- N
- B
Rare 2,000 Year-Old Tree Needs Your Help!
Greetings from the Momon River, which lies in the heart of the Amazon Rainforest of Peru. Throughout the past year, in spite of the worldwide Coronavirus Pandemic, Rio Momon Conservation Association (RMCA) staff worked tirelessly on reforestation and animal rescue projects. Other projects, such as land acquisition and community projects, had to be put on hold because government offices and other businesses were closed throughout the year and travel was severely restricted.
This year, things are looking much more promising, as government offices, banks and other businesses essential to our projects are starting to re-open on a limited basis. This means that our RMCA staff can finally realize those projects that were put on hold during the previous year.
Our primary goal for this year is to begin the first private reserve on the Momon River, with the acquisition of a 20-hectare (50 acre) parcel of primary rainforest land adjacent to the RMCA Headquarters. This piece of land is critical to the long-term health of our region for several reasons. First and foremost, on this land is a Huangana Caspi tree that is more than 2,000 years old. According to expert botanists who advise RMCA staff, this species is rare and grows extremely slowly, and this is one fo the largest specimens ever discovered. For this reason, it is critical to protect this tree and its habitat, which is filled with hundreds of other ancient trees. During the pandemic crisis illegal wood cutting accelerated drastically as local people ventured further into the rainforest in search of valuable old-growth trees to cut in order to survive. Fortunately, RMCA staff have made an agreement to purchase this land from the legal owners, who agreed not to cut any more trees, but they have been waiting for more than a year, so it is vital to complete the purchase of this land as soon as possible.
Another important project for this year is to continue and accelerate our reforestation projects. Working in conjunction with IIAP, the Peruvian government organization in charge of all environmental work in the a Amazon region, our goal is to restore as much damaged jungle land as possible, and plant more than 1,000 trees of various species, with an emphasis on rare and medicinal trees. This is the first reforestation project of its type in this region, and our goal is to serve as a role model for similar projects in other areas.
Finally, we aim to continue our successful animal rescue as project, which was launched two years ago. For this year, we plan to construct a new larger enclosure for our endangered Yellow Footed Tortoises, which will also house the new rescue animals including mammals such as Mahas, Anouti, Anteaters, and Rosoco, which have disappeared from our area due to illegal hunting. This was also greatly accelerated during the pandemic, as local hunters ventured further into primary forest in search of animals for food and to sell for profit.
The staff of RMCA have been working non-stop during the past year to keep our projects going in spite of the challenges presented by this terrible pandemic. Thanks to the generous donations received during last years successful {GoFundMe campaign}, we were able to keep working. Our heartfelt thanks go out to all who donated, shared, and supported us then.
Now, we need your help once again, to enable us to complete these projects for 2021. Working together we can accomplish great things, helping to save the Amazon Rainforest, one tree, and one animal at a a time. Even the longest journey begins with the first step.
riomomon.org
Greetings from the Momon River, which lies in the heart of the Amazon Rainforest of Peru. Throughout the past year, in spite of the worldwide Coronavirus Pandemic, Rio Momon Conservation Association (RMCA) staff worked tirelessly on reforestation and animal rescue projects. Other projects, such as land acquisition and community projects, had to be put on hold because government offices and other businesses were closed throughout the year and travel was severely restricted.
This year, things are looking much more promising, as government offices, banks and other businesses essential to our projects are starting to re-open on a limited basis. This means that our RMCA staff can finally realize those projects that were put on hold during the previous year.
Our primary goal for this year is to begin the first private reserve on the Momon River, with the acquisition of a 20-hectare (50 acre) parcel of primary rainforest land adjacent to the RMCA Headquarters. This piece of land is critical to the long-term health of our region for several reasons. First and foremost, on this land is a Huangana Caspi tree that is more than 2,000 years old. According to expert botanists who advise RMCA staff, this species is rare and grows extremely slowly, and this is one fo the largest specimens ever discovered. For this reason, it is critical to protect this tree and its habitat, which is filled with hundreds of other ancient trees. During the pandemic crisis illegal wood cutting accelerated drastically as local people ventured further into the rainforest in search of valuable old-growth trees to cut in order to survive. Fortunately, RMCA staff have made an agreement to purchase this land from the legal owners, who agreed not to cut any more trees, but they have been waiting for more than a year, so it is vital to complete the purchase of this land as soon as possible.
Another important project for this year is to continue and accelerate our reforestation projects. Working in conjunction with IIAP, the Peruvian government organization in charge of all environmental work in the a Amazon region, our goal is to restore as much damaged jungle land as possible, and plant more than 1,000 trees of various species, with an emphasis on rare and medicinal trees. This is the first reforestation project of its type in this region, and our goal is to serve as a role model for similar projects in other areas.
Finally, we aim to continue our successful animal rescue as project, which was launched two years ago. For this year, we plan to construct a new larger enclosure for our endangered Yellow Footed Tortoises, which will also house the new rescue animals including mammals such as Mahas, Anouti, Anteaters, and Rosoco, which have disappeared from our area due to illegal hunting. This was also greatly accelerated during the pandemic, as local hunters ventured further into primary forest in search of animals for food and to sell for profit.
The staff of RMCA have been working non-stop during the past year to keep our projects going in spite of the challenges presented by this terrible pandemic. Thanks to the generous donations received during last years successful {GoFundMe campaign}, we were able to keep working. Our heartfelt thanks go out to all who donated, shared, and supported us then.
Now, we need your help once again, to enable us to complete these projects for 2021. Working together we can accomplish great things, helping to save the Amazon Rainforest, one tree, and one animal at a a time. Even the longest journey begins with the first step.
riomomon.org