by amazonecology
March 10, 2016
Three years ago we began an exciting joint project with our partner Camino Verde by planting almost 1000 seedlings of rosewood trees in the Bora native community of Brillo Nuevo (see Global Giving Report #8). Our aim was to help …
Continue reading →
Continue Reading
by amazonecology
February 09, 2016
While our general goal has been to continue building artisan capacity to make and sell more quality handicrafts, the GlobalGiving Feedback Fund has given us a valuable opportunity to ask our partners about their economic realities and dreams, and how making more crafts with our without our assistance could help them achieve their goals.
Continue reading →
Continue Reading
by amazonecology
January 12, 2016
In 2011, we started developing Christmas tree ornaments with artisans in the Ampiyacu, and I invited Dora and her group to come up with ideas of their own. Dora wove a miniature pot, her aunt Hilda made a miniature plate, her niece Doilith wove chambira stars with seeds, and her teenage daughter Rosa made little butterflies and grasshoppers. We did so-so with the first three types, but the insects were an immediate hit.
Continue reading →
Continue Reading
by amazonecology
December 19, 2015
One highlight of my recent trip to Peru was spending a day with Miguel and Celestina – a couple who live in Tamshiyacu, a small town that is about an hour and a half by Iquitos by speed boat. I …
Continue reading →
Continue Reading
by amazonecology
December 19, 2015
We have had growing success helping artisans in the Ampiyacu develop and market innovative handicrafts, but our efforts to catalyze significant reforestation of chambira palms used to make woven crafts has been frustratingly slow. While we have also promised to reinvest part of our craft sales in the US to support health, education and conservation needs in the communities, this social rebate program had unfortunately created more dissension than good works for several years.
Continue reading →
Continue Reading
by amazonecology
December 18, 2015
Over the past six years, we have shared many adventures, triumphs and challenges with Ines. She showed us how she grew, collected, and prepared half a dozen plants used to dye chambira palm fiber various shades of yellow, orange, red and deep purple and then dyed my silvery hair black with roasted leaves from a huito tree. She has proudly showed us new styles of bags and guitar strap designs that she invented and readily shared these with her fellow artisans in skill-sharing workshops.
Continue reading →
Continue Reading
by amazonecology
March 18, 2015
Give your support for Amazon conservation and communities a boost today with a donation to the Center for Amazon Community Ecology. Donations made to CACE today after 9:00 am (EDT) through GlobalGiving at www.AmazonAlive.net will receive a 30% matching donation …
Continue reading →
Continue Reading
by amazonecology
March 09, 2015
March 5, 2015 I just returned to Iquitos after a successful four day visit to the Maijuna native community of Nueva Vida in the Napo River region of the northern Peruvian Amazon. The main purpose of the trip was to …
Continue reading →
Continue Reading
by amazonecology
February 25, 2015
February 24 – Panama City airport I’m excited to be leaving for Iquitos today. It will be in the middle of the rainy season when both tasty Amazon fruits and mosquitoes (with and without malaria) are abundant. I’m ready, though, …
Continue reading →
Continue Reading
by amazonecology
October 27, 2014
Curcuma longa is a herbaceous perennial plant in the ginger family (Zingiberaceae) whose rhizomes (roots) are used to dye fibers and foods yellow and to make a spice/medicine (turmeric). The plant originally came from India, but it is now widely …
Continue reading →
Continue Reading
by amazonecology
May 05, 2014
The Center for Amazon Community Ecology began like many non-profit organizations – it had one person with few resources and a big dream about making the world a better place. I wanted to conserve the Amazon rainforest by helping native …
Continue reading →
Continue Reading
by amazonecology
March 18, 2014
Bixa orellana is the scientific name for a small tree whose spiny pods contain seeds covered with an oily red substance that is used around the world to dye food, fiber, and faces. While often known as annatto when used …
Continue reading →
Continue Reading
by amazonecology
February 17, 2014
The Center for Amazon Community Ecology is working with native artisans from the Peruvian Amazon to develop and market innovative handicrafts to increase their livelihood and support health, education and forest conservation in their communities. Most of these crafts are …
Continue reading →
Continue Reading
by amazonecology
February 14, 2014
Achira (Canna indica) is a lily family plant that many artisans in the Peruvian Amazon grow in their backyard gardens. When the green pods dry, the artisans use the black seeds to adorn jewelry like bracelets, necklaces, and earrings and …
Continue reading →
Continue Reading
by amazonecology
October 10, 2013
by Campbell Plowden Every time I go to Peru, I look forward to spending at least a few days in the campesino village of Chino on the Tahuayo River. I go there primarily to buy some of the beautiful baskets …
Continue reading →
Continue Reading
by amazonecology
October 10, 2013
by Campbell Plowden Below is a photo gallery of women from the Huacamayo Artisan Cooperative in the campesino village of Chino on the Tahuayo River in Peru who wove multi-colored small, medium and large frogs with chambira palm fiber for …
Continue reading →
Continue Reading
