Sustainable Productive Landscapes: innovative approach for cattle raising in Tahuamanu

Posted on 27 April 2020

Sustainable Productive Landscapes is an initiative that seeks to confront this problem, thanks to an effective strategy that allows the use of resources, without harming nature and, at the same time, stopping deforestation in the province of Tahuamanu.

Madre de Dios, known as the capital of biodiversity, covers 15.3% of the Peruvian Amazon. However, each year, 12,000 hectares are lost mainly due to illegal mining, expansive agriculture and poor farming practices.
The Sustainable Productive Landscapes Initiative seeks to connect with the existing processes of nature and apply them in productive activities.

The department of Madre de Dios, also known as the capital of biodiversity, is characterized by being one of the most biodiverse territories in our country. In addition, it covers 15.3% of the Peruvian Amazon and has 11% of the total forest cover. It is the home of various indigenous communities and iconic species such as jaguars, birds, tapirs and monkeys.

However, this region faces a variety of problems, being mining, expansive agriculture and poor cattle raising practices, among the main causes. Each year, more than 120,000 hectares of forests disappear in the Peruvian Amazon. In the Madre de Dios department alone, 12,000 hectares of forest are lost per year.

Production model with a sustainable approach

Sustainable Productive Landscapes is an initiative that seeks to confront this problem, thanks to an effective strategy that allows the use of resources, without harming nature and, at the same time, stopping deforestation in the province of Tahuamanu.

Currently, 10 producers are participating during the pilot phase. They have committed to implement the principals of productive sustainability on their farms. In 2019, they participated in an initial diagnosis stage and are currently in the stage of implementing better practices in their farms, in order to increase productivity and reduce pressures on forests.

“As a technical ally of the initiative, we seek to promote the integrity, transparency and participation of the authorities, producers and citizens of Madre de Dios. In this way, we hope to increase the positive impact and be able to scale this pilot in order to implement good practices in other cattle raising farms” said María Eugenia Arroyo, Monitoring Specialist for WWF Peru.

In order to achieve this goal, it is necessary for producers to work collaboratively and in tune with the principles of nature, turning their method of producing in such a way that biodiversity, soil, water and forests are recovered and conserved, the productive parameters are improved, the family economy is strengthened, as well as the union association.

“On the other hand, it seeks to promote the commitment of the local district and provincial authorities to incorporate this strategy into the instruments of territorial planning and generate the political, regulatory and institutional conditions to facilitate its implementation” added María Eugenia.

Living Amazon

The implementation of Sustainable Productive Landscapes seeks to favor microbiological activity, in order to maintain soil conditions so that they can, in turn, support the pastures and crops available for cattle.
Likewise, it allows an increase in biodiversity and productivity within cattle ranches. Thanks to this, production systems are able to adapt to times of drought so that yield does not decrease due to water stress. On the other hand, it also contributes to strengthening the family economy.

In medium and long term, this initiative will promote the recovery of the forest landscape in Tahuamanu, becoming an effective strategy to hold back deforestation in other provinces and demonstrate that forest conservation is everyone´s job.

Paisajes Productivos Sostenibles

Sustainable Productive Landscapes: innovative approach for cattle raising in Tahuamanu

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