Community-Driven Conservation of Peru's Dry Forest

Dear GlobalGiving Donors,

We’re delighted to share the latest news and progress from our conservation, ecotourism, and water and sanitation initiatives across Lobitos, Negritos, and Piedritas in the Piura province of northern Peru. Your continued support remains essential to our mission of protecting these unique and fragile ecosystems while sustaining the livelihoods of local communities.

GEMS visit

In March, we were thrilled to be able to welcome back students from the University of Newcastle’s Global Engineering Module, extending this fruitful partnership for another year. Last year, students built a new bridge along the Piedritas ecotourism trails, while this year, they’ll be tackling the chronic sanitation problems associated with wastewater spills in Lobitos by installing a biodigester septic tank system.

During their time with us, the GEMs students worked day-in and day-out to settle and verify the final design and calculations for this implementation, prepped and cleared the work site and proceeded to do the installation of all the system’s components with our guidance and leadership. With this project, Lobitos has received a whole biodigester septic tank system to address one of its main wastewater spills (serving a whole neighbourhood of approx. 47 families) completely free as a donation to the community – an eco-friendly way of treating raw domestic wastewater and avoiding reducing spills that threaten people and the environment. The installation of the biodigester involved not only the labour of the GEMs Newcastle Engineering students, but also precise management and coordination with the Local Municipal Government of Lobitos (for all necessary work permits) and with the Lobitos Fishermen’s Guild (who contributed their backhoe loader to dig the necessary pits and to carry and precisely place the 150kg septic tank). A successful multi-stakeholder joint-effort!

Outside of work, we were delighted to see the students explore our beautiful hometown, surfing, swimming and playing football! On their final day, they presented their learning and reflections from the project, before sitting down to a farewell dinner. However, their work lives on long after their departure, as we continued to distribute leaflets they designed within the community to ensure that all beneficiaries were aware of the best practices regarding their new biodigester system, as well as conducting a community workshop. We can’t wait to welcome them back again next year to continue with more meaningful impact!

Tree Planting

Our weekly planting days are still going strong in Lobitos, with staff and volunteer interns all getting involved every Wednesday to promote neighbourhood greening, provide shade, and spread awareness about the local ecosystem and native plant species. Most recently, we involved local schoolchildren, ensuring that the environmental and social value that trees provide carries through to the next generation.

A Heartfelt Thank You

Your generosity continues to inspire and empower our efforts. With your support, we are promoting ecological awareness, advancing water and sanitation initiatives and contributing to better public health in Northern Peru.

We are truly grateful for your ongoing dedication to our shared mission.

Warm regards,

Diego Almendrades

Dear GlobalGiving Donors,

We’re delighted to share the latest news and progress from our conservation and ecotourism initiatives across Lobitos, Negritos, and Piedritas in the Piura province of northern Peru. Your continued support remains essential to our mission of protecting these unique and fragile ecosystems while sustaining the livelihoods of local communities.

Preparing for the GEMs visit

As part of our ongoing partnership with the University of Newcastle, a cohort of students on the Global Engineering Module will visit us here in Lobitos to work on our sustainable development projects. Last year saw students build a new bridge on our ecotourism trails in Piedritas, but this year, they’ll be working on a new biodigester project. In preparation for the upcoming visit, our water and sanitation team has been conducting surveys of wastewater spill sites around Lobitos, which will help us design the project more effectively.

New compost regimens

As part of our ongoing realignment of our work in reforestation and ecosystem restoration, we have been orienting our activities toward further upkeep and maintenance of greening projects in our hometown of Lobitos. In order for this to continue to be successful, it is vital that the trees we grow in our nursery receive the best conditions to grow successfully. Our most recent reforestation volunteer interns have been testing different compost treatments to trees to try and gather information for fine-tuning their growing process and be as efficient as possible in achieving our goals. It was also vital to plant as much in January and February with the coming rainy season which is usually rare for our arid context.

A brand new dry toilet

At EcoSwell, absolutely nothing goes to waste, a philosophy that we carry through all of our work. One of the ways we embody this is by reusing the compost generated by our dry toilet, effectively recycling nutrients from food back to the soil, to use in our planting and greening efforts. Last month, we harvested almost 6 wheelbarrows’ worth after the composting cycle of 6 months was again completed, allowing for high-grade and safe compost to continue feeding the nutrient cycle. As usual every 6 months, we also swapped the vault and seat for our dry toilet to ensure it remains in good condition and composting starts with the next batch.

A visit to the ecotourism trails

In January, our reforestation and ecotourism team paid a visit to our ecotourism trials in negritos in Piedritas, where they spotted over 50 flamingoes at the Punta Malacas wetlands, alongside other endemic and migratory aquatic birds, a testament to the biological and ecological importance of this community conservation area. Furthermore, the team also carried out essential maintenance on the trails, including cutting back overgrowth on the Forest Trail, including the 3 famous “forest-bathing tunnels” there, so that visitors may walk through it more comfortably. We are happy to continue to take care of this important habitat together with the local community and showcase its special and unique biodiversity of birds, plants and other wildlife for everyone to enjoy.

Our most ambitious planting days

These past few months have seen our local greening efforts in Lobitos continue in full swing, with some of our most ambitious planting days yet, attended by all our volunteer interns as well as some longtime supporters of EcoSwell. In January, we planted as many as 15 native seedlings in one day, continuing to restore the native habitat and ecosystem around the EcoSwell House while also growing a natural barrier to improve our resilience towards erosion and heavy rains.

Urban greening workshops

Last but not least, we also recently hosted an intimate reforestation workshop with local women in the community, as well as officials from the regional governmental office of agricultural affairs. At this workshop we distributed ecological information sheets as well as native seeds, seedlings, and compost, to allow urban greening efforts to flourish further in our community in the battle against desertification.

A Heartfelt Thank You

Your generosity continues to inspire and empower our efforts. With your support, we are promoting environmental stewardship, advancing clean water and sanitation initiatives, strengthening local livelihoods, and safeguarding the remarkable biodiversity of Northern Peru for future generations.

We are truly grateful for your ongoing dedication to our shared mission.

Warm regards,

Diego Almendrades