Dear Friends of the Forest!
A Rocha Peru and local communities continue to protect and conserve the dry forests in Pacasmayo, La Libertad. In November, the project conducted its second planting campaign of the year. These campaigns restore degraded dry forest landscapes with Algarrobo and other native trees. The campaign planted forty carob trees (Prosopis spp) across 0.4 hectares of land in Pueblo Nuevo with the collaboration of a landowner and the Craftswomen group of Cañoncillo Forest.
During the period, the project continued to study fuelwood consumption and carbon dioxide (Co2) emissions in ten households in San Demetrio and Pueblo Nuevo. The results have indicated that compared to the rustic cookstoves, the improved cookstoves reduced carbon dioxide emissions in San Demetrio and Pueblo Nuevo households by 28.2% and 16.3%, respectively.
Furthermore, the project carried out workshops for craftswomen to improve their handicrafts using sustainable dry forest resources. The participants of these workshops were the craftswomen of the Cañoncillo Forest, a group made up of 9 women from the communities of Tecapa, Santote, Cañoncillo, Santa Maria, and Pueblo Nuevo. Betty Zapata, a native cotton craftswoman from the town of Batan Grande, gave a talk on how to organize a group of craftswomen and ways to promote their handicrafts. In a second workshop in Monsefú, the group learned how to use a new material of laurel branches for their handicrafts. The group also learned techniques to improve their handicrafts with rush grass.
The project conducted photographic exhibitions in November and December, with over 1,100 students participating from Tecapa Secondary School, San Vicente De Paul de Trujillo School, and San Demetrio School. The exhibition showcased project photos of conservation, research, and environmental education activities to spread awareness of the project and its achievements during the year.
Another important achievement has been the installation of apiaries in Tronco Prieto Forest where the bees forage on the flowering algarrobo trees. Bees play a crucial role in the conservation of biodiversity by pollinating wildflowers in the area, and beekeeping helps to increase the farmers’ income, and reduce their dependence on unsustainable forest products. In October, A Rocha Peru, with a dedicated beekeeper, explored the Tronco Prieto forest and met with Muchick Conservation Group to investigate the possibility of installing apiaries. In addition, the project held two beekeeping workshops for the local community in which 10 people participated. The installed apiaries will be managed by the people trained in the workshops. The apiaries have already been a success producing 12 liters of organic honey in January.
We would like to thank you all for your contributions, and we look forward to your continued support as the year progresses.
A Rocha Peru
Dear nature-loving friends!
A Rocha Peru and local communities continue to protect and conserve the dry forests in Pacasmayo, La Libertad. In May this year, the project team, coupled with the Agricultural Cooperative of Tecapa (CAU) and the Cañoncillo Forest Craftswomen Association, conducted a harvesting campaign of Gallinazo lake. The lake is a tourist attraction within the El Canoncillo forest, home to hundreds of ancient Algarrobo. However, creeping weeds and bushes have been obscuring the view of the lake. Harvesting controls the aquatic weeds, such as cattail (mace reeds), that flourish in the area.
In addition, in July, the project conducted its first reforestation campaign of the year. Reforestation campaigns increase forest cover and repopulate the dry forest landscapes with Algarrobo and other native trees. The campaign reforested 3.41 hectares of land with the collaboration of Mr. Luis Castañeda and his friends. Two hundred and sixty carob trees (Prosopis spp) and forty Epino trees (Acacia Macracantha) were planted in San Pedro de Lloc, close to El Muerto lake.
In July, the project also held a workshop for rice producers in Santander to increase rice crop production and quality. The project also donated sixty agroforestry tree species to smallholder farmers of the local community, including apple, orange, mango, Japanese plum, and guaba. By using agroforestry practices and combining fruit trees with existing crops, the farmers can enhance crop production and generate income from the sale of the fruit. It can also improve land health by restoring degraded agricultural land, reducing soil erosion, and providing much-needed shade for workers and livestock.
Other achievements include the installation of ecological cookstoves and guinea pigs donations to community members. In July, we delivered the kits for the ecological stoves, and in August, the project installed ten cookstoves in households from San Demetrio and Pueblo Nuevo. The project hired a local mason to install the cookstoves. The project also gave guinea pigs to promote micro-livestock breeding. This new initiative hopes to address food security in rural areas. Guinea pigs are not only a source of animal protein but also their manure can fertilize agriculture fields and kitchen gardens. In traditional Peruvian households, the rearing environment for small animals is usually the kitchen, where the heat source protects guinea pigs from sudden temperature changes.
Stay tuned for more developments in the coming months!
Thank you for partnering with us! Without you, none of it is possible.
Forever grateful,
A Rocha Peru
Dear wonderful donors!
A Rocha Peru and local communities are working hard to protect and conserve the dry forests in Pacasmayo. In March and April this year, the production of native species that will be used in our reforestation activities for the year commenced. The team searched for native seeds of dry forest species such as Algarrobo (Prosopis sp.) and Hawthorn (Acacia macracantha). We coordinated with the locals to enter their stockyards and extract the seeds from cattle manure. The manure was sifted and cleaned to extract the seeds. About 1 kg of Algarrobo seeds and 1.5 kg of Hawthorn seeds were obtained. The seeds and bags were delivered to the local nursery in San Pedro de Lloc and 400 seedlings were planted and bagged.
In addition, three regeneration campaigns were conducted from February to April in the intervention zone in the Cañoncillo Private Conservation Area and El Hornito Forest assisting 24 Algarrobo trees. Assisted natural regeneration techniques are used in the dry forests to help trees and native vegetation naturally recover by eliminating barriers and threats to their growth such as the deterioration by grazing.
