Climate change has no borders and its consequences are already affecting millions of people around the world. On many occasions, it is the indigenous and local communities that depend heavily on natural resources that are the most affected. The region of Loreto, in the North Eastern Peruvian Amazon, specifically in the Ampiyacu river basin, has become a notable scenario of climate change.
To address these challenges, Conservation International Peru has promoted an innovative participatory information gathering workshop to identify and implement adaptation measures.
Participants included representatives from seven native communities, as well as representatives from the leadership and management committee of the Ampiyacu Apayacu Regional Conservation Area, as well as members of partner organization, the Instituto del Bien Común (IBC).
"In recent years we have suffered droughts and the loss of our crops. This workshop has made us reflect on how we can adapt to these changes and what we can do to minimize the impacts that affect us today," says Deyser Quévare, president of the Federation of Native Communities of Ampiyacu (FECONA).
The communities shared concrete examples of adaptation measures, highlighting challenges faced during extreme summers where it doesn’t rain, (droughts) and winters with excessive rain (increased river flow). Although the Amazonian rivers naturally experience droughts and floods, more intense, long-lasting and frequent extreme events in recent years have had a great impact on the communities.
When faced with drought, they stressed the need to expand their farms to compensate for the scarcity of fish. During the floods, they stressed the risks of disease and the need to take caution when building near the banks.
"My commitment is to continue conserving our forests and to encourage youth and children to get involved so that we have access to clean water and to our natural resources in our watershed," added Mayra Collantes, representative of the Boras de Pucaurquillo community.
These findings are the basis for identifying potential risks and designing specific adaptation measures. The ultimate goal is to integrate these measures into the life plans of four native communities of the Ampiyacu basin.
What is a Life Plan?
A life plan is a community’s planning document that is defined and built with the participation of its members, aimed at organizing activities to improve the quality of life of the community. The main purpose of a life plan is to strengthen the communities' internal planning and management capacities. Working on a life plan allows them to articulate their 5-, or 10-year vision of the future based on how they envision the world within their territory.
Working together
The Ampiyacu Apayacu Regional Conservation Area, a source of natural resources for 18 native communities in the Loreto region, is characterized by its great biodiversity and cultural richness. Conservation International, together with the Instituto del Bien Común, the National Service of Natural Areas Protected by the State (SERNANP), the Regional Government of Loreto and indigenous federations, are joining forces to protect this vital area. This collective effort highlights the urgent need to work together to face the challenges of climate change and preserve Loreto's rich biodiversity.