Replanting Peru’s Huarango forests

Local volunteers collect tree seedlings to help replant Peru’s Huarango forests.

The Huarango (Prosopis pallida) forests on the south coast of Peru are amongst the most threatened ecosystems in the world. For centuries they have been destroyed for fuel and large-scale agriculture.

However, A Rocha Peru is working on a reforestation programme. This focuses around the small town of Yaurilla in Ica province, a dry, sandy area with few natural green spaces.

The project began with the local communities by communicating the importance of the trees. Then in December, replanting started. Since then, local volunteers have planted three hectares with over 3,000 Huarango seedlings.

Over the coming year, A Rocha Peru expects to plant a total of 10 hectares with 11,000 Huarango trees.

Small photo: Leaflets were distributed to local communities to explain the importance of replanting the threatened dry coastal forests.

Related link: Restoring the Huarango forests: the first three hectares