For three years, we have been supporting a forest conservation and protection project in Peru. The savannah-like forest area in northern Peru is rapidly turning into desert and the forests are losing their unique biodiversity. The livelihoods of local Peruvian communities are under pressure. They depend on the forests for food, water and income. We visited the project this spring, to strengthen the relationship, see what is happening and discuss future plans.
The route of the Pan-American Highway runs south from Lima, Peru's capital, along the Pacific coast. All you see are vast sandy plains and mountains. Here and there a village, women in colourful robes and men with their caps deep over their eyes. Near a spur of a river, there is green vegetation, groups of trees and blooming nature.
Life disappears due to forest clearing and climate change
Around Pacasmayo in northern Peru, there is more life. More greenery, rice fields and maize fields, people on bicycles or in cars. In this out-of-the-way village, we meet Ramon Casana of A Rocha-Peru. He is the project leader.
Ramon is a fine conversationalist and enthusiastic biologist. He does this work out of his Christian faith. He explains that only five per cent of the original dry forests remain between the Andes Mountains and the Pacific Ocean. Forest clearing and climate change are the main causes of this deforestation. When trees disappear, eventually life also disappears: the desert is advancing.
Planting trees and sowing hope
But there is hope. A Rocha is working with local communities to stop logging and plant trees. The carob tree is very suitable This tree has roots that reach to groundwater even in dry areas.
It takes at least three years for the roots to reach a sufficient depth. During that time, the tree must be watered twice a week. Ramon and his team make arrangements for this with local residents, owners or associations whose aim is to make the desert flourish. One of them is Pastor Oscar Castor, who has the vision to make a piece of the desert bloom with his congregation. Pastor Castor bases that vision on the Bible, especially Isaiah 35.
Support villagers in northern Peru
We became more and more impressed by the vision and efforts of many people, to bring change to this part of God's world. The hard work is done by local men and women. We support Ramon's team and the purchase of trees and working materials.
Milagros del Pilar Campos García lives in the area and explains in the video below why she is participating in the project.
We are supporting this forest conservation and protection project in Peru for the next three years. Which municipality (or more than one) wants to take charge of this project and make it more its own?
