Tambopata Reserve Society is currently supporting several projects in Peru - for more information on each of these, please choose from the links below.
Current Projects
Previous Projects
CREES designs, develops and implements education and research programmes that promote improved sustainable natural resource management practices and co-operative conservation strategies in tropical environments.
CREES, a Peruvian registered not-for-profit organisation established in 2002, is based in the Andean city of Cusco and works in the Manu Biosphere Reserve located in the South-East of the country, considered the most biodiverse corner of the Amazon Basin if not the World.
For more information on CREES, please see the CREES website at http://www.crees-manu.org/.
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Fauna Forever Manu is a forward-thinking training, leadership and research programme based in the Manu Biosphere Reserve in southeastern Peru which develops future leaders in tropical biodiversity assessment and natural resource investigation whilst contributing to our understanding of how natural ecosystems change over time.
Fauna Forever Manu offers its participants the opportunity to join a dynamic team of instructors and Neotropical wildlife biologists for periods of 2-10 weeks to learn the theoretical and practical skills required to design, develop and lead field research projects in a number of tropical ecosystems from lowland Amazon rainforest |
through orchid-rich cloud forest to high-Andean grasslands and lakes. We emphasise environmental monitoring techniques used to assess mammal, bird, aquatic fauna and plant populations. Skills learnt will be put directly to the test in an ongoing monitoring project which is assisting the Manu National Park authority better understand environmental change.
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| After several months of intense planning and preparation, the first phase of the year long study entitled ‘Fauna Forever’ began in February with the arrival of five international participants from Holland, Australia and the USA. Joined by four Peruvian students of tourism and biology from Maldonado and Cusco, the team undertook to monitor the conservation status and the impact of tourism activities on Neotropical wildlife in Tambopata. This first group of participants, who spend just under 3 months in the area, assisted the core team of 3 scientists collecting data on 3 taxonomic groups: Herpetofauna, Birds and Mammals. Study sites include 5 tourist lodges located along the Madre de Dios and Tambopata rivers. Interesting encounters or sightings to date include Bush dogs, Short-eared dogs, Jaguars, and venomous Bushmasters. |
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Madre de Dios is of worldwide importance because of its exceptional biodiversity. More than 200 mammal species have been recorded, many of which are vital for the tropical ecosystem. They strongly interact with other forest inhabitants through pollination of flowers, consumption of leaves (folivory) and small animals. When eating fruits they disperse the seeds over great distances; aiding the regeneration of forests that have been logged. Their vital role upholds the balance and structure of the whole tropical ecosystem. Loosing them would mean to loose the forest. |
We started our investigation into the impact of logging and hunting activity and the socio-economic background of timber extraction in Madre de Dios in 2002. This first period in the field has been highly valued by local NGOs, governmental organisations and loggers and work was then continued into the summer 2003.
The team will be living in timber concessions for three months, sharing the camp with loggers. We will be able to document their work and hunting behaviour, collect detailed information on their social background and attitude towards conservation via interviews and socialising. Most of the concessionaires were illegal loggers a few months ago and now have to cope with running a concessions, including new legal and economic framework. We will analyse the problems in depth and develop a strategy for future work in collaboration with the concessionaires and local NGOs.
Our data will be freely available to the concessionaires and will be included in their management plans, helping them to fulfil their environmental obligations. The socio-economic data will be most useful to local NGOs and governmental organisations providing them with detailed information about the people they are dealing with and the actual processes of timber extraction.
In 2003 a team from Edinburgh University completed its second successful field trip up the river Las Piedras, looking at the impact of mahogany extraction and associated hunting on wildlife populations. This year (2004) will see a third group, led by James Huff and Thomas Middleton (University of York – Biology Department), and a fourth, led by Ramsey AlChalaby (University of York – Environment Department), continue this work. It is hoped that, with the support of the concessionaries, Governmental organisations and NGOs, a long term monitoring scheme can be set up so that data can be collected and direct comparisons can be made. |
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Project La Torre
This project, started in 2002, by two ex-Resident Naturalists (RN’s), Nicole Antonie and Elizabeth Raine, works together with the La Torre Community (LTC). The aim is to improve the benefits of tourism from nearby lodges. During the course of 2003, it became apparent that a permanent coordinator is needed to maintain initiatives and relations between LTC and the tourist lodge Explorer’s Inn (EI) so that Community may to continue to benefit from tourism. In 2004, EI will have a permanent volunteer RN who, amongst doing other RN duties, will act as coordinator of the project’s initiatives (with help from Elizabeth & Nicole).
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ESE'EJA CULTURAL PROJECTS
Presentation of Ese Eja Medicinal Plant Book
The Ese Eja are the indigenous inhabitants of the Tambopata (Peru) and Madidi (Bolivia) regions.
A public presentation was held in Puerto Maldonado to launch the first ever book written by and for the Ese Eja in both Ese Eja and Spanish.
