Our journey took us to one of our vegetable suppliers, Agricola Chapi, where we marvelled at a forest that we helped local NGO Huarango Nature plant about 10 years ago, which has flourished since, and now provides a vital seed source and regionally important refuge for biodiversity. Initially established with 18 dry forest plant species, this forest now boasts over 80 native species, along with a diverse array of animal life including 58 bird species. Recently the endangered Slender-Billed finch (Xenospingus concolor) has begun breeding there, and they have recorded the first sightings of the striped owl (Asio clamator). In addition to providing habitat for native birds, species of wild guinea pigs, and native endemic bees and insects also thrive here today. All this exemplifies how valuable habitat restoration can be, especially when the farm is committed to its permanent protection.

At the same time, restoring dry forest also has the benefit of increasing shade, improving soil fertility, reducing flood risk and increasing ground water recharge at a landscape scale. Our growers can already see the benefits that these native plants offer in protecting their land from climate change impacts such as those related to water and soil health. 

Despite challenges, Agricola Chapi has successfully maintained this forest with Huarango Nature’s careful monitoring, and even benefitted crop production, as native bees, attracted to the forest, now provide pollination. The agrobusiness has also benefited from the forest's ability to protect the farm from Andean water flooding locally called ‘Huaycos’.

We also visited Agrolatina in Nazca, where the Huarango Nature NGO has developed scientific protocols and planted biodiversity pollination corridors and islands strategically to buffer the last Huarango (Prosopis limensis) forest relicts around the farm. These areas have proven invaluable to farming operations; helping the grower to naturally manage pests and encourage beneficial insects in the new native habitat – showcasing the value of investment in native habitat areas to growers. They are now certified by Bee Better Certified that offers wider access to bee-supporting markets.

Our visit to the Native Plant Conservation Centre was equally enlightening. The Huarango Nature team shared scientific and horticultural knowledge through their work on threatened native tree propagation and seed storage. This includes growing native plants for farms and schools, and restoring the soil seed-bank with seed pellets along water channels, which development testing has shown can last many years until germinated by heavy Andean rainfall events typical in Peru.

We also had the pleasure of visiting two schools during our trip – Antonio Moreno de Cáceres, which has been working with Huarango Nature for many years, and a newer school to the project (IE “San José” of Ica). The children at Antonio Moreno school, many of whom are second-generation project participants, are now well-versed in the importance of preserving native biodiversity and the positive impacts this has on water stewardship, human nutrition, soil health and protecting their communities against climate change.

Looking ahead, we are excited about the future of The Huarango Nature project with plans to expand it to the wider region with several enthusiastic growers. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to work towards a more sustainable future!