The objective of this project is to protect and restore Queuña forests (Polylepis spp.), their water, landscape and biodiversity, carried out together with local communities through traditional collective work strategies.
The project is oriented to reforestation, conservation, sustainable resources management and ecotourism. These forests capture moisture from the air and retain rain, snow and mist, which is derived to high Andean wetlands (bofedales), preventing their rapid runoff. Local and valley populations depend on these wetlands for drinking water, as well as for pastures used for cattle ranching and agriculture. These forests, together with the wetlands, maintain optimal humidity conditions that help buffer the strong changes in temperature between day and night at high altitudes, temperature stability delay the melting of glaciers, make it possible for wildlife species to survive, and to reduce erosion processes. Private conservation areas (PCA) are created and managed by the communities, in synergy with the responsible authorities. These PCA are oriented to work in ecotourism, which is a legal tool to produce payments for ecoservices, that allows preserving the scenic beauty and enhancing the unique cultural value of the communities. It is a cost-effective solution for long-term climate resilience.
Further information:
ECOAN, 2018. (In Spanish) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEgFcXGiVR0
ECOAN, 2017. Queuña Raymi 2016 - Reforestation Activity in the Peruvian Andes (In Spanish). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qitwkf3OdxU
Photo: Gregorio Ferro M. Quelcanca Community. December 2020.