Tree Management in the Northwestern Andean Cordillera of Peru

Background

Peasant communities in the northwestern Andean Cordillera of Peru utilize many indigenous and introduced trees and shrubs to satisfy a variety of material needs. However, forest resources are over-harvested and over-grazed, contributing to soil erosion. This study aims to identify the major tree and shrub species in the region and understand their ecologies and usages, and to recommend priorities for reforestation in the region taking human usage into account.

Research goals & methods

An inventory of the major arboreal and shrubbery species in the area was compiled to provide a base for more sustainable management, as well as for better planning of future reforestation in the region. Air photography and field surveys were undertaken. Priority was given to description of each species in terms of its local use, applicability for agroforestry, and position in the soil and landscape context in which it has developed. Several landscape types are present in the region with a history of rotation, including tropical montane forest, secondary (generally burned) shrublands, woodland, tree savanna, and riparian forest.

Conclusions & takeaways

Several species within the genera Acacia, Alnus, Cordia, Erythrina, and Prosopis are both broad in their range and commonly used. These are proposed as the most effective for improvement of forest areas in this region, especially those that are used for grazing.