Consequences of multiple disturbances of tropical forests

Date and Venue: November 21- 28, 2011,Institute for Sustainable Development of Peruvian High Jungle, Chachapoyas, Peru

The International German Alumni Summer/Autumn schools and workshops as part of the German Alumni capacity-building programs focus on issues of conservation and management of biodiversity and to investigate the causes behind the rapidly declining biodiversity particularly in the developing countries.


Peru 2011_ 2
Deforestation – Transamazonian Highway
Peru is the hot spot of endemism and biodiversity at all levels. This country has the third largest extent of tropical rainforest in the world. It is one of the richest in the world in terms of biodiversity and natural resources like timber, gold and mineral oil. Deforestation and degradation of these forests is increasingly due to the result of logging, intensive agriculture, mining, oil and gas operations and road construction. Currently most of the logging activities are illegal and valuable Mahagoni trees are even logged in National Parks and Reserves. Presently one of the destructive sources of deforestation is concessions with the Petroleum Corporation and gold mining. The mining roads cause the fragmentation of the forests and attract the settlers and land speculators. Gold mining releases toxic wastes into the environment. One of the most significant threats to Peru's rainforests is a big road project. "Transoceanic highway are planned to connect the Pacific ports of Matarini, Ilo and San Juan to a highway in Brazil.
Amazonian indigenous people tried to defend their tribal land from oil companies. Several indigenous people were already killed by army. Despite the violent protests by indigenous people against the plans to explore oil and gas in Peru's Amazon rainforest, the energy investments are expected to increase.
Forestry outcomes at Climate Change Conference COP 15 in Copenhagen (December 2009) underlined the role of the local stakeholders; indigenous communities in forest management and protection. The valuation of local knowledge and full respect for the ancient rights of indigenous people should be accepted.
The planned Summer School should be the platform for discussion between the participants, NGOs, politicians, GTZ, local administration and local developers about the threats concerning rain forest degradation, biodiversity loss in Peru and the UNO challenge to meet the objectives of sustainable use of natural resources, sustainable livelihood and nature conservation.

Our program aims to integrate the experts and Alumni from various disciplines like Agriculture, Forestry, Conservation Biology, Ecology, Environmental Science and Management, Community Development, Economics, Philosophy, Religion and Ethics. Representatives of several local NGOs, GTZ, DAAD and government policy makers are also being invited so that on such a common platform it will be more practical to discuss and put into practice, the role of Educational and Research Institutions and policy making bodies in conservation of biodiversity. Consistent with the international commitments on ensuring environmental sustainability, we intend to continue the mobilization of the German Alumni in their effort to help realize the UN Millennium goals in their respective countries in the near future, inspite of economic crisis and other obstacles.

The main subject areas of interest are:


  • Forestry and disturbances
  • Traditional Ecological Knowledge Systems for sustainable use of natural resources
  • Integrated forest management and nature conservation
  • Concept of flagship species and the role in nature conservation


In addition to the lectures and presentations, there will be adequate time for discussions and exchange during the group works and field trips. Alumni networks and future programs of GAInBiNeT will be discussed.

Field Trip Program:


One of the important schedules of the Summer School will be the field excursions.
The Kuelap and Private Conservation Area PCA Huaquilla (Nature Reserve) offer the possibility to compare nature conservation value of semitropical forests at different elevation gradients. Field excursion to Catarata Gocta present the most impressive waterfall in Peru. The Chachapoyas archaeological jewels like Kuelap fortress, Karajia, Revash, Lake of the Condors, and the interesting Leymebamba Museum will underline the cultural and natural value of the North East Amazonian province.


Target groups:


The focus is on German Alumni from Latin America. Experts and graduate/advanced students working on science and management related to sustainable management of biodiversity, natural resource use and management, university education in resource management, traditional ecological knowledge systems, climate change, sustainable agriculture and tourism industry are invited to participate. Institutional affiliations may include research and education, NGO’s, government agencies, local communities and related stakeholders, DAAD representatives and GTZ delegates. The selected participants will be given an opportunity to present biodiