Help communities to conserve Peru's Dry Forests

This report covers the period June-August 2019 (inclusive). The project is currently preparing for reforestation activities planned for November 2019. Native tree seedlings planted in the local municipal nurser total 330 and are growing well and as planned, measuring 15-20cm high at the end of August. Trees planted earlier in the year as part of the project's initial restoration activities are growing well and being monitored on a monthly basis.

The local conservation groups of Tecapa and Muchick-Santonte have undertaken several dry forest patrols to identify illegal logging and fuelwood collection activities in the conservation areas. The patrols were successful in halting several community members collecting wood without permission and in educating them about the protection of the dry forest. This is an important activity in supporting local communities to manage dry forest conservation areas long term.

A number of capacity building activities have taken place. Three environmental education sessions have been delivered to local community members on the topics of ecotourism, local flora and fauna and Dry Forest project progress, with the participation of 39 community members. Children at 6 primary and secondary schools in the area participated in 12 coordinated ecoclub activities at their schools, led by A Rocha Peru, witha  total of 246 participants in these activities, which focused on waste reuse, recycling and repurposing, composting and management of the school's vegetable garden. Finally three workshops were delivered to 10 local community members on traditional basket making techniques using recovered dry forest resources, with a view to expanding local income generating potential through such activities.

There has been no planned activity around the installation of cookstoves in this quarter. This activity is scheduled to commence in the next quarter with installation complete early in 2020.