The first phase of the process of establishing the ACR Tapiche Blanco proposal, which involves more than 300,000 hectares in Loreto, began with a round of workshops in 22 communities of the Tapiche and Blanco rivers to introduce them to the ACR proposal and the development of two workshops, one with the participation of authorities and community managers and the other with the assistance of local authorities.
The proposal was first socialized. Representatives of the Regional Environmental Authority (ARA) of Loreto, through its Executive Directorate of Conservation and Biological Diversity, the Federation of the Communities of the Tapiche and Blanco Rivers (FECORITAYB) and the Center for the Development of the Amazonian Indigenous (CEDIA) They visited 22 native and peasant communities of the Tapiche and Blanco rivers from May 15 to 27 of this year. This in order to inform them of the proposed establishment of the ACR, the problems and benefits that exist and the functions of the Regional Government and CEDIA in said process.
Then, on May 28, the ACR Tapiche Blanco Establishment Workshop was held at the FECORITAYB facilities in the Nueva Esperanza peasant community. Community authorities, managers and leaders of 22 communities participated and were informed about the territorial limits of the proposal, the use of natural resources that the population makes within and in neighboring areas, types of important ecosystems within the ACR, the importance of their protection and existing rights within the area - if there is overlap with communities, oil blocks or other concessions.
Later, the same Establishment Workshop of the ACR Tapiche Blanco was held, but in the city of Requena. This time it was attended by representatives of the Municipality of Soplín and Alto Tapiche, the National Service of Natural Areas Protected by the State - SERNANP, the Regional Health Directorate, ARA Loreto, Concessionaires, UGEL Requena, DIREPRO Requena, National Park Sierra del Divisor and Matsés National Reserve, Requena media and community representatives through FECORITAYB.
This round of workshops has been important to involve the surrounding population in the design of the ACR and thus subsequently form part of the co-management of this area, since given that it is regional in nature, it does not have park rangers and requires the population to commit. to protect it. In addition, these spaces have been relevant so that the ARA Loreto can gather necessary information and have it as input for the design of the ACR and its management and thus avoid future socio-environmental conflicts with the communities.
Throughout this process, CEDIA has provided technical assistance and supported the facilitation of participatory workshops.
Among the benefits that the ACR Tapiche y Blanco grants to the surrounding communities and population is the protection of fragile ecosystems such as wetlands, chamizales, varillales and peatlands that exist in the Tapiche Blanco river basin. Their conservation contributes to the care of resources such as quality water, ornamental fish, they are important spaces for the reproduction of wild fauna and where there are seedbeds of endangered species in places close to the communities.
Likewise, the communities will have the support of the ARA Loreto to work on sustainable economic activities within the area.
The ACR Tapiche Blanco could be an alternative for the sale of carbon credits given the wetlands and chamizales it contains and thus contributes to mitigating greenhouse gases and regulating the climate.
The communities that participated are the native communities of Nuevo Capanahua, Lobo Santarosino, Spain, Frontera, Buen Jesús de Paz and Nuevo Progreso. As well as the peasant communities Los 4 Hermanos del Alemán, Tres Hermanos, Puerto Ángel, Morales Bermúdez, Canchalagua, San Antonio de Fortaleza, San Pedro and Nuevo Pacasmayo. And the towns of Nueva Esperanza, Curinga and Santa Elena.