In Peru’s Most Isolated Regions, Forests Are a Life Source

In the Andean highlands of Peru, the road ends where mountains begin to endlessly curve into the distance. If you begin walking from there, you will reach the village of San Francisco de Choraz within 3-4 hours. A community of approximately 68 families, isolation and lack of government support has led to struggles with resources and access to opportunities. Simultaneously, loggers are encroaching around the area, stripping the land and extracting timber. The destruction has been massive, depriving the community of precious land and natural capital.

Agape Agroforestry began working with the community to actively reforest, hoping to  bring sustainable income and heal the land. Other than San Francisco de Choraz, Agape has seven other projects in different locations, from the people of the highlands to the Ayaningas, Shipibos, and Nomachigengas in jungle regions.

“What is it that we do in those places? We give opportunities to people through reforestation — changing their world a little.”- Hever Aguilar, Director of Agape Agroforestry

The idea of utilizing agroforestry for carbon drawdown began to take root as a double pronged method to reforest and plant crops with longevity such as potatoes, peas, and broad beans. People of San Francisco de Choraz have begun to treat this as a long term solution for regeneration, a pathway to understanding technology better, and building a vital skillset.

“We see this not only in the short term but in the long term, so that these people gain knowledge in the area of technology, so they can see it as a source of change for their children in the future. We do not see it as something momentary, but rather as something sustainable in the future, for the benefit of these communities.”- Hever Aguilar

Open Forest Protocol is helping Agape Agroforestry provide visibility to their impact and increase trust through traceability, showcasing the work on the ground to the world via the OFP Atlas.

The income generated from carbon credit sales in the future has the power to truly transform communities, creating a direct link between forests and livelihoods. In San Francisco de Choraz, funds will go toward education and technology funding, from building a school to investing in solar panels and increasing access to the internet.

“Our vision is for this to continue growing not only in the zones where we are reforesting but also into neighboring communities — an impact that is large, not only in our environment but also in the lives of every person behind this: the communities, the disadvantaged people, with employment opportunities.”- Hever Aguilar

With an initial plot of 150 hectares being monitored on Open Forest Protocol, more projects will be added in the coming years as Agape expands their reach, demonstrating that forests truly can change the trajectory for communities.

Learn more about Agape Agroforestry and learn about ways you can directly support their work on the ground.