Smallholders turn into protectors of the rain forest

Environmental protection and improvement of living conditions in Peru

Do you know the home of Paddington Bear? The land of deep gorges? Where they have a variety of cuisines that also include Guinea pigs? The answer: Peru! Paddington Bear was created after the Peruvian Spectacled Bea, who can be found in the Chanchamayo valley. The Peruvian Spectacled Bear, or Andean Bear, is the only bear that lives in South America. Earlier this year, Peru mostly made the headlines because of the severe flooding, land and mudslides caused by the weather phenomenon ‘El Niño’. Scientists say that such phenomena will become more frequent as a result of climate change. De-forestation further increases the risk of flooding and landslides.

Background

The landscape in the Chanchamayo valley has also been severely affected by the loss of woodlands due to de-forestation. 80 per cent of the rain forest has disappeared in the area and with it many different species of plants and animals.

The decline in rain forest can mostly be attributed to slash-and-burn practices: Farmers clear forest at regular intervals to create fertile farmland in order to feed their families. Slash-and-burn is often the only method for creating agricultural land that the locals know about.

The good deed

Smallholder families will be instructed in environmentally friendly farming methods that do not require the clearing of forests. They are trained in agro-forestry of coffee and other produce, while their fields and cleared forests are re-forested with saplings from endemic tree species. This fosters local biodiversity and mitigates the effects of climate change. The effective and diversified cultivation methods contribute to increasing the family income and giving them a balanced diet.