ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION IN DEFORESTED AREAS PRIVATE PLOT "PALMACEDA" AND ADJACENT ZONES.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

The Civil Partnership Chontachaca Ecological Reserve (REC) is an environmental, ecological and non-profit organisation. REC was created in Peru with the aim of working for the defense and conservation of the Amazonian forest and all the beings that inhabit it.

The REC is composed of professionals, employees, volunteers and nature lovers. All with experience in ecology, health and education, people who for years and for different reasons have been involved in the wonderful world of the Amazon.

REC Association is registered in the Public Registry of Peru with registration number 2009-00021784, though Manu has been working in reforestation since 2006. In 2009 it was determined to change, improve, contribute and take part in human behavior and its relationship with nature.

Chontachaca Ecological Reserve has 200 hectares of forest on the campus of Palmaceda, Chontachaca (Qosñipata Valley, Manu Biosphere Reserve) which is currently being reforested and contains an animal rescue center on the land. Our goal is to promote the ecological restoration of the flora of private property "Palmaceda" and adjacent areas, through the reintroduction of plants (ornamental, medicinal, economic) to strengthen and gain recognition as a private conservation area. Since 2006 we have planted 3000 trees of native species and there are several communities as well as individuals in the area that we would like to join our efforts. To do our job we have the support of students in biology from the University San Antonio Abad of Cusco and volunteers who for short periods of time remain in Palmaceda. Also students from the Pont de Suert Institute and the University of Girona carry out environmental projects and environmental volunteering.

PROBLEMS

Manu Biosphere Reserve is the largest rainforest reserve in the world and is at the very end of the upper Amazon in a remote region of southeastern Peru, sharing their territory the area of Cuzco (Province Paucartambo) and Madre de Dios. Manu has been officially recognized by UNESCO as World Heritage and in 1977 was designated World Biosphere Reserve. Manu has three distinct and unique fully protect ecosystems: The Puna, Cloud Forest and Tropical Lowland Forest.

Currently living in Manu are four ethnic groups-two of them are still isolated from any contact with civilization and dwell in a protected territory of 1,881,200 hectares. In an area equivalent to almost half of Switzerland, the Manu Reserve is perhaps the most species-rich protected zone across the globe.

In the past 60 years large areas of forests were heavily logged for timber and areas were cleared for crop farms. The whole area of Rio Madre de Dios suffers the problem of indiscriminate hunting, fishing and illegal mining polluting water quality leaving the biodiversity of the river totally impoverished. The loss of resources, mainly forest, has led to a decrease in the incomes of the population therefore threatening the future of these communities.

Another emerging problem is drugs. According to the National Monitoring System supported by the UN on crop growth and production of coca leaf, Peru has been placed as the second largest supplier of cocaine after Colombia. The establishment of areas considered non licit crops, mainly the cultivation of coca leaves, can create an imbalance in the dynamics of biological diversity.

THE PROBLEMS OF OIL

The Hunt for Oil, one of the largest in the world supported by the political empire of the Bush family, was a concession to extract oil directly from the cultural area of the Manu Reserve.

If the Oil Hunt proceeds with the exploration of Lot 76, this will cause a major ecological disaster with environmental impact on the planet in the long term and short term for all who live, visit and work in Manu.

Operations involving oil cause pollution of surface land and surface water, endangering the survival of animals and plants alike. In addition, oil operations involve the destruction of forest in order to open paths for rigs and make nearly 20,000 drill holes from seismic activity later in the operation. These roads open virgin forest and create easy access for non-native people of the jungle to hunt animals, harvest timber or clear land for agriculture.

REC joins the fight against oil companies by supporting the FENAMAD (Federation of Native Communities of the Mother of God) defending the rights of the natives against the oil companies, hiring a law firm and legal counsel and initiating legal proceedings against those implicated.

LOCAL SOCIO-ECONOMY

The population of the intervention area in our project survive mostly from logging, fishing, hunting, collecting butterflies and jungle animals for sale illegally.

Until recently the main source of income was agriculture and livestock. Planting in a place where there was no arable land population, (mostly settlers from the highlands) forced people to open cropland burning large tracts of forest. This resulted, besides the obvious deforestation and biodiversity loss, in soil degradation that no longer sustained new crops, causing people to migrate to other areas of the forest, where they repeat the same burning strategy and overexploitation of the land that will take at least 100 years to return to what it was.

Unemployment, poverty and a lack of resources for a population overcome by the needs of their children, lead them into in this type of predatory activity on the environment or even worse to engage in the scourge of drug trafficking.

ACTIVITIES

Conservation:

Activities related to reforestation include:

-impact studies
- inventory of flora and fauna
- transportation and planting of seedlings
- monitoring of plants
-studying the impact on wildlife from the process of ecological restoration work.
 - Monitoring of flora and fauna.
 - Help creating an inventory of flora and fauna
 - Photos of flora and fauna for a database of the area.

Animal rescue center:

We have implemented a rescue center for wild animals. Eco-volunteers help with activities concerning the management of the center including feeding, behavioral observations, maintenance, care and animal health, as well as activities relating to the possible reintroduction of these animals.

Social service in the community of Chontachaca:

- Environmental education workshops for children and adults.

- Workshops and educational activities (teaching English, theater, etc.) at the school in Chontachaca.

Other:

- The study, monitoring and conservation of medicinal plants, organic gardens, orchid gardens and courses and workshops on certain dates.

CURRENT SITUATION

We currently have 200 hectares of forest being replanted to promote ecological restoration of flora and fauna. Since 2006 we have planted 3000 trees of native species. We expect to implement an environmental project based on agro forestry systems which involve the local people and thus expand our work to benefit the entire population. There have been studies of flora and fauna of the area to seek a greater understanding of the impact of our work. The animal rescue center is open to receive different animals found in captivity and we are in contact with veterinary centers in Cusco, the INRENA (National Institute of Natural Resources), to monitor the experience. More than 500 volunteers from around the world have participated and helped make this work possible. Also students from the Pont de Suert Institute and the University of Girona carry out environmental projects and environmental volunteering. Students from UNSACCC in the faculty of biology have participated in studies conducted in our reserve. Our projection for the future is to involve the community, district authorities and the villagers themselves in a process of ecological restoration that benefits us all.