New Project! Afforestation in Semi-Arid Zone of the High Andes, Arapa

New afforestation project in collaboration with CEDEPAS

Desert Leaves Foundation and CEDEPAS Peru are planning on planting 13,700 native queñua trees (Polylepis spp.) to create new forests that protect water, soil, and biodiversity while empowering the local community.

Community-led action: 40 families contribute land and labor, receiving training, water tanks, solar pumps, and food kits. The new forests and infiltration ditches capture and retain water, improving irrigation for crops, maintaining pastures, and increasing food security.

Sustainable impact: CEDEPAS will continue supporting forest management after Desert Leaves exits, establishing a community-led forest committee and long-term strategies for pasture recovery, water conservation, and local livelihoods.

Environmental benefits: New habitat for endangered species, carbon sequestration (2,400–4,800 tons), soil stabilization, and improved water regulation.

This project shows how nature-based solutions can create lasting ecological, social, and economic benefits in high-Andean communities, contributing to mitigating the devastating impacts of climate change.