REDD – Ucayali & Huánuco, Peru

The project protects 127,000 ha of primary sub-tropical moist forests in 7 Native Communities (Callería, Curiaca, Flor de Ucayali, Pueblo Nuevo del Caco, Puerto Nuevo, Roya and Sinchi Roca)

It does this through the promotion of sustainable economic activities, forest governance and the establishment of conservation agreements

The project’s goal is to conserve the communities’ forests against deforestation pressures created by migratory agriculture, illegal logging and livestock while creating sustainable development opportunities for the communities

Illegal loggers usually arrive first with logging either permitted or forced, with acts of violence common

Migratory agriculture settlers from the Amazonian lowlands or the Andes use slash and burn techniques to clear forest

Livestock are typically grazed on cleared land

Without the project, illegal logging would continue as well as forest invasions by coca growers, miners and farmers

The project is taking 4 approaches:

• proper use of communal land
• capacity building for natural resource management
• project finance and market linkages
• strategic alliances between communities and government

The project promotes economic and food security activities and is strengthening land ownership and governance

Activities include promoting community forest management for timber and non-timber products, developing agroforestry and silvo-pastoral systems, good livestock practices and improved traditional agriculture

It is improving the use of communal land through training, awareness raising, delineation of communal borders, inter- and intra-communal conflict resolution and improved control and surveillance of communal land

Increasing capabilities for the administration of natural resources allows for better management and employment opportunities

Small handicraft enterprises have been supported, which are worked by women from 5 native communities, with the purpose of improving the embroidery techniques for fashion garments

It is looking to develop eco-tourism activities in communities in order to provide a secondary income stream

The project area contains 166 species of flora and 257 species of fauna, with 55 amphibian, 44 reptile, 57 mammal and 101 bird species identified

It protects vulnerable species including Jaguar, Giant armadillo, Cougar, South American tapir, Giant anteater, Common woolly monkeys, and Peruvian spider monkeys