Our conservation groups have already conducted 7 dry forest patrols this year with the support of the project team and local police authorities.The Muchick Local Conservation Group and the Cooperativa Agraria de Usuarios Tecapa (CAU Tecapa) are two active groups of local community members that protect and conserve the Tronco Prieto dry forest and El Cañoncillo forest, respectively. During these patrols, it is possible to observe and halt the illegal harvesting of dry forest trees, by confiscating items such as axes and collected fuelwood and informing loggers of dry forest values and the consequences of their actions.
Another important achievement was the expansion of environmental education collaboration with two churches, the Christian Church, Casa de Oración (House of Prayer) in Pacasmayo led by Pastor José Guzmán, and the Calvary Chapel Christian Church led by Pastor Renzo Plasencia. In January and February 2022, eleven environmental education talks were carried out with the members of the San Demetrio Church. Also, work activities continued including the conditioning of the garden in the soup kitchen, planting vegetables such as turnip, celery, and corn, the installation of an irrigation tank (1100 liters), and the construction of sheds for breeding small animals such as guinea pigs and chickens. In April, the soup kitchen started raising guinea pigs and currently has 1 male and 2 females. In addition, a meeting was held in March with Pastor Renzo to discuss the creation of a new eco-club and the installation of an organic garden for their community.
Of course, we continue to carry out workshops about the importance of the dry forest at the Tecapa High School. We have realised new activities for their organic garden including the installation of fencing for the garden, the design of a shed for small animals breeding, and the removal of soil for the garden.
We would like to thank you all for your contributions, and we look forward for your continued support as the year progresses.
A Rocha Peru
Dear Friends,
A Rocha Peru's Dry Forest Project has made significant strides in performing project activities over the last few months. The project conducted Eco-school training workshops during the period within Tecapa Secondary School. Workshops explored several topics such as medicinal plants, composting, land preparation and irrigation for planting vegetables, restoration of the dry forest ecosystem, pest control, and many more. Mi Mundo y Yo (My World and I) Eco-School also installed a garden where students planted vegetables like radish, beet, spinach, and carrots. The harvest was distributed among the members of the eco-school.
In addition, the project team conducted a tour of the Venturosa Forest located in San Pedro de Lloc to determine the number of hectares present, to make an inventory of flora and fauna, and to observe the state of the forest. The forest registered a richness of 6 species with Prosopis ssp "Algarrobo" dominating. Biologist Homan Castillo Benitez helped monitor and identify birds in the Venturosa Forest.
Another important achievement has been the installation of 30 ecological cookstoves in households located in Jatanca and Santa Maria. The cookstoves were locally manufactured and constructed. They reduce household firewood consumption. In the most recent evaluation, locals recognized benefits to their health as using ecological stoves (with a chimney) avoids pollution inside the homes.
The project put on its first photographic event in November and December 2021. The photography exhibition was on display at the Casa Museo Raimondi in San Pedro de Lloc, the Tecapa Primary School, and the Ex-Railway of Pacasmayo. The exhibition showcased project photos of conservation, research, and environmental education activities to spread awareness of the project and its achievements since 2018.
Thank you for being a part of our team of supporters to make our project a reality. We are grateful for everything you have helped us create.
Stay safe and well.
A Rocha Peru
Dear Friends,
A Rocha Peru and local communities continue to protect and conserve the dry forests in Pacasmayo, La Libertad. During the period, the project team reached an agreement to protect and conserve a new forest area within a locality called El Hornito. The project team toured the forest area and an inventory of flora was conducted. El Hornito comprises 24.6 hectares of land across three different zones. The conservation of the forest is affected by local logging and carob charcoal production. In the Hornito forest, the flora inventory identified a richness of 6 species including 4 botanical families, with the "Algarrobo" dominating. Also, the project team gave a talk to the local community about solid waste management, its classification, and its importance.
Another important achievement was the establishment of an Eco-school with the Tecapa secondary school. The Eco-school aims to carry out environmental talks and gardening with students. Veterinarian Alejandro Pereda, Coordinator of the NGO Dryforest Conservation Programme (DRYCOP), gave a talk about the interaction between domestic animals and the fauna found in the Private Conservation Area "El Cañoncillo", as well as the disappearance of the dry forest and how it affects the communities and their agriculture.
Furthermore, the project was visited by Zoila Cruz, an independent consultant who was tasked to perform an evaluation of the project. It identified the current status of the project and provided a basis for its development in the coming years. Interviews were conducted with the ARPE project team and project beneficiaries across 6 localities. The evaluation was positive and showed that the results have been achieved to a large extent and to the satisfaction of the beneficiary villagers and small farmers. Of course, the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the project but we were able to adapt and deal with this unforeseen event.
Currently, we are planning the extension of La Libertad Dry Forest Project in Pacasmayo for another cycle to ensure the continuity of activities and sustainability in restoring, and conserving dry forest landscapes.
Thank you for your incredible support.
Stay safe and well.
A Rocha Peru
Project Reports on GlobalGiving are posted directly to globalgiving.org by Project Leaders as they are completed, generally every 3-4 months. To protect the integrity of these documents, GlobalGiving does not alter them; therefore you may find some language or formatting issues.
If you donate to this project or have donated to this project, you will get an e-mail when this project posts a report. You can also subscribe for reports via e-mail without donating.
We'll only email you new reports and updates about this project.
Support this important cause by creating a personalized fundraising page.
Start a Fundraiser
Make a monthly donation & get 
