( 2021) Climate change has had a first-hand impact on the Huallaga River, breaching embankments and flooding prime agricultural land, infrastructure, and affecting over 3000 family homes along its path. Flooding has become a growing concern as floodwaters in March 2021 rose up to 2.2 m (7.2 feet) in some areas. The Peruvian National Meteorology and Hydrology Service (SENAMHI) has been warning affected communities and regions along the Huallaga floodplain and beyond of impending floods during rainy seasons, as the seasons last longer than previously recorded. These extremes have been followed by harsh drought periods that have left this river almost dry.
Man made impacts surrounding the upper and lower Huallaga, such as deforestation, slash and burn practices for land clearance continue to play havoc on the carbon footprint, cumulatively impacting climate change. The most recent UN Climate Report released Monday August 9th 2021, highlights that these warning s should not be taken lightly and that there is no time to spare. Our planet is in deep trouble and we as guardians of our natural resources have been doing a terrible job managing these resources. No matter how many reports are written not only national governments need to take action but citizens on the ground.
Awareness raising on the life cycle related to natural resource, use, management and access is key to engaging communities in discussions and debates around the future. Local community members along the Huallaga most recently participated in climate change discussions, identifying that drastic occurrences have led to disruptions in production impacting local livelihoods, as seen with fluctuating prices on produce such as coffee, oranges, cacao, rice, and other products produced in San Martin. For some this has meant changing crops altogether or abandoning land. “Every year is worse” says Jesus, “as the rivers keep rising followed by drought and that means our crops are subject other diseases”.
tierraselva 