In September, colleagues Marcel Spaas and Linda Lap went to Peru to visit our local cooperation partner - coffee cooperative Norandino. This visit was intended, among other things, to determine the status of the reforestation project and to discuss the next steps. They also spoke to several farmers in the region about their experiences with the project. Linda is happy to tell you about this.
We are pleased with the warm contacts in the project and satisfied with the progress and potential that this project has.
A warm welcome
On the first day, we visited Norandino in Piura and met the president of the coffee cooperative, Wilfredo Garcia Cordova. We were warmly welcomed and well guided. We also interviewed General Manager Segundo Jose Rojas Hernandez and Commercial Manager Santiago Enrique Paz Lopez about the project, and took a look at the coffee, cocoa and Panela (cane sugar) factories. "A useful day!"**
Visit to the coffee farmers
The next day we traveled to the project area at approximately 3,200 meters altitude in Choco. There we spoke with community leaders and people from the project. We also visited a farming family there and interviewed the women, one of the men was also active in the reforestation project. They also had a vegetable garden. These vegetable gardens are initiated from the project and are supervised by a so-called controller. This woman also had an active role in the management of the project in the past. She took us to the reforestation area where there were trees that were now about 10-15 years old.
The area where we work is very high. Up to 3,500 meters! Local farming families do not have an easy life. Farming at such heights and with steep slopes is tough, and the effects of climate change are unfortunately already visible.
Reforestation project
The next day we traveled to the project area at approximately 3,200 meters altitude in Choco. There we spoke with community leaders and people from the project. We also visited a farming family there and interviewed the women, one of the men was also active in the reforestation project. They also had a vegetable garden. These vegetable gardens are initiated from the project and are supervised by a so-called controller. This woman also had an active role in the management of the project in the past. She took us to the reforestation area where there were trees that were now about 10-15 years old.
Visit to the nursery
Another area we visited is Las Lomas. There you will find, among other things, the nurseries of the woods. Here the seeds are planted and saplings are raised to the correct height so that they are ready to be planted. We also saw the planting of the trees and we visited a community house. The local population has invested in this with money from the Fairtrade premium of the carbon credits.
That afternoon we also visited a so-called 'fish farm', another initiative of this project to help people with variation in food and income.
On the last day in Choco we visited the family of a former president of Norandino and filmed their story. There we were allowed to eat in the kitchen where the guinea pigs also roamed!
In fact, there isn't one day of this trip that hasn't left an impression. Especially the stories of the people, how they live and how important this project is for a better future, also for their children. Ultimately, this forest will not only reduce CO2 emissions, but will also provide better water storage capacity in the area, additional protection against higher temperatures, more biodiversity and, in the long run, additional income from sustainable logging for the population.
It was very valuable to see how forest projects set up together with local communities can not only contribute to CO2 reduction, but also have so many other benefits, for example in the field of adaptation. People are very grateful, that is very nice to see. - Linda Lap