GLF Bonn 2018 Side Event 3.2: Lessons learned and best practices for the management of tropical peatlands: An inter-tropical dialogue (https://events.globallandscapesforum.org/agenda/bonn-2018/day-1/side-event-3-2-lessons-learned-and-best-practices-for-the-management-of-tropical-peatlands-an-inter-tropical-dialogue)

2.  Datem del Marañon
Province (DMP), Loreto
department, spans over a
total 4,766,879 ha, of which
1,226,646 ha are
“aguajales”.
 The carbon stock in the
DMP swamps is estimated
at around 3,780 Mt CO2eq,
including soil and subsoil.

3.  The DMP is inhabited by seven
ethnic communities.
 Government Density Index: with
a 0.4295 “Presence of
Government” indicator, DMP ranks
penultimate among all Peruvian
provinces*.
 The province also ranks last (194)
for the number of people lacking a
national ID document**.
* &** Source: Report on Human Development in Peru, 2013, by the
United Nations Development Program (UNDP)

4.  To improve the resilience of the
indigenous communities living
in the carbon rich wetlands and
peatlands in Datem del
Marañon province (DMP),
Loreto
 To reduce the greenhouse
effect gases resulting from
deforestation.

5.  Based on the Ministry of the Environment’s reference deforestation
scenario for the project’s area, the estimated deforestation avoided
over 10 years would reach a total 140.6 ha of aguajales and
peatlands, and 4,720 ha of forests, equivalent to 2.63 million t
CO2eq.
 4,150 families improve their resilience.
 338,000 ha of forests, aguajales and peatland’s improved resilience.

6.  The Pastaza Marañon foreland basin (PMFB)
has one of the most extensive peatland
areas discovered in the Amazonia: the total
peatland area is estimated at 35,600 Km2.
 It remains largely intact and with little
human contact. Nevertheless, it is predicted,
based on climate models, that it will warm
significantly in the future.

7.  A document published by Peru’s Ministry of
Environment reveals deforestation reached
8,033,216 ha. by 2009 nationwide, with
rates of 123,000 ha/year for 2000 – 2009.
 From 2009 to 2011, the highest
deforestation rates were for San Martin,
Loreto and Ucayali Departments.
 Historical sources of deforestation are the
expansion of the agricultural frontier,
exploitation of forests in indigenous lands,
traditional practices for collecting fruits, and
illegal logging.
Deforestation

8.  Along with droughts, major floods
may potentially disrupt ecosystems
and cause permanent changes to
their and biodiversity.
Floods
Infrastructure projects
 The construction of roads proposed
by the GOP will accelerate
deforestation and increase land
grabbing and degradation. If not well
managed, they could have a severe
impact on the area’s carbon stock.

9.  Due to great extensions of wetlands it is
necessary to articulate with local
population, subnational and national
governments.
 In order to manage peatlands in an
effective and efficient way, solid scientific
information is needed to make appropriate
decisions.
 Project implementation has promoted
coordination with subnational government
to generate joint alerts on land use
change threats.
 Next step: development of bio-
businesses benefiting local communities.