Valuation of Environmental Services in the Managed Forests of Seven Indigenous Communities in Ucayali, Peru, is a subnational REDD+ initiative led by the Peruvian nonprofit organization AIDER (Association for integrated development and investigation) in the Ucayali region of Peru. The initiative aims to reduce deforestation and degradation, conserve biodiversity, increase forest carbon reserves and improve livelihoods through the promotion of sustainable forest management within seven Shipibo Conibo and Cacataibo indigenous communities. Since the initiative's inception in 2010, the proponent has conducted socioeconomic and deforestation baseline studies, delivered REDD+ training workshops, and promoted sustainable timber, NTFP and fisheries management practices. It has also continued to provide technical assistance for communities to attain FSC forest management certification and to monitor and conduct surveillance of forested areas. Over the initiative's first ten years, the plan is to conserve 1826 ha annually and avoid emissions of 5,699,386 CO2e (AIDER 2014). Future plans include certification by VCS and CCBA and commercialization of carbon credits. In this chapter, we describe the goals and strategies of the initiative, characterize the participating smallholders and their livelihood activities, discuss the challenges and concerns of key stakeholders, and offer insights on the lessons of this initiative. For this initiative, REDD+ is a way to support the continuation of forest management interventions by the proponent with carbon funds. This site also demonstrates the importance of prioritizing interventions and setting rules that reflect local biophysical and cultural conditions.

Authors: Rodriguez-Ward, D.; del Aguila, P.P.

Subjects: climate change, ecosystem services, indigenous peoples

Publication type: Chapter-R, Publication

Year: 2014