CHALAKUY MAIZE PARK - LARES
Lares is a district of Peru located next to the Sacred Valley of the Incas. The Lares Valley encompasses a territory that stretches from the Amazon basin to the Andes mountains, with an altitudinal range of approximately 1000 meters above sea level to almost 5000 meters above sea level.
MAIZE PARK
Agrobiodiversity Barter Markets
The highly varied geography of the area imparts a wide variety of habitats, leading to a remarkable diversity of plant species, both cultivated and wild. Despite this rich diversity of species, Lares is one of the poorest districts in Peru and its population struggles with some of the highest percentages of nutrition-related health problems in the country.
Scaling
The project in Lares focuses on scaling, which refers to extending, replicating, adapting, and maintaining successful policies, projects, and programs in a given space and time to create greater impact. In the case of Lares, the scaling focuses on the management of the biodiversity associated with ancestral knowledge and customary laws, taking lessons learned in the Potato Park and adapting them to the reality of Lares.
Ecological Diversity
In Lares there is a wider breadth of local crops due to its various ecological niches, which allow data to be collected on the impact of climate change and the adaptability of different native crops, including corn, broad beans, coffee, cocoa, avocado and orange, in addition to varieties of native potato.
Community
Using a systems perspective, this project seeks to influence the relationships of food systems at the local and global levels and promotes the active participation of the rural poor for inclusive political governance.
Climate Change
The focus is on the knowledge and experiences of indigenous peoples and small farmer communities as key actors in identifying the challenges of climate change and creating appropriate responses.
We can create a better tomorrow
Promoting a conservation and development approach rights-based through the implementation of Biocultural Territories
Insights of Indigenous Knowledge
Discover in-depth research and perspectives on biodiversity, indigenous rights, and sustainable development.
Using biodiversity to confront anemia
In Lares, we are researching the potential of wild and underutilized species to improve community nutrition. Lares has one of the highest rates of anemia of any region in Peru, which is why our local experts are working hard to help maintain health in their communities.
Barter Markets in Lares
Since altitudes vary so much in the Lares valley, different crops grow at different elevations in the mountains. Consistent with traditional Andean values of solidarity and reciprocity, communities in the area meet every week to trade their different crops to ensure that their families can have diverse and nutritionally rich diets.
Cooking with Agrobiodiversity in Lares
This cookbook serves as a resources for the members of the communities of Lares and as a source of information and inspiration for communities in all of Peru. The focus on local ingredients, both cultivated and wild, creates recipes that are innovative, healhty, and tasty!