Project/activity information

The project seeks to revert the current trend of intense forest logging by seven native communities of the Pichis River Valley in the Peruvian Central Forest Region, which has resulted from a process of cross-cultural influence. The project has been developed at the request of the native communities themselves, who, aware of the threat of deterioration of their forests and impoverishment of their people, requested technical assistance for resource management and reforestation. At a special meeting, these communities and EDMAR defined the project concept and objectives, including a democratic participatory implementation strategy. The implementation of land classfication studies according to land use capacity is envisaged during the first year of project implementation. The results of these studies will be compared with current land uses and community expectations so as to develop a land management plan designating agricultural areas, pasture lands, forest production areas and environmental protection areas. This instrument, together with forest inventory surveys, will lead to the establishment of demonstration areas for technical forest management systems based on the resources available and the current resource status. A reforestation program with timber and medicinal species will concurrently be initiated using successful techniques developed by EDMAR and INRENA in the project area.

On the basis of this planning exercise, it is proposed that during the second and third year of project implementation, modern productive systems should be integrated with traditional indigenous practices through demonstration activities, training and technical assistance on sustainable resource use, further processing of timber and medicinal forest products, as well as product marketing by small-scale forest companies established through a participatory process to be developed during project implementation.