PUEMAPE PLANET, CONSERVATION OF THE ECOSYSTEM OF PUEMAPE
ReportLocation: SAN PEDRO DE LLOC, PERU
INTRODUCTIONThe wave of injustices that occur on environmental issues are today's debate. A worldwide problem that has been affecting ecosystems and our planet. Peru is not only a country with enormous biodiversity, it is also a country with cultural and ancestral diversity that are under threat.
But in good time these environmental problems were the result of inspiration for people and organizations that created a space to try to find a balance between nature and the modern human being.
Today you will meet a small community that lives thanks to fishing and its natural resources, where access to this town was an odyssey for those who wanted to visit it, for its famous variety of marine life and its natural spaces.
A "ghost town" located in an archaeological site, in a semi-desert environment with a warm climate. Place where investigations were carried out in the 80s, on the historical findings of the Cupisnique Culture, they highlight that at that time the basis of the economy of this town was fishing, mollusk gathering and hunting.
A fishermen's cove in the north of PERU located in the Jequetepeque valley in the district of San Pedro de Lloc, Province of Pacasmayo, department of La Libertad, with the name of PUÉMAPE.
PUEMAPE
The entrance to this community welcomes you with a 10 km paved road, where you will witness striking landscapes for local agriculture: crops of quinoa, onion, tomato, watermelon, asparagus, among others; accompanied by dunes, mountains and forests where carob trees grow. All this creates a suitable habitat for wild animals in the area such as the Cañan (reptile), coastal fox, snakes and local birds.
When envisioning the community of Puémape, the same asphalt will direct them towards the coast, where they will understand the local authenticity: a calm and excellent environment to take a break; its natural spaces are optimal for practicing water sports, enduro, cycling and hiking in the mountains; the natural springs (rocks) are a perfect setting for fans of line or rod fishing.
Thanks to the marine diversity that Puémape has, daily the caballitos de totora enter the sea, regardless of the conditions of the waves in search of the catch of the day, (local and ancestral culture) their presence contributes to the local economy.
Likewise, this place is also privileged for its natural resources such as Mococho, a seaweed with high nutritional components that is daily exploited without any control for commercial purposes.
Bathers are privileged to enjoy a safe bath in La Peña, again thanks to the natural springs that project into the sea forming a large bay, which protects them from strong waves and return currents. An optimal space for children to enjoy the sea. However, as La Peña is one of the most central places in Puémape, it is the most affected area, due to the lack of awareness about the environment.
It should be noted that Puémape is located between two worldwide popular surf spots: 50km to the south, Puerto Malabrigo with the Chicama wave, the longest in the world, with a length of approximately 2km. And to the north (20km) is the wave of El Faro in the district of Pacasmayo with waves of international quality. Due to the geography of this coast plus the direction and intensity of the winds that blow from the south, they provide a favorable space for the practice of water sports (local culture) and where the iconic event of the world windsurfing competition is held (El Faro ).
Puémape is considered one of the main attractions of the Pacasmayo Province, which is made up of 5 districts: San Pedro de Lloc (provincial capital), Pacasmayo, Ciudad de Dios, Guadalupe and Jequetepeque.
CHALLENGES OF PUEMAPE
Puémape is currently in the process of development thanks to the particular potential it offers: the tranquility that is breathed in the environment, the diversity of its settings, water sports and fishing. However, in this process they do not consider the local ecosystem and therefore it is being affected.
One of the consequences of "development" in Puémape is that we are in a period of massive construction without studies on the environmental impact, affecting the natural cycle, causing erosion and dumping clearings on the shores of the beach.
Puémape is short of opportunities most of the year. Summer for the community is of the utmost importance since it is the high season (December-March), witnessing the visit of local and foreign tourists. However, Puémape does not have: a health post (the closest to 15km), SSHH public restrooms, information signs, few containers and garbage cans, apart from the fact that the garbage collection service is deficient. Therefore, MINCETUR considers it an unhealthy beach and not suitable for tourism. Added to all this is the lack of awareness of the environment by residents and visitors.
For this problem we have a new Surf Therapy mental health program that we will apply this year 2021. This tool is an agent of change based on evidence that also cultivates values, encourages awareness of nature and a sense of belonging in children and adolescents. .
For the year 2022 we will be launching the first awareness festival in Puémape with the support of Save The Waves Coalition, in order to encourage positive change and provide a space to publicize local authenticity, natural spaces with their benefits for the well-being and the great contribution to sustainable development.
Another important point to mention is that in Puémape there is no educational and community service center.
Situations and factors that affect the Puémape ecosystem and local development, which lead to a lack of opportunities and consequently impact the well-being of residents and children.
Main cause and motivation of PUEMAPE PLANET who commits in October 2020 to prevent and intervene in environmental problems.
Preserving the Puémape ecosystem is our goal.
PUEMAPE PLANET
"In my solitary walks through this wildly wonderful land, I learned a simple thing: to go barefoot."
However, no one saw that "wave" coming...
The EARTH is “shipwrecking”!
Quarantine or Freedom?
Our story begins in times of pandemic when Kayosha decided to escape confinement and the labyrinths of the metropolis in search of freedom!
During the pandemic, a local traveler and surfer from Makaha Beach - Costa Verde, decided to escape confinement and go in search of freedom. The plan was to camp in a quiet place and Puémape fit the bill. An isolated town located in the desert, where tranquility would be breathed and best of all it was possible to enjoy its spaces and its tubular waves. However, it was challenging to face the realities of this locality.
A total of seven months lasted the quarantine and the camp, coexisting with the nature of Puémape.
Kayosha: I remember one day in particular that made me think of this project. There was a group of kids from the area trying to surf on the seashore with broken surfboards. That image caught my attention and I was thoughtful after that event...
I quickly associated some experiences that happened where I grew up with Makaha Beach. This period was a before and after personally and where I met a great reference model.
It wasn't just the south-west undulations, nor the stones that I managed to touch at the bottom of the sea, nor the fuchsia sunsets, nor the sea spiders that caressed my ears, nor the nights I slept in that boat by the sea...
It was thanks to all those moments that they gave me an enriching opportunity: to deeply experience the meaning of the word nature. My reference model.
And I made the decision to do something about it.
Thanks to the donations that Kayosha collected, the activities began (Oct. 2020) with a small group of local children. Intervening with surfing along with all its benefits and beach cleanups. In order to encourage sports, environmental awareness and a sense of belonging.
*The roots of this initiative are a man's inherent experiences based on nature. Where lies pure heritage, essence that stimulates the life of a human being*
Puemape Planet
WORKING ARRANGEMENT
HOME TASK
SURF THERAPY PROGRAM (3 MONTHS)
BEACH CLEAN UPS
TEACH LOCAL CHILDREN TO READ AND WRITE
LIVING ARRANGEMENT
ACCOMMODATION
SURFING EQUIPMENT
