry sector (FAO, 2018). However, there is less information about the Peruvian reforestation sector, which is also a source of wood and provides ecosystem services. Nevertheless, few companies in the reforestation sector are in the same position as the “Reforesta Peru SAC” company is.
Reforest Peru SAC begins its activities in 2008 in the Northern region of Peru intending to be a pioneer enterprise that utilizes innovative mechanisms and high-quality standards to offer services to develop forest plantations and agroforestry systems. More importantly, Enrique Toledo is the leader of this company and the headmaster of the company vision. He is a forestry engineer and CEO of the company.
What is the secret of Reforest Peru and its CEO to be successful in a sector with little incentive to invest? The answer is the network created by the company and Enrique Toledo. The vast experience of Enrique Toledo allows him to identify a new niche of the market that did not exploit it as its maximum. That is why he and his team established the company with the idea to mark a difference between the common reforestation companies. The strategy to differentiate from the rest was to invest in innovation and human resources. Here, the first ally of Reforest Peru is crucial to invest in new talents; the name of the company is BACKUS, a famous company in Peru that sells beer. Both companies had a long-lasting relationship, and years later, they started a project of reforestation to utilize beer’s waste as compost.
The second ally was important to consolidate the company by incorporating high standards of reforestation techniques and improving the genetic material of the seedlings. With this objective, two government agencies collaborate with the company to foster increases initial growth rates. Afterward, the company receives an award for being innovative among other companies of other industry sectors. Then, to have elaborate socially responsible projects, the company establish an alliance with a cocoa cooperative community in the amazon to promote agroforestry systems with cocoa crops.
Finance affairs is another relevant aspect for a company. That is why Enrique Toledo ally with “AGROBANCO”, the national agrarian bank of Peru, to identify future reforestation projects for any private organization that wants to invest in commercial forest plantations or carbon offsets. Finally, Reforesta Peru has a collaborative partnership with the National Forest and Wildlife Service (SERFOR).
Overall, Reforesta Peru demonstrates how to succeed in a difficult sector such as Peruvian forestry by paying careful attention to their social network. The company contacts are also attributed to Enrique Toledo because he is a charismatic leader with an innovative vision about the forest plantations sector with native species. This case study shows the importance to build a strong and diverse network to accomplish your organization or personal goals.
References
Agroenfoque. (2016). Reforesta Perú S.A.C: Un caso de éxito en plantaciones forestales con fines comerciales e industriales (Reforesta Perú S.A.C: A success story in commercial and industrial forest plantations).
ProInnovate Peru. (2018). Innóvate Perú | Entrevista a Enrique Toledo, gerente de Reforesta Perú [Youtube]. Retrieve from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBMyN3UILqs&ab_channel=ProInn%C3%B3vatePer%C3%BA
Reforest Peru. (2019). Desarrollo de las plantaciones forestales con alta tecnología e industria de la madera ejecutados por Reforesta Peru SAC en la Amazonia Peruana. (Development of forest plantations with high technology and wood industry executed by Reforesta Peru SAC in the Peruvian Amazon). [PowerPoint Slides]. Retrieve from https://reforestaperu.com.pe/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/ExpoAmazonica2019.pdf