This bi-lingual health manual was written and illustrated by Ese Eja from four different communities in Peru and Bolivia as part of a process facilitated by anthropologists and TReeS associates Miguel Alexiades and Daniela Peluso, from the University of Kent, UK.
It is being distributed to all Ese Eja households and is one of the products of the working agreement between TReeS and FENAMAD. This Peruvian edition was largely funded by the Matthiesen Foundation and TReeS. A separate edition will be printed for the Ese Eja communities in Bolivia.
At the presentation were several of the authors, a representative of FENAMAD, the presidents of each of the three Ese Eja communities in Peru, Miguel Alexiades, Daniela Peluso and two invited guest speakers - Alfredo GarcÌa (TReeS) and David Gonzalez, a biologist who worked for some years with the Ese Eja. Other guests included several dozen public officials, local journalists and representatives from different educational institutions and charities.
Alfredo reviewed the process of writing the book, highlighting its value in terms of helping to document Ese Eja knowledge and promote Ese Eja language, and emphasised the role of FENAMAD in its production. He observed that besides including Ese Eja traditional knowledge, the manual contains details on plants used to cure imported diseases previously unknown to the area.
David Gonzales reflected on how he saw the Ese Eja as respectful guardians of the forest. He gave a brief summary of the book and mentioned that 70% of modern day medicines are derived from plants.
Several of the Ese Eja authors, including Victor Pesha (ex-president of the FENAMAD), Gregorio Huajohuajo and Edy Manrique Huajohuajo, made short presentations, in which they thanked the supporting institutions, TReeS in particular, acknowledging the value of the book to the Ese Eja in maintaining their culture, language, history, traditions and knowledge.
Reconstruction of the Ese'Eja Ancestral Territory
At the presentation of the Ese Eja Medicinal Plant Book (see previous project),a presentation was also given on a related project, through which anthropologists Miguel Alexiades and Daniela Peluso are helping the Ese Eja document areas that were traditionally utilized and lived in - many of which are now inside the Bahuaja-Sonene National Park. Edy Manrique Huajohuajo and Arturo Chaet·, from Sonene and Palma Real respectively, emphasized how important this area was for them, both in terms of their subsistence and their identity, and vowed to always protect it from the incursions of outsiders. The project has so far documented the place names of lakes, cliffs, salt licks, dozens of sand bars, streams and many other features of the Heath river. A large map has been produced showing the locations of ancient settlements. Mateo Viaeja (Palma Real) gave a fascinating and animated talk on his life with his father in these areas which seemed to be very funny to those who understood both Spanish and Ese Eja! A video of the trips made up the Heath river as part of this project, and which showed the many places in which the Ese Eja have lived over the past, has also been produced and was shown to the guests at the presentation.
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Manos Amigas
A baseline study, supported by TReeS, into the attitudes, knowledge and behaviour of adolescents towards Sexual and Reproductive Health in Tambopata was carried out in 2003.
Following on from this study, the assocation Manos Amigas has been formed with the aim of providing support for people living with HIV/AIDS in Madre de Dios.
In June the Prevention and Control of STIs and AIDS (PROCETSS Ministry of Health), the National Police Safety Division, the Tambopata Provincial Municipality Social Development Office and Manos Amigas held a Workshop on the Prevention of Sexually Transmitted Illnesses for the Sex Workers. of Puerto Maldonado. Ninety-five Sex Workers, and twenty five-bar owners joined local authorities, with the aim of consolidating the medical attention that the Sex Workers should receive from the Ministry of Health and to obtain a commitment from bar owners that they insist their Sex Workers receive a monthly medical check as a necessary working requisite, as stated by law.
In addition, Manos Amigas and the US Navy are working together to start a study in August on the prevalence of HIV/AIDS in Sex Workers and homosexuals in Puerto Maldonado and its surrounding areas. It will involve a survey of 300 Sex Workers and 100 homosexuals to determine the risk factors and behaviour of these groups. Blood samples will also be taken to determine which HIV/AIDS virus types are present in the area.
Other activities due to commence include Nutritional Workshops for people living with Aids and workshops with local DJ’s to encourage HIV/ AIDS prevention messages being broadcast on their programs so as to provide accurate and ongoing information to their listeners.
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International Schools Exchange
The International Schools Participation Programme links Schools in Tambopata, Peru, with Schools in Europe and North America.
The project provides a mutually beneficial partnership for participating schools. To realize this objective various personalized initiatives are designed by the teachers of each school and the project director.
Students realize benefits by means of exchanging letters and activities with students of their partner school.
Students from both schools work collaboratively to design fundraising initiatives and seek appropriate support to realize improvements for the Peruvian school that are identified in meetings held with the Parent’s Association and Teachers of that school.
The project director visits the schools and offers talks and debate of partner schools to compliment the project objectives.
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Sponsor a Student
Information on the "Sponsor a Student" project will be posted soon - please watch this space!
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Project Epiphyte
Information on Project Epiphyte will be posted soon - please watch this space!
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This section of the website should hopefully be updated regularly with the latest information on TReeS projects, however, for the most up to date information, see download latest newsletter.
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