Big strides in the Peruvian Amazon

Posted on 12 October 2015

The Dedicated Grant Mechanism (DGM) is a fund aimed to support indigenous peoples and their community forest management. It will empower local communities in the Peruvian Amazon.

The Dedicated Grant Mechanism (DGM) is a fund aimed to support indigenous peoples and their community forest management. It will empower local communities in the Peruvian Amazon.
The implementation period is five years, in which is expected to reach the legal recognition of 310 indigenous communities in the Amazon.

Deforestation rate is increasing in Peru, especially in those areas lacking of land ownership. As it is known, forests are not only large carbon sinks to halt climate change, but they are also home to unique species, source of incomes and livelihoods for local communities in the area.

Among main deforestation drivers are migration, agricultural and livestock expansion, and infrastructure projects – roads construction or non-regulated timber extraction. On the other hand, territorial reserves, which include indigenous lands and protected areas, showcase lower deforestation rates.

The DGM Saweto Peru is one of the first participatory projects developed along with indigenous leaders and beneficiaries, which objective is to facilitate cultural and physical continuity of communities depending on forests.

In this regard, Alberto Rodriguez, Representative of the World Bank for the Latin American and the Caribbean region - organization in charge of funding this mechanism -, said that this is just the very beggining and that during the implementation process opportunities for additional funds could take place. "The WB trusts in indigenous peoples and they have our total support", added. "We hope to see big strides for the DGM Saweto Peru in the next five years", concluded.

Next Steps:

To achieve this it is compelling to provide more security for land tenure and to forest the sustainable use of natural resources through land titles to indigenous communities living in the Peruvian Amazon, as well as to promote an improved community forest management, governance, and sustainability.

“DGM global guidelines have been adapted to local needs. DGM Peru is very innovative and specially, very ambitious on its concept, but with the guarantee to effectively ensure the protection of tropical forest by ensuring land titling of approximately 800 000 hectares of tropical forests, recognition of 310 indigenous communities, and 75 projects of community forest management,” underscored Patricia León-Melgar, Country Representative of WWF Peru – National Executive Agency for DGM’s funds.

The DGM for indigenous peoples and local communities support indigenous action to tackle climate change and the inclusive growth through the improvement of protection and legal recognition, as well as the capacity building which are key to empower local communities in the Peruvian Amazon.

Some expected outcomes include: i) recognition of 310 Amazon indigenous communities in the National Registry of Indigenous Communities; ii) land demarcation, land titles, and registration in the National Superintendence of Public Records – SUNARP to 130 communities, which implies at least 780 000 has of land; and iii) successful implementation of 50 subprojects of food security, 20 of incomes generation, and 5 of sustainable timber production.

Big strides in the Peruvian Amazon

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