Small scale agriculture is one of the most important, yet least addressed, drivers of deforestation in the tropics today. In our Sustainable Agriculture Program, Acaté partners with expert Matsés farmers to develop innovative approaches to restore devitalized and eroded lands to abundance. Slash and burn agriculture, once superbly fitted in skilled hands to semi-nomadic existence, […] Continue reading »
It’s not easy reaching Matsés territory, but finally, after a week of saying goodbye to my family in Iquitos only to return a couple hours later with yet another cancelled flight, the Peruvian Air Force float plane took off and soared off into the horizon. I was headed for the small Peruvian military outpost of […] Continue reading »
Urbano Pemen Dunú Urbano lives in the Matsés village of Buenas Lomas Antigua with his wife and two children. Urbano is fiercely independent and lives a very traditional life. He is highly skilled in hunting, fishing, climbing and orienteering himself in the dense jungle. Even among Matsés he is exceptional. Most of Urbano’s time is […] Continue reading »
Lucinda is the daughter of Arturo, a famous Matsés warrior and plant medicine expert who wrote Chapter 3 of the Matsés Medicine Encyclopedia. She lives with her family in Buenas Lomas Nueva. She is a prolific farmer and is very fond of showing off and sharing her bountiful harvests. Her house is a hub of […] Continue reading »
LUIS DUNU JIMÉNEZ DËSI (“Lucho”) Lucho lives with his wife Marina in the Matsés village of Estirón. He is a meticulous worker and it shows in everything he does. Lucho is renowned as a great healer among the Matsés. People often travel great distances to Estirón to receive his treatments. Lucho was the principle author […] Continue reading »