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Torres Vasquez, of the Buenos Aires community, holding aguaje fruit.
SUPERFOODS THAT CONSERVE FORESTS Achieving conservation and sustainable development with local communities. Loreto is an important region for forest protection and climate mitigation efforts due to its large forest areas, huge carbon stock, as well as extraordinary biological and ethnic diversity. However, it has the second-highest deforestation rate in Peru, which is closely linked to the lack of options for sustainable incomegenerating activities. In collaboration with partner organizations, Nature and Culture launched Superfoods that Conserve Forests, a project to achieve sustainable conservation and empower communities in the region.
Harvesting aguaje in the Peruvian Amazon.
Superfoods that Conserve Forests is supporting local indigenous communities in Loreto to develop a sustainable fruit harvesting business. The business will protect the area’s habitat and rich biodiversity by increasing the value of standing forest and secure sustainable livelihoods for communities.
Since the project launch in October, 16 communities have received training to safely harvest Amazonian aguaje and camu camu fruits for commercialization, as well as training to monitor the forest and develop management plans. After selling harvested fruits to AJE, an international beverage producer, communities manage and distribute their revenues for wider social and ecological benefit. With your help, we are currently supporting the creation of a formal association of communities to better manage the production and commercialization of Amazonian fruits. This project is financed by Partnerships For Forests, administered by Earth Innovation Institute, and executed by Nature and Culture International – Peru, AMPA Peru, AMARUMAYU Community, and Frutama.
PARTNER HIGHLIGHT: MEET MARCELINA Marcelina Angulo grew up in Seis Hermanos, a community located in the heart of the Peruvian Amazon. She began pursuing a career in politics at a time when women had no vote or say in decisions made in their community. In 2020, nearly 16 years later, Marcelina was elected as Seis Hermanos’ first female president! Marcelina also leads a committee that manages Alto Nanay-Pintuyacu-Chambira Conservation Area, a 2.4-million-acre reserve in the Amazon rainforest previously established with your support. According to Marcelina, the participation of women in the management of this area is essential. “[Women] want healthy forests and rivers, we want everything we conserve to benefit our growing children,” says Marcelina. “That is why it is very important that women join conservation efforts in the area.” Nature and Culture has supported Marcelina in the development and implementation of the area’s community-based management plan. Thanks to you, this past year we provided training to community members in patrolling, wildlife monitoring, area management, and sustainable development.
Follow Nature and Culture on Facebook to learn more about our work with local communities: @NatureCulture
