YACHAY
WASIYACHAY
WASIan ongoing project in the Peruvian Andes
This Partnership for Sustainable Development is composed of Agenda 21 major groups: Indigenous Peoples, NGOs and Local Communities.
The Partnership Recovery of the Circuit of Four Lakes is mentioned in the UN Secretary General 2007 report to the 62nd Session of the General Assembly: Sustainable Mountain Development. (see Peru, page 7) - Report (Spanish), Report (French)
Partnership is also described in UN Document (pg 7 & 8) submitted by the UN Dept of Economic and Social Affairs to the 7th Session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (21 April - 2 May 2008) - Doc. Spanish - Doc. French
Yachay Wasi's Project in the Peruvian Andes is ONE of the BEST PRACTICES IN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT by ECOSOC NGOs which were displayed in the ECOSOC Innovation Fair at United Nations Hqrs, NYC - 30 June thru 3 July 2008.
Recovery of the Circuit of Four Lakes was introduced as Best Practice during the 4 April 2008 ECOSOC NGO Forum SOME BACKGROUND:
This environmental and educational project is geared to the recovery of the circuit of four lakes located in the province of Acomayo, in the department of Cuzco, in the Andes of Peru.
These lakes are Laguna Acopia near the village of Acopia - native village of Yachay Wasi president - , Lagunas Pampamarca and Asnacocha near the village of Mosoqllaqta, Laguna Pomacanchi near the village of Pomacanchi. The villagers and many smaller communities located near these lakes rely on these waters. There are 36 Indigenous communities living near these lakes with a 2002 estimated population of 25,518 inhabitants.
The lakes are located at an altitude of 3600 meters.
The contamination of these lakes has been a growing problem over the past few years.
A study was funded and conducted by Yachay Wasi in August 2004.
Work accomplished:
Investigation of the extent of contamination of the lakes and of the impact on the environment in the area.
Evaluation of the various geographic spaces near the lakes to determine the areas most contaminated.
Seven Laboratory tests were performed on the waters of Lake Acopia (near banks and center of lake).
During the field work accomplished around the four lakes, coordination was realized with local mayors to establish prior and informed consent.
Conclusions of study point to the need to clean the lakes waters and banks of existing solid trash and to prevent further chemical contamination from modern detergents and pharmaceutical discards. Education of communities and establishment of adequate septic tanks and laundry facilities will be a substantial part of the project.
Report of Study and Lab results are available in Spanish and translated in English.
Project has the goal to clean the lakes waters and banks of these four lakes and to recover the biological diversity, flora and fauna representative of this important site; to educate and assist the communities on way to prevent future contamination, which will include building septic tanks and laundry facilities in some villages.
FUNDING Steps.
Budget was available in Spanish and English
A 2005 Initial Grant by Rotary International District 9500 in Australia has been matched by Rotary Foundation, USA in December 2006.
Meetings have taken place in 2004 and 2005 with UNDP/GEF/SGP in NYC and in Lima, Peru. Additional fund raising was accomplished by Yachay Wasi, NYC in 2005 without results.
First phase of Project started in September 2007
Yachay Wasi, as the lead partner, manned an Information Desk on 7 May 2007 during CSD-15, the 15th Session of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development at UN Hqrs, NYC
Yachay Wasi also had an information desk on 9 May 2006 during CSD-14 and a desk on 12 April 2005 during CSD-13
(Photo center: CSD-15 in 2007; Eliane Lacroix-Hopson, Yachay Wasi co-founder)
(Photo bottom right: CSD-14 in 2006: Eliane Lacroix-Hopson & Luis Delgado Hurtado)
