Saweto and UAC sign conservation agreement
Saweto’s chief, Andres Arevalo, signs a new agreement with UAC for collaboration on conservation, vigilance and sustainable development projects.
The Asheninka community of Saweto, also referred to as Alto Tamaya-Saweto, and UAC have signed an important agreement to work together to protect their territory from illegal loggers and other threats. The agreement coincides with the conclusion of a decade-long legal battle concerning the murder of four Asheninka leaders including Saweto’s former chief, Edwin Chota. The community's current focus is on protecting their territorial rights and enhancing their standard of living. This endeavor is guided by a new Life Plan process, led by UAC.
Located in the Masisea district of Peru’s Ucayali Region, Saweto faces different challenges due to its geographical isolation in the headwaters of the Tamaya River and limited access to government programs and basic services. Over the past several years, community has worked hard to improve its situation, despite the logistical and financial obstacles of being located at least three days by boat depending on water levels from the city of Pucallpa.
Saweto’s chief and UAC’s Senior Socio-Environmental Coordinator, Mario Osorio, evaluate threats to plan community surveillance activities.
In April 2024, UAC’s technical team travelled to Saweto to conduct an important review of their Life Plan, as well as to provide training in vigilance and monitoring and deliver goods according to the newly signed cooperation agreement. The Life Plan, developed with the participation of the entire community and facilitated by local authorities and UAC’s Life Plan technical team, is needed to determine community needs and guide future investments in education, health, food safety, territorial security, family economy among other needs.
As part of the community surveillance program, UAC conducted a training workshop for Saweto’s vigilance committee, where its forest rangers received theoretical and practical training on monitoring strategies, regulatory framework and methods for river patrols. Additionally, a participatory territory analysis was conducted to identify threats and prioritize future patrols. The training workshop was followed by a monitoring of the Alto Tamaya River, where new skills with a GPS were put to practical use to document recent invasions by loggers.
Saweto reviews a draft of its new Life Plan with technical support from UAC.
In addition to the training workshop and Life Plan review, UAC delivered a new boat and motor to strengthen the work of the vigilance committee, as well as equipment needed to restore internet connectivity, including a solar panel, battery and antenna. Functioning internet is critical to maintain communication with the outside world and respond to health emergencies and inform authorities of invasions and actual threats from invaders.
Despite these significant advances, Saweto still faces significant challenges, including territorial security and limited access to basic services. UAC is committed to continuing our work with Saweto to address these needs and promote a more prosperous and safer future for the community.
