CARE – or Central Ashaninka of the River Ene – is the Ashaninka’s representative body, working to find practical ways to help the 10,000 strong community protect the rainforest and ensure they have a voice in the outside world.

With our support CARE have been able to grow their team from four to ten people and have relocated to a better equipped office space, with room for training and meetings. Ruth Buendia Metsoquiari, the President of CARE, tells us: “The Yorkshire Rainforest Project will really help the Ashaninka people. It’s the first time that CARE have received such large funding directly and the communities located in the Rio Ene Valley will benefit greatly.”

The Rainforest Foundation and CARE are working to listen and collaborate with the Ashaninka community right from the start.

Developing a Management Plan for the Ashaninka Communal Reserve
The Ashaninka Communal Reserve, covering 184,468 hectares of pristine rainforest, is recognised by law. As a ‘communal reserve’ the Ashaninka have the right to use the area’s natural resources for subsistence – and they’re also responsible for its protection and future management. Thanks to the Yorkshire Rainforest Project, CARE are working with the community to develop a ‘Management Plan’ which will be recognised at a national level, and which incorporates the Ashaninka’s viewpoints and cultural beliefs.

This is the first time that an indigenous people have been involved in developing a management plan for their own reserve – and it will act as a model for other areas.

Forestry, Fit for the Future
Timber from the rainforest has great value – and selling it commercially can bring many benefits to the community. However it’s vital that the trees are felled in limited quantities, so as not to damage the eco-system – and that the Ashaninka aren’t exploited by logging companies. With our support CARE are running training workshops to ensure that communities are able to both benefit from forestry, and protect the rainforest for the long term.

Access to Livelihoods
If families can make a decent living, they’ll stay in the rainforest rather than move to towns. CARE’s experts are working with communities to see what crops and small-scale income generating activities would thrive in the area.

A technical analysis will help determine which crops (for example cocoa, sesame seeds and coffee) are best suited to the soil, landscape and climate; a market analysis will look at the opportunities to sell crops outside the community; an environmental assessment will look at long term potential impacts; and by consulting and engaging the community CARE will ensure their views, perceptions and ideas shape the project. By the end of the project we hope to have established two sustainable livelihood projects, which can also be used as ‘role model’ programmes for the future.