Piura - Peru
Forest restoration and creation
Starting in 2019, this is the second natural ecosystem regeneration project financed by Reforest'Action in Peru.
2019 - 2020
Financé
At an altitude of over 2,000 meters, the misty landscape of the Piura highlands is deceptive. This is indeed an arid ecosystem, made up of sparse dry forests threatened by desertification. The harsh climate is compounded by deforestation, a consequence of growing agricultural needs. According to the Servicio Nacional Forestal y de Fauna Silvestre, over 600,000 hectares of forest have been illegally cleared in the Piura region over the past twenty years. The province of Huancabamba, where the project financed by Reforest'Action is located, suffers the highest rate of deforestation. The near absence of vegetation exposes arable soils to water and wind erosion. Fires, which feed on the scanty brushwood, also represent a growing threat, while long periods without rainfall are dangerously drying up water resources.
The project is divided into two complementary activities, i.e. the development of agroforestry systems and the regeneration of dry forests. The agroforestry dimension of the project aims to integrate trees within the coffee plantations of local farmers, as well as on communal land. Alder and cinchonas, two species native to the region, are planted in order to regenerate soil and biodiversity. The benefits of trees planted in agroforestry are numerous: they protect the food crops of local farmers, fix nitrogen from the atmosphere and incorporate it into the soil, and are also a source of sustainably managed timber and firewood, preventing local populations from logging in the remaining forests. At high altitude, the reforestation part of the project aims to restore the deforested dry forest, plagued by desertification. Climate and soil quality are decisive factors in the choice of species to be planted, including pine and cypress. On site, over 1,300 families participate in the planting and maintenance of the trees, while training in sustainable agriculture is often provided.
Reforest’Action is associated with the Peruvian NGO Progreso, founded in 1993. The NGO has more than 25 years of experience in the development of agroforestry systems, the improvement of food security for the populations of the Piura region and the fight against climate change. The Progreso team works hand in hand with local district governments and farming communities. Progreso will ensure the monitoring of the planted trees and raise awareness among villagers about sustainable agriculture and the importance of preserving forests.
