Solar energy for improved rural livelihoods in Peru

Most of rural native communities in Peru in particular those located in remote areas in the Amazon rainforest live below the line of poverty and do not have access to basic utilities such as water and electricity. These communities usually suffer from many disadvantages such as isolation and marginalization from local and national governments.

Native communities were living in the Amazon rainforest for centuries and they have ancestral knowledge of natural environment. These communities play a very important role of surveillance of the natural reserves that contains larger forests biomass. Their ancestral knowledge can be very useful to mitigate global warming and prevent deforestation and forest degradation. Therefore, improving the living conditions of the native communities is a priority given their deep connection to the natural environment.

Peruvian laws recognize the rights of the indigenous communities over their traditional territories however, until now they have not been given the necessary attention and support. Indigenous communities are also vulnerable to several environmental problems such as the desertification not only because of climate change but also because of illegal logging activities which destroys their ecosystem and livelihoods. They have to deal with these issues every day with minimum support. Due to their precarious living conditions, their fight against deforestation seems not enough.

If native communities become allies of forest protection it is possible to have a better control and protection of the forests and the biodiversity. For this reason, it is necessary to provide them with all tools to better fight against deforestation. With this project we can improve their living conditions and restore their dignity and respect.

Even if deforestation activities are identified on time reporting on then in due time is not possible due to the lack of communication means and poor access to information. All these issues are forcing many people from native communities to migrate to large cities in search of better living condition and economic opportunities. The state has not been able to cover basic public services in these remote rural areas and for private electricity companies’ investments are not possible in these sectors due to the high cost of the implementation of electricity networks.

The area of influence of the project includes 2 natural areas protected by the Peruvian state, located at Cerro de Pasco Region:

• The Yanesha Communal Reserve - RCY (for its Spanish acronym). In this reserve, Fondo Verde has a main partner the Native Community “Nueva Aldea”, with an area of 5,367 hectares of which 4,302 hectares are suitable for forestry.
• The San Matías-San Carlos Protection Forest - BPSMSC (for its Spanish acronym). In this important protected natural area, our main partner is the Native Community “San Pedro de Pichanaz”, which has an extension of 6,750 hectares of which 4,127 hectares are suitable for forestry.

Only a few families in these villages have solar panels but the vast majority do not have electricity and lack many other services. Not only can the solar panels offer a source of electricity for the villages in these remote areas but they also help reduce lighting costs, open the possibility of revenue generation; support teaching and health activities: and reduce fire hazards and pollution indoors from traditional kerosene-based lighting.

Access to electricity through simple and effective solutions can greatly improve the lives of natives and contribute to the development of the region promoting a low carbon life style. It has been shown that villages can be technically and economically self-sufficient with solar energy sources.