Peru Info

TREEFLIGHTS, ECOTRIBAL AND THE ASHANINKA - PLANTING IN THE AMAZON

Background to Ashaninka Communities

One of the largest indigenous groups in the Amazon, the Ashaninka have fought hard for centuries to maintain the integrity of their forests. Today, as illegal coca production and mahogany logging continue to increase, their forest is under more threat than ever. With this in mind, the Ashaninka at Cutivireni have decided to offer a new and unique carbon offset tribal treeplanting initiative. The community of Cutivireni is located on the Rio Ene and incorporates two other main rivers - the Rio Cutivireni and the Rio Mamiri. There are several thousand Ashaninka living here dispersed through the forested hills and valleys of the region. Politically they are organised around the school, health post, community, river port and narrow grass airstrip at Cutivireni; but the majority of the population live in or close to one of the annex villages, several of them with larger populations than Cutivireni itself.

This tree planting initiative has arrived at an important moment in Ashaninka history. For geographical, cultural and historical reasons, Cutivireni represents one of the few remaining traditional heartlands of Ashaninka forests and traditions. In the last 20 years they have fought off attacks by cocaine smugglers and terrorists to take their land and or ensnare them into their agendas. In the early 21st century, however, there are new threats on the horizon. In 2002 illegal loggers arrived looking to do deals on selected mahogany extraction with community chiefs. The communities were rarely offered more than 20p a cubic foot, the logging was indiscriminate and it was the first time that outsiders had been allowed into their territory since the terrorists had been ejected in the early 1990’s.

It was at this point that Ecotribal decided to start working closely with the Ashaninka in developing eco-cultural tourism projects as well as craft goods, chocolate, coffee, rainforest medicines and other sustainable agro-forestry products for the export market. Ecotribal has also been introducing renewable energy (mainly solar PV for radio communications, lighting, education and laptops) into Ashaninka communities. The move into tree planting is a natural addition to the sustainable agro-forestry line being developed by the Ashaninka. This Amazonian carbon offset initiative will become even more meaningful in 2008 when hydrocarbon seismic testing is expected to start in the Ashaninka forests.
The Ashaninka plan is to establish an initial tree planting site about half way between Cutivireni and one of its major annex villages – Tinkareni. The lead organiser on behalf of the Ashaninka is Jaime Pena. Jaime is also President of the Ashaninka Association of Chocolate Producers which is aiming for organic status and will administer the tree planting initiative once final agreement has been reached.

Map of Cutivireni

ASHANINKA CARBON OFFSET TREEPLANTING

This concept is being developed by the Ashaninka Association of Producers, Ecotribal and Treeflights.Treeflights pass on 50% of all monies received (£5 per flight). The Association receives £4 per tree planted and tagged. The balance of £1 goes to Ecotribal.

BIODIVERSITY OF PERU’S FORESTS

Boasting almost 10% of the world’s plant species, it is also home to single rainforest trees each specimen of which can be host to over 40 species of ants. There are also over 1800 different bird species confirmed in Peru. Around 73 of them are endangered at present.
There are:

50 Species of Parrots and Macaws
120 Species of Ovenbirds
127 Species of hummingbirds
135 Species of Tanagers
254 Species of Tyrant-Flycatcher

More info on the Ashaninka available online at: www.ecotribal.com