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The province of Loreto in northern Peru is grappling with two significant environmental challenges. Firstly, there is a rampant issue of timber trafficking, with estimates suggesting that between 78% and 88% of trees are being illegally felled. Secondly, the expansion of agricultural land is contributing to deforestation, particularly affecting indigenous communities who live under precarious conditions.
In response to this, Latitud Sur, an NGO, has proposed an innovative and sustainable agroforestry model to restore degraded areas. This approach combines the ancestral knowledge of local herbalists with modern expertise. The organization aims to reforest 200 hectares of land and plant 49,000 trees within a span of three years.
Currently, around twenty farming families are benefiting from this new alternative agroforestry model, which provides them with a viable and sustainable livelihood option. By incorporating traditional wisdom and contemporary practices, Latitud Sur is working towards addressing both environmental concerns and improving the socio-economic conditions of the local communities in Loreto province.