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about us - report 2003-2006 - intentions 2007
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Report 2003-2006 - Intentions 2007
The converging interests regarding conservation in the Cordillera Huayhuash, the creation of a national protected area by the Peruvian state and the formation of private conservation areas by the local communities, are at a critical juncture. The state effort failed due to recent legislation (2001) requiring approval of the national protected area by the local communities; this proved impossible due to the desire for local management of the area. The opportunity for locally managed private conservation arose due to a grander de-centralization policy advocated during Alejandro Toledo's presidency. This opportunity is diminishing due to the current centralist policies promoted by the current president Alan Garcia. If the communities do not organize their efforts sufficiently and quickly, the entire conservation movement for the Cordillera Huayhuash may fail.
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Logical framework in progress
March 2007 - Chiquian |
The situation in the Cordillera Huayhuash is complex. The mountain range spreads across three separate political departments in Perú (Lima, Ancash, and Huánuco). The geography of the region includes Perú’s second highest mountain (Yerupajá - 6634m) and the chain of secondary peaks form a physical division within the local human population. In the last ten years there has been a dramatic growth in national and international interest in the conservation and extraction of the natural resources existing in the region: water and biodiversity in the case of conservation and mineral resources and tourism regarding extraction.
In 2002 the Peruvian Government declared the Cordillera Huayhuash a Zona Reservada within the National System of Natural Protected Areas (SINANPE). Since then there have been two studies regarding the categorization (placement) of the area within SINANPE. This categorization process has not yet been concluded(1), and it appears that the government has tabled their national conservation effort in the area (largely due to local private conservation efforts). For clarity, with the national status of Zona Reservada there is limited state protection regarding natural resources, but it is not comprehensive.
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Beneath Yerupaja
March 2005 - Quebrada Segya |
The mine site at Palca (Mitsui Mining and Smelting Ltd.), near the communities of Llamac and Pocpa, started their extractive operations in 2005 after seven years of exploration. Mitsui's presence has ongoing and direct cultural and environmental impacts that, on one occasion, was the cause of a violent incident between community members and the company. Currently the company Minsur is approaching the community of Huayllapa regarding operations near Sueracocha and Laguna Jurau. In the same sense the company Santa Luisa is approaching Mahuay and Pomapata regarding the exploration of the abandoned mine Ututo.
The number of tourists that trekked the entire nine day circuit during the last year is well over 2000(2). Direct impacts such as garbage and contamination from human wastes are becoming problems that the communities must address. Approximately 1500 donkeys also walked the popular circuit causing over-grazing problems on already stressed high altitude pasture ecosystems. Furthermore, in the years preceding the tourist season in 2005, there were incidents of robbery and occasional violence toward tourists.
In response to these pressures the communities of Pacllon (Ancash) and Huayllapa (Lima) started a process in 2004 to declare their communal lands Private Conservation Areas (ACPs) within Peruvian law(3). Their initiative is meritorious and their efforts continue with gaining momentum. In December of 2005 the central government published the resolutions to approve the conservation efforts of these two communities and in December of 2006 both communities received approval of their 'master plans' for operation. Furthermore, also in 2005, the communities of Llamac (Ancash) and Queropalca (Huánuco) initiated the same process for the recognition of their lands as Private Conservation Areas.
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Amado Huaranga Cano
President - Centro Desarrollo Huayhuash |
With the above factors in mind, the strategy taken to realize the objectives of the Centro Desarrollo Huayhuash over the last three years has been to build/strengthen our institution and to start the community mapping work. We have been successful in reaching some landmark achievements largely thanks to donations from Global Greengrants Fund and Antamina that we received at the end of 2004 and May of 2005 respectively. We are confident that the institutional growth over this period has been sound.
Our greatest achievement is the Centro Desarrollo Huayhuash now has a strong network within the communities of the three political departments that encompass the area. Our history includes an informational campaign in 2004 and 2005 regarding the legal aspects of Private Conservation. The campaign included informal visits to various communities to divulge printed material and converse about conservation efforts, and then culminated with a successful regional workshop in October of 2005. Both of these efforts were concluded with the help of the Sociedad Peruana de Derecho Ambiental (SPDA). The October workshop included presentations made by delegations from the existing Private Conservation Areas of Chaparri and Cañoncillo(4) as well as a presentation by the SPDA.
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Making Maps
August 2006 - Queropalca |
Another educational campaign was started in September of 2006 with a primary focus on community based mapping and introductions to the themes of pasture management and tourism management. The latter two themes are critically related to the two principal economic activities in the region. The community based mapping provides a firm foundation from which to create and/or modify management policies. To this date we have held five formalized events in the departments of Huánuco, Lima and Ancash. The first four events were localized in the communities of Queropalca, Uramaza, Llamac, and Pacllon. These events met with a varying level of success, but in general were greeted with enthusiasm.
The final event for the 2006-2007 campaign was held in Chiquian (Ancash) on the 10th and 11th of March 2007 and was designed to evaluate the mapping work and then prioritize the work for 2007-2008. The completed community maps were shared between local leaders and all present participated in a logical framework workshop during which realistic plans for the future were formed. In addition this event included an interchange visit(5) from the Andean Ecosystem Association (ECOAN) to present their conservation experiences with Andean communities near Cusco. The interest among participants to continue working is high and is graphically reflected in the following comment made after the March workshop:
“Guardaré un recuerdo imperecedero.” – “I will save an everlasting memory”
Don Espiritu Rivera – founder and first president of the Centro Desarollo Huayhuash
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Environmental education
March 2007 - Chiquian |
Our current strategy is focused on the immediate task of assisting and uniting the conservation efforts in the area using the community mapping work as a base. To reach this objective we are programming a series of ten capacity building workshops (one in each community) to which all interested stakeholders will be invited. The focus of these workshops will be to continue with the three primary themes of community based mapping, pasture management and tourism management. A secondary theme will be the legal aspects of Private Conservation. We will also continue the participatory construction of the GIS (geographical information system) of the area.
The expected outcomes of these workshops are multiple. First we foresee that for all of the communities, awareness of conservation, including the specific topic of private conservation, will improve sufficiently to incorporate conservation activities into community life. Secondly we expect to further the dialog between all actors to define some regional goals; specifically regarding the management of tourism and other local resources. Conservation practices that are successfully incorporated into community life will be our measure. And finally we expect significant improvements in the GIS dataset throughout the next 18 months.
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Asis Roque shows the map for Uramaza
March 2007 - Chiquian |
On a regional level we are approaching Global Greengrants for assistance with interchanges between leaders of communities affected and not affected by mining activity. Specifically we are planning a trip for various leaders in the Cordillera Huayhuash to visit La Oroya(6). The outcome of the visit is to give local leaders a more informed vision of how long term mining activity can affect community life.
At the institutional level we will further develop our relationships with the Sociedad Peruano de Derecho Ambiental (legal aspects of private conservation), the environmental studies department at the University of California Santa Cruz (advice and technical assistance), and El Instituto de Bien Común (community based mapping in Perú), and ECOAN (polylepis reforestation). For financial support we will approach, amongst others, Conservation International (polylepis reforestation), the United Nations Small Grants Program (Private Conservation), and the National Geographic Conservation Trust (participatory GIS).
Following this overall strategy the institutional growth of the Centro Desarrollo Huayhuash and it’s dedication to the written objectives will be healthy and sustainable. In turn, this success will foster the growth of community conservation efforts in the Cordillera Huayhuash.
If you want more information please contact us at cdhuayhuash@huaylas.com.
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(1) To become a protected area within Peruvian law, the categorization must be completed; the Zona Reservada is a transitory status.
(2) This number is derived from various comunities' records regarding fees paid in 2006.
(3) ACPs are a new legal instrument (2001) that allow local administration in the development of protected areas in Peru.
(4) Chaparri and Cañoncillo were recognized by the Peruvian state as Private Conservation Areas shortly after the legislation allowing ACPs was approved by the congress in 2001. The experiences shared by these delegations were a highlight of the event.
(5) Many thanks to the help of a private donor Martin Stanley.
(6) La Oroya is a community in the central Peruvian Andes that has been severely affected by mining activity over the last 18 years. The visit will be coordinated with the La Oroya Health Care Movement (MOSAO).
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