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Habitat Restoration and Sustainable Use of Southern Peruvian Dry Forest

Huarango forest relic on the Rio Poroma

The dry forest and xerophytic ecosystems of south-west Peru provide essential environmental and economic resources in a region supporting over 680,000 people. The predominant native tree species Prosopis pallida (huarango), has provided local livelihoods for at least 4,000 years. These forests are unique sources of biodiversity, supporting rare and threatened species (e.g. Slender-billed finch, Xenospingus concolor).

Over recent decades land clearance, felling and overgrazing have depleted the remaining dry forest relics almost to the point of extinction. The processes of desertification, including extensive soil loss and salination, are widely evident. In May 2005 blanket invasion of sand dunes over fertile land was recorded in areas of recent deforestation on the edge of the Ica Valley floodplain.

In collaboration with governmental and non-governmental partners, this project has been designed to develop and demonstrate techniques for habitat restoration and regeneration using local species, and for sustainable production of economically viable products from Prosopis (huarango) pods. Initial funding was obtained to conserve a surviving area of old-growth Prosopis forest in the Rio Nazca watershed, and project activities were launched in November 2005. Funds have since been secured from the UK Darwin Initiative to support the project from 2006 to 2009. 

The project aims to develop habitat restoration trials in deforested areas immediately surrounding this forest relic, buffering desert encroachment. At the same time it will work with local communities to trial the in situ production and processing of highly nutritional huarango pod products as a sustainable option for use of forest and reforested areas. Three other contrasting areas will be established on the Rios Ica and Nazca, providing a range of conditions, habitats and geographic span.

Dissemination and promotion of the uptake of research outcomes (including workshops and local-language manuals) are fundamental to the project, and will be achieved through involvement of local stakeholders at all stages and through integration with national development and conservation strategies and networks.

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