Peru

Tropical forests hold the potential to provide one-third of the near-term solution to mitigate climate change. Growing evidence demonstrates that when the rights of Indigenous Peoples to their land and natural resources are respected, deforestation rates are lower than in areas managed by the government.

Located in the northeast region of Peru – in the San Martin region – the Alto Mayo basin houses fourteen indigenous Awajun communities, settled across 146,529 hectares (a little less than 20% of the entire basin). Originally from the northern part of Peru, the Awajun emigrated from Loreto and Amazonas in the first quarter of the 20th century when they faced pressure from oil exploration, border conflicts, military presence, and colonization.

As indicated by the indigenous leaders of the Selva Central, the titling of indigenous lands allows for the reduction of socio-environmental conflicts, deforestation and as such, decreases greenhouse gas emissions and strengthens the food sovereignty of indigenous peoples.

Launched in April of 2018, Earth Observation for Indigenous-led Land Management (EO4IM) is a NASA-funded project being implemented by a team from Conservation International (CI). The project’s objective is to strengthen the technical capacities of indigenous organizations in the Americas – and globally through alignment with the Dedicated Grant Mechanism for Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (DGM) – to harness the power of earth observation (EO) for enhanced sustainable land management.

From June 11-15, DGM Global held its second annual Americas Regional Exchange in Junín, Peru. In total, the exchange featured 25 key representatives of indigenous peoples and local communities (IPLCs) from 10 countries, including one from Indonesia, whose participation helped promote cross-regional exchange and learning.

This year, we are excited to announce that the second Latin America Regional Exchange will take place between June 11-15, 2018 in Satipo, Peru. The exchange learning topics include titling of indigenous lands and territories, recognition of communities, management of natural resources, and a day of workshops on the importance of communities in land management practices and ecological monitoring.

Today, the DGM Global project is celebrating the International Day of Peace. This holiday was established by the United Nations in 1981 and is devoted to “commemorating and strengthening the ideals of peace both within and among all nations and peoples.” This holiday is a good reminder that, in order to create sustainable and inclusive peace, it is important to hear the perspectives of those from all different backgrounds.

The Global Executing Agency for the DGM is hosting a planning and coordination meeting of 6 of the 7 DGM National Executing Agencies (NEAs) from Thursday- Saturday. We have representatives from the NEAs in Brazil, Burkina Faso, Democratic Republic of Congo, Indonesia, Peru, Ghana and Mexico.

The DGM will be participating in two side events at the Indigenous Peoples' and Communities Pavilion at COP 22. More details inside!

Indigenous peoples participants from Asia, Africa, Latin America and Russia  at the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues attended a side event hosted by the DGM titled “Illustrating how direct funds governed by IPLCs can contribute to adaptation, mitigation, and conflict resolution” at the UN Headquarters in New York City on May 13, 2016.

The Saweto Dedicated Grant Mechanism for Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities in Peru was approved in August 2015 and launched in Lima on October 9, 2015.  Partners at AIDESEP have just released a video presenting the program (Spanish only).

The first issue of DGM Digest has been released. The issue includes the announcement of six new countries to join the DGM as well as information about Peru's recently approved DGM Country Project.