A million native trees in the Peruvian Andes

The Circuit of Four Lakes comprises Lagunas Acopia, Pomacanchi, Mosoqllacta (Asnacocha) and Pampamarca and is located in the provinces of Acomayo and Canas in the department of Cusco, Peru.

The trees to be planted will include natives such as Escallonia resinosa (Chachacomo) Polylepis incana  (Qeuna) and Buddleja coriacea (Qolle) among other species. The Indigenous communities who live around the four lakes and women associations from villages in Acopia, Mosoqllacta, Pomacanchi and Pampamarca districts will nature and take care of the trees.

The Million Native Trees campaign is an outcome of a sustainable development project in the same area which begun in August 2004. The first phase of the project “Recovery of the Circuit of Four Lakes” which started as a water and sanitation project is registered as a Partner for Sustainable Development with the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development. Its objective is to stop the contamination of the water and banks of these lakes by modern chemicals, plastics and pharmaceutical discards. The project also aims to educate Indigenous communities residing near the lakes on how to preserve the environmental health and biodiversity of the area.

Escallonia resinosa
(chachacomo)

Yachay Wasi, which means House of Learning in Quechua, is a Non-Governmental Organization based in Cusco, Peru and in New York City, USA. It is in consultative status (Roster since 2001, Special since 2008) with the UN Economic and Social Council, associated with the UN Department of Information since 1997 and in Operational Relations with UNESCO since 2007.

To support the Yachay Wasi tree planting initiative, please visit:

http://www.yachaywasi-ngo.org/MillionTrees

www.yachaywasi-ngo.org

Contact: Marie-Danielle Samuel,  yachaywasi@nyc.rr.com