Agroforestry is a sustainable land use practice that is thousands of years old. It combines trees, agricultural crops and sometimes livestock in an ecologically balanced system. In the tropical rainforests of Latin America, this practice can be traced back to the way of life of indigenous peoples who have lived in harmony with the rainforest since prehistoric times without over-exploiting it.
In order to sustainably protect the Madre de Dios region, where our land is located, minimize the causes of deforestation and develop alternative sources of income together with the families, we launched our agroforestry project in December 2023. To this end, we have teamed up with two local agroforestry pioneers: Camino Verde and Fundo Ten Paciencia.
Our aim is to train farmers in agroforestry and sustainable farming practices. This means, for example, that they do not cut down the forest but plant their crops in the shade of large trees. If the area has already been cleared, new trees are planted. Farmers who participate in our program do not grow monocultures and do not use pesticides. Instead, they plant a wide variety of local crops and also improve the soil using techniques such as Terra Preta. In this way, we also prevent the. plants from being attacked by diseases! In addition, it not only stays cooler and more humid in these areas - the soil does not leach out either. This means that the land can be used sustainably and long-term for agriculture.
In recent months, we have already carried out a successful pilot project with 15 families in Monte Grande and set up control and trial plots, which are being scientifically monitored on a permanent basis with our partners. We are also currently investigating the behavior and production potential of honey bees and wild bees in order to provide the local families with bee colonies in the future.
We have planted many young açai palms, whose fruits are known here as a superfood, on our trial plots.
In addition to açai, we have also planted coffee ...
And they really had their hands full!
The plants in our trial area are regularly measured and checked.
This is how we find out how well which plant grows in which environment.
Every step is documented by Šimon, our agroforestry coordinator.
But of course Šimon also likes to get his hands dirty ...
... just like Gabriela, our botany coordinator.
Bruno, one of our forest guardian and a bee expert, shows us the current status of our bee project.
We check which plants are particularly interesting for the bees and whether they are already producing enough honey. This knowledge should help the locals to develop beekeeping as a new source of income.
Agroforestry methods protect the soil, animals, plants and houses from extreme weather conditions and improve water quality at the same time.
By producing useful products such as food, wood and medicinal plant products, it generates profits in the local economy.
Agroforestry improves the habitat for pollinators. The pollination of plants by animals is an essential component of healthy ecosystems and the basis for our food production, as 85% of the world's flowering plants depend on it.
It is a good way of combating climate change, as these methods help to bind greenhouse gas emissions.
Despite the numerous benefits, agroforestry is not yet practiced on a large scale in many regions of the Peruvian rainforest. This is often due to lost knowledge, a lack of resources such as start-up investments, training opportunities and equipment, as well as economic and political challenges.
Although our protected areas in Peru are forever protected from deforestation, many families from the neighboring settlements still earn their living from timber, agriculture and livestock farming. As this way of life quickly depletes the already nutrient-poor rainforest soil, the communities living there need more and more land to live on in the long term. Even if our sites are protected, this would destroy the surrounding areas in the long term.
In addition, the drought and heat that follow clear-cutting also have a negative impact on our protected forests. And we want to work together with the people of the region and enable sustainable use of the rainforest.
Why are we, as a forest conservation organization, supporting this project? This is our way of working with local people, involving them and thus not only ensuring forest protection, but also promoting the long-term, sustainable use of adjacent areas. And you can support us in this too: around 20% of every donation to us goes directly towards environmental education - this also includes the agroforestry projects.
We have big plans for the next few years and will continue to support you in the development of this project!