Ashaninka Avoided Deforestation

Over 50,000 hectares protected

Avoided Deforestation in Peru's Central Amazon

Lead organisations: Cool Earth, Ecotribal (UK & Peru) and Tsimi (Ashaninka Bioclimatic Association, Cutivireni Community, Rio Ene)

ACHIEVEMENTS TO DATE (February 2008 to May 2010)

indigenous forest-owning communities contact Ecotribal to assist with developing an avoided deforestation project based on an annual income for the environmental service of sustainably managing their forest resources (income established within the voluntary carbon market since March 2008)
secured immediate protection of 54,000 hectares of rainforest (3 Ashaninka communities refusing to sign contract with loggers: Cutivireni, Camantavishi and Parijaro)
participatory elaboration of situational analysis to determine immediate community needs and skill requirements
community organisation legally established (Tsimi – Ashaninka Bioclimatic Association) for financial and strategic management and to provide a framework for information flows and decision making as well as the ongoing development of community skills and resources
intensive delivery of capacity building at Tsimi and village levels (via a participatory process through which the Ashaninka select topics that need addressing: administration, account keeping, climate change, recycling of solid waste, sustainable agro-forestry etc.)
Tsimi organising voluntary Ashaninka patrols along the community forest boundary, painting trees to mark the limits of their territory to ensure that loggers keep out
field visit for Tsimi members and community leaders to a working example of sustainably managed and certified rainforest owned and operated by a Shipibo community near Pucallpa

OUTPUT FOR 2010-2011

completion of a feasibility study (anticipated by end of April 2010) prior to development of a Project Document (PD) and Strategic Plan for Tsimi's avoided deforestation project
start process of certification through the VCS, CCBA and FSC processes
establishment of Tsimi Rainforest Education and Interpretation Centre at Cutivireni with small solar powered office, meeting space, some lodgings (both for Tsimi leaders when gathering for meetings and for appropriate outside visitors), demonstration forest garden (showing selected important species), model tree nursery and possibly a small fish farm
ongoing capacity building and best practice development with Tsimi and at village level
training of Ashaninka GPS field teams
development of a forward looking 'business plan' for Tsimi and the communities based on a portfolio of sustainable projects (carbon and water environmental services, cacao and coffee production, fish-farming, eco-tourism, craft goods and forest management