CLWR's Involvement in Peru
Description of Program
Peru's indigenous and marginalized communities in CLWR's priority action zone (PAZ) have been affected by the slow pace of democratic reforms, rising corruption, the impact of the global economy and especially by mining industries.
Region of Ancash
The socio-environmental context in Ancash is characterized by conflicting worldviews. On the one hand, the mining companies that represent a world vision perceive nature or the environment as an infinite source of resources. On the other side, the rural Andean populations, organized in farming communities and representing another worldview see the relationship between a human being and nature as more intimate and sacred. Between these two actors, are the State, the urban population and local authorities, all of who tend to favour mining interests because of the economic advantages they offer these groups.
Unfortunately, more than ten years of mining activity in the region has not improved the poverty situation of people living there. Still, there has been ongoing, positive communication between the mining companies and the communities as they seek to work together to address the social and environmental issues impacting the people.
Agro-Ecological component of the Peru Program in Casma River Basin
The rural districts of the Cordillera Negra Quillo, Cochabamba, and Yaután are the poorest districts in Peru. This situation is further exacerbated by the severe lack of water in the area. In the Casma River basin, the people living in the high and mid lands are dedicated to agricultural activities, including animal husbandry. The area is located on sloping hillsides, making it vulnerable to soil erosion. It is considered a high-risk zone for agricultural activities, as it is prone to recurrent droughts and other unpredictable climatic conditions. In addition to the inauspicious weather conditions, the people in the Casma River Basin also face other challenges such as the consequences of heavy reliance of the farmers in the past on chemical fertilizers and pesticides, and the impact of the free trade agreement on small farmers.
CLWR's program delivery partner in the Casma River Basin, Diaconia, is working to promote organic agriculture. The objective is to ensure food security at the household level for campesino families by revitalizing traditional Andean sustainable agriculture techniques and by strengthening community resilience to withstand adverse climatic effects. The agro-ecological project will not only promote environmental sustainability, but also increase the production and productivity of small farmers; recuperate traditional farming practices, encourage crop diversification and intensive use of local resources, ensure a balanced diet intake and generate income from the sales of surplus organic product in local, regional and national markets.
ACTIVITIES
The following are the planned activities over the programming period that will be implemented to achieve CLWR's objectives:
- Facilitate the formation of new environmental watch groups who will participate in Environmental Management Committees made up of representatives of the State, municipalities, mining and other private companies, community-based groups and other public and private entities.
- Facilitate the formation of groups for communication and advocacy for public policy in issues related to the environment.
- Strengthen the Network of Communicators for the Education and Defense of the Environment, a network of young communicators that produces environmental awareness campaigns on the radio.
- Promote organic agriculture as fundamental to food security
- A 'National Journalism Prize on the Environment and the Mining Sector' will be created to motivate the media-especially radio but not exclusively-for adequate and objective reporting on issues related to the environment.
- A National Prize named 'Perú Verde' will be created to recognize mining companies that have demonstrated exemplary corporate socio-environmental responsibility.
- Administer a fund for micro-projects called: Andean Development Facilitation Funds (ADFF) to support small initiatives that strengthen CLWR's strategy in the Andean Region for up to a maximum USD $3,000 per project.
- Establish a pilot environmental education program for professors, students and parents so that they can identify and recognize the environmental problems in their educational establishments and in their surroundings.
- Set up an "Environmental Protection Promotion Contest," mainly directed at schools in all of CLWR's intervention areas.
Partner(s):
- Urpichallay
- Diaconia (Asociación Evangélica Luterana de Ayuda para el Desarrollo Comunal)
- Noticias Aliadas/Latin America Press.
Total Program Cost: $491,000
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