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 November 2009)

indigenous forest-owning communities agree to avoided deforestation (with formal agreement since March 2008)
secured immediate protection of more than 50,000 hectares of rainforest (logging stopped and loggers kept out)
initial three year income established compensating the community for avoiding deforestation and providing an environmental service by sustainable management of their rainforest environment
elaboration of community level and participatory situation analysis to determine immediate needs and skill requirements
community organisation legally established (Tsimi – Ashaninka Bioclimatic Association) to be responsible for financial and strategic management and to provide a democratic framework for decision making and the development of appropriate skills
Tsimi structured to maximise partly nomadic village participation in information flows and decision making while at the same time sitting comfortably within accepted national legal frameworks
delivery of initial capacity building at community and village levels
extension of avoided deforestation project to incorporate two adjacent Ashaninka communities – Parijaro and Camantavishi – adding a further 24,000 hectares to the area of rainforest protected by Tsimi and providing a buffer to the core of Cutivireni territory

OUTPUT PROGRAMMED FOR 2010

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 sustainable forest management plan with associated maps, ecological and social zonification with forward looking management and business plans for Tsimi and the communities
REDD development beginning with the completion of a Project Document (PD) and Strategic Plan for Tsimi's avoided deforestation project; with a view to gaining certification through the VCS and CCBA processes