Medicinal Plants Workshop in Monte Carmelo

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The classroom transformed into a forest full of stories, aromas, and living memories. At the Igoriteshiari Primary School, in the Native Community of Monte Carmelo, a deeply enriching experience took place: educational workshops on medicinal plants, guided by a local elder—an ancestral keeper of the forest’s healing secrets.

Second Medicinal Plants Workshop at the Igoriteshiari Primary School (June, 2025)

Over the course of this trimester, two workshops have been held, benefiting more than 40 kids, from this school. In each session, students learned which plants help soothe stomach pain, which promote sleep, and which ones need to be protected because they’re becoming scarce. Every plant shared carried a story, a family memory, a lesson on how to care not only for the body but also for the environment.

More than just workshops, these were acts of cultural transmission. For many children, it was the first time they heard someone speak with such respect and depth about the medicine that comes from the forest—medicine that has healed generations before them. The elder didn’t just explain the properties of the plants; he taught them to see the forest with new eyes: not as a mere resource, but as an ally to be respected and protected.

Promoted by A Rocha Peru, these spaces aim to revalue traditional medicine as a vital part of local knowledge, to promote forest care, and to strengthen cultural pride in the living heritage of Amazonian communities.

Connecting youth to nature

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By Grazia Rabasa

In our ongoing commitment to environmental conservation, A Rocha Peru is excited to share some of the progress of our latest initiative, the Amazon Natural and Cultural Heritage Conservation project.  Central to our project is the importance of preserving the Amazon rainforest and the rich cultural heritage of the Machigengan people.

Eco-club Workshop creating bird masks, August 2023

One of our project objectives is to enhance environmental awareness among the younger generation about the conservation of the forest, flora, and fauna. In 2023, the pilot created an eco-club called Katsari Forest in the primary school in Monte Carmelo.  The eco-club has provided 66 enthusiastic students a platform to actively engage in environmental conservation efforts.  Through a series of workshops, including discovering the world of birds, getting to know the tropical forests and discussions on deforestation, we are empowering these young minds to become advocates for their environment.

Bridge access to the Katsari children’s forest, August 2023

Moreover, our project extends beyond education to practical solutions like building a bridge to access the Bosques de los Niños (Children’s Forest).  This bridge not only facilitates the children’s exploration of the forest but also symbolizes our dedication to fostering a deep connection between communities and their natural surroundings.  By empowering communities, preserving cultural heritage, and safeguarding biodiversity, we are laying the groundwork for a sustainable future for both people and the planet.

 

Bird Monitoring in the Amazon

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Nestled in the heart of the Peruvian jungle, Monte Carmelo stands out as a testament to the rich biodiversity of the region. Monte Carmelo, located in Cuzco, boasts a myriad of habitats – from high-altitude grasslands and cloud forests to low-lying valleys. Such ecological diversity provides a home for an astonishing variety of bird species, making the area a magnet for ornithologists and bird enthusiasts alike.

Blue-crowned Trogon (Trogon curucui)

The Amazon Natural & Cultural Heritage Conservation Project is working with the local community of Monte Carmelo to aid in the conservation of avian diversity and promote bird watching tourism. In an effort to understand the conservation status of the resident bird population, research was undertaken.  A considerable amount of bird species was documented, through field surveys, acoustic monitoring and citizen science guided by our field expert Hugo Marcos Loyola.

Field surveys reveal that the Military Macaw, the White-winged Trumpeter and the Razor-billed inhabit the area.  Military Macaw has been listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN’s Red List of Threatened Species.  In addition, the White-winged Trumpeter and the Razor-billed are classified as Near Threatened.  The new birdwatching group observed the Russet-backed Oropendola, Blue-crowned Trogon, and the Common Squirrel-cuckoo, amongst others.  The biodiversity of the jungle is a treasure that we must value and protect. With initiatives like this one, we take another step towards the conservation and understanding of our natural environment.

A New Pilot Project in the Peruvian Amazon

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Bird Watching, Monte Carmelo (H.Marcos, July 2023)

The Amazon Natural and Cultural Heritage Pilot Project began in June this year. The pilot project works in a small community called Monte Carmelo, located in the basin of the Urubamba River in the Southeastern Peruvian Amazon. A Rocha Peru partners with the Comunidad Nativa Machiguenga Monte Carmelo (Monte Carmelo Machiguenga Indigenous Community) to help conserve and restore ecosystems and endangered species and preserve the cultural traditions and ancestral knowledge in native communities. The project is currently researching birds and medicinal plant species in this area.

To preserve traditions, workshops and talks will be conducted by elders to spread knowledge to the younger generation on the uses of traditional medicinal plants, the Machiguenga language, and other ancestral customs like hunting with bow and arrow.

For the local school, the project is establishing a recreational forest park to create an opportunity to teach children and others about the environment and the importance of preserving natural ecosystems.  Stay tuned for more developments in the coming months!