You are here

  1. Home
  2. Explore Projects
  3. Sustainable ranching in the Peruvian Amazon

Sustainable ranching in the Peruvian Amazon

 

With over 16 years’ experience of designing and implementing agroforestry projects with communities in the Amazon, Dr Lucy Dablin – OU Lecturer in Environment and Sustainability – is a leading figure in the fight against deforestation and pasture degradation in the Peruvian Amazon.

Intensive cattle ranching has led to deforestation and the subsequent degradation of over 30 million hectares of pasture in the Amazon. Climate change is increasing the incidence of drought and flood, hastening degradation further. Farming families are struggling, owning increasingly unproductive and unprofitable land.

Our project will train Peruvian cattle farmers in silvopasture practices, which combine grazing livestock, forestry, and pasture management – a productive system that removes the need to clear land for cattle whilst mitigating climate change through its reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and ability to sequester carbon. Women will also be supported to establish tree nurseries, supplying the resultant demand for tree seedlings.

The OU-led consortium has six core partners – the OU, the World Wildlife Fund Peru (WWF), the Tropical Forest Alliance (TFA), Climate Group, and two academic research partners. Its longstanding presence in Peru provides deep local knowledge and established community partnerships, ensuring the engagement of critical stakeholders from the onset of the activity.

Requiring ongoing funding, the initiative most urgently requires support to plant and establish silvopasture demonstration plots. The resulting widespread introduction of silvopasture enabled by this project will have a significant and lasting impact on the rural communities in the Peruvian Amazon.

Trees in a forest

More Sustainability Projects

Leading examples of how the OU’s pioneering sustainability research is actively protecting and regenerating our planet.

Sustainability Brochure

Download the Sustainability brochure

Read about sustainability projects at the OU.

Gillian Hosier

Get in touch

Email Gillian Hosier or call on 01908 858285 to discuss this project