May 16, 2018.- The Federation of Communities of the Tapiche and Blanco Rivers (FECORITAYB) held a General Assembly from May 07 to 11 of this year in the communal premises of the native community Nueva Esperanza, in the province of Requena, Loreto. Representatives of 14 base communities of said Federation participated with whom they defined the agenda to be addressed.
Roberto Tafur Shupingahua, president of FECORITAYB, gave the opening remarks and welcomed the invited institutions: Regional Agrarian Directorate of Loreto - DISAFILPA, Ministry of Culture (MINCU), Regional Environmental Authority (ARA) of Loreto represented by the Executive Forest Directorate and Wildlife (DEFFS) and the Requena Decentralized Office, Matsés National Reserve (RNM) of the National Service of Natural Areas Protected by the State (SERNANP) and the Center for the Development of the Amazonian Indigenous (CEDIA).
During the 5 days that the Assembly lasted, FECORITAYB evaluated the development of its strategic and operational plans corresponding to the year 2017. As a result, new activities were obtained to develop in the remainder of the year. In addition, they reached agreements with the entities present, such as the MINCU and the DEFFS.
During the Assembly, the representative of the MINCU presented everything related to the Indigenous Peoples in Voluntary Isolation (PIACI) in the basin and regarding the proposal of the Yavarí Tapiche Indigenous Reserve and cleared the doubts of those present.
The representative of the Matsés National Reserve - SERNANP, for his part, indicated the activities that he is working with the communities that are part of the Buffer Zone of said area: participatory management and environmental education.
After the respective dialogue on the issues indicated in the Assembly's agenda, agreements were reached to solve the problems that the communities currently face. For example, with regard to the Territory, the FECORITAYB must coordinate with the DRAL to finish demarcating the territory of the Barrio Bajo Santa Elena native community, as well as to request the expansion of the territory of some communities towards freely available forests. In addition, support will be requested to resolve the existing land conflict between communities, as well as to register in Public Registries the title of communities superimposed on Permanent Production Forests (BPP).
Agreements have also been established for the adequate use of natural resources, such as the aguaje and the ungurahui; as well as to strengthen capacities in control and surveillance of natural forest, fishing and other resources in the Tapiche and Blanco basin.
With regard to the means of communication and transportation, FECORITAYB undertook to continue monitoring the procedures carried out with the Regional Directorate of Transportation and Telecommunications of Loreto. It will also make the pertinent coordination so that the competent actors support the implementation of social programs in the communities.
Regarding the establishment of the Tapiche Blanco Regional Conservation Area Proposal, the federation undertook to maintain communication and articulation with the Executive Directorate of Conservation and Biological Diversity. As well as requesting the presence of the DECDB in the basins to keep the communities informed and a greater accompaniment to develop control and surveillance actions within the aforementioned proposal.
Finally, they made agreements regarding the internal organization, operation and financing of the FECORITAYB; as well as for the Board of Directors to take into account, in future managements, the existing problems between communities. In addition, they planned the dates of their next assemblies until the end of 2018.
During the development of the Assembly CEDIA provided support and advice to the Board of Directors of FECORITAYB to strengthen their community organization, stay empowered and they themselves continue developing activities involving their bases. It should be noted that CEDIA has provided assistance to FECORITAYB since its creation in July 2016.