Drone to Help the Community of Sawawo Protect its Territory
Even in the most remote parts of the world, technology is becoming increasingly common in all aspects of life—and this includes the legal and illegal extracting of natural resources. Illegal loggers arrive with advanced machinery and advanced surveillance techniques to find and cut down trees in an increasingly aggressive manner. Native communities often don’t have these tools and find themselves at a disadvantage when trying to defend their forest resources.
Upper Amazon Conservancy/Conservación Alto Amazonas (UAC), aware of this situation, is supporting the Sawawo Hito 40 Native Community in improving its capacities for forest protection through the appropriate use of modern technologies. With the donation of a drone and the corresponding training for its use, UAC is helping Sawawo work at the forefront of technology and protect its natural resources.
María Elena Paredes Márquez handles the drone with the help of Gabriel del Aguila Pezo, SERNANP staff. María is the Coordinator of the Sawawo Surveillance Committee and works with UAC as a Community Conservation Specialist.
The drone will help the community monitor its territory, especially in areas affected by the invasion of a logging company that is illegally entering the area by opening a road without authorization or consulting the community.
The team from UAC and Servicio Nacional de Áreas Naturales Protegidas por el Estado (SERNANP), started by training the members of the Sawawo Surveillance Committee in the use of the drone as well as the importance of using this technology for more efficient and effective surveillance of its territory and protection of its resources. UAC and SERNANP are now planning a series of technical trainings with the drone so that the community can independently carry out monitoring and collect data and images to make complaints in real time in case of invasions and illegal activities. The drone and the training are part of a collaboration agreement between UAC and Sawawo related to community planning, surveillance and development projects.
The project was introduced in a community assembly that was attended by SERNANP personnel, and representatives of the Association of Native Communities for the Integral Development of Yurúa Yono Sharakoiai (ACONADIYSH) and the Environmental Association of the Ashéninka Pocharipakoky Pikiyaco Yurúa Community ( AACAPPY), all who also collaborated in the process of training in the use of the drone. Personnel from the AIDESEP Ucayali Regional Organization (ORAU) also participated in the activities.
The first trip into the field was with members of the community to fly the drone and capture aerial images of the community and deforestation along the highway. The community showed great interest in learning about this technology and were excited to know that from now on they have this important technological tool.
Sawawo shares a border with Brazil. The illegal Nueva Italia - Puerto Breu road (in red) crosses its territory.