Deforestation in Peru, a silent problem
Maybe you have heard of the region of Cajamarca, and more specifically Jaen, as one of the main, largest, and most important places where coffee is produced in Peru. Today, we are facing a socioeconomic problem that is affecting not only the ecosystem itself, but also the quality and production of coffee in this place.
What is happening?
The Cajamarca region suffered deforestation of 15,177 hectares between 2001 and 2016. Forest cover, species of wild flora and fauna, decreased river flows, climatic alterations and other environmental impacts have been lost.
This has occurred due to forest deforestation, in search of alternatives to improve the income of the inhabitants of the area and the exploitation of this resource for their own use in construction, housing, subsistence, among others.
The northern provinces of Jaén and San Ignacio were the most affected, with deforestation rates of 29% and 71% during this period.
What are the consequences of deforestation?
Economic and environmental instability
Natural spaces, such as forests and jungles, are direct sources of raw materials, fuels and components of medicines, so in the long term, the lack of these resources can also lead to economic and environmental instability.
Alteration of the water cycle
Forests make soils richer in organic matter and more resistant to processes such as erosion. However, the felling of these forests affects the water cycle, which moves to other areas with vegetation, causing soils to degrade and lose their cover.
Loss of biodiversity
The disappearance of large forest areas is a direct threat to the life of living beings and their ecosystems. There are more than 7.7 million species on the planet, and more than 20% are in danger of extinction.
Global warming
This is one of the main consequences of deforestation, since, without trees, CO2 remains in the atmosphere and the well-known greenhouse effect is produced.
Desertification or soil desertification
If temperatures rise and water becomes scarce due to the indiscriminate felling of millions of trees every year, fertile lands become desert areas.
Initiatives that make a difference!
We invite you to learn about the project "Planting of timber trees and renewal of coffee cultivation" that Belco together with the Peruvian cooperative Coopagro developed in the hamlet of La Huaca, municipality of Huabal, in Jaén, Cajamarca with more than 20 associated families.
One of the main objectives of this project was to avoid the deforestation of the Peruvian jungle by planting different types of timber trees around their coffee plantations, allowing them to take advantage of this timber in a few years while generating shade for their crops, favoring biodiversity, and improving organic matter.
An initiative to mitigate on a small scale this problem in this coffee growing region.
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