Peru: A millenary tree’s last stand

Today’s NYT article titled Ecosystem in Peru Is Losing a Key Ally tells the familiar story of how poverty and cultural tastes are rapidly sealing the fate of the arid-dwelling huarango, a unique species of trees that can live more than one thousand years. According to the article, haurango rivals teak in hardness and its embers are prized for outlasting any other form of wood charcoal. It is also viewed by Peruvians “as the prime wood for charcoal to cook a signature chicken dish called ‘pollo broaster.’ ”

(Judging from the online recipes, comments, and images, the dish might make a good substitute for a bucket of KFC.)

In addition to its longevity, this species is critical to the water cycle in this parched coastal strip of the Atacama-Sechura Desert and is an important source of nutrition for the local community. “The huarango captures moisture coming from the west as sea mist. Its roots are among the longest of any tree, extending more than 150 feet to tap subterranean water channels.” According to the article, only about 1 percent of the original forest cover remains. It appears the impoverished communities that live in this unforgiving land depend on converting trees into charcoal for their survival. A kilo of huarango charcoal fetches about U$0.50.

Culture — but mostly poverty — seem to be at the greatest threats to this amazing tree species which grows nowhere else on the planet.

I looks like the huarango’s survival may well depend on the rapid implementation of a fuel-efficient stoves and alternative biofuel briquettes program. Let’s see what agency or NGO step up to the plate.