New conservation concessions have recently been established in the Huayabamba Valley. These concessions are critical to consolidating a larger-scale conservation strategy within the UNESCO Gran Pajatén Biosphere Reserve. Local community organizations responsible for these concessions voluntarily protect these forested areas, aware that this ensures numerous vital ecosystem services for the community, such as water supply, climate regulation, prevention of soil erosion, and protection of local flora and fauna. This participatory approach strengthens community ties and leads to better collective land management.
However, these fledgling associations face economic, administrative, and governance challenges, limiting their potential for self-management and self-sufficiency. Hence, they require robust support due to the significant challenges they face, including the threat from external actors, limited awareness among some community members, the development of illegal activities such as hunting and illegal logging, expansion of agricultural frontiers, and illicit crops. Therefore, while the new concessions have a basic framework, further effort is needed to enhance sound organization management on the ground.
In 2023, the Choba Choba Foundation chose to support three of these new conservation concessions, totaling 9,118 hectares of rainforest: the "Gran Ushachi" concession in the Pizarro community, "Maquisapa" in the Santa Inès community, and "Cerro Blanco" in the Dos de Mayo community. Our project revolves around three complementary components: control and surveillance, good governance, capacity building of local organizations, and environmental education for local populations, especially focusing on the younger generation.
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