Project/activity information

The aim of this project is to contribute to technological and environmental development in the country through the implementation of a training, extension, dissemination, promotion and implementation program for the use of appropriate intermediate technologies for forest harvesting in forest concession areas under the management of small and medium timber producers and native communities located in the major Amazon regions of the country (Madre de Dios, Ucayali, San Martin, Huanuco, Loreto and Selva Central).

Technological packages comprising portable sawmills and log extraction and sawnwood transport equipment will be developed with a view to achieving better production levels in forest harvesting operations on the basis of reduced environmental impact techniques and increasing harvesting volumes per hectare and tree unit as compared to the traditional systems currently in place. One of these traditional systems, which is widespread among illegal and low-income loggers, is the use of chainsaws in the longitudinal sawing of timber, which generates high waste levels and is only geared to high commercial value species such as cedar and mahogany.

The initial project contribution will be the implementation of 14 harvesting modules to be delivered to small forest industrialists through a revolving fund to be set up for the acquisition of additional modules, which will be delivered to new beneficiaries under the responsibility of FONDEBOSQUE. In addition, 4 pilot modules will be implemented and will serve as the basis for the development of an extensive training and dissemination program on appropriate intermediate technologies for forest harvesting.

The project will also contribute to the strengthening of the forest concession process initiated by the Peruvian Government, taking into account that a large number of small forest industrialists with no basic infrastructure or financial resources have been granted legal tenure over their forest areas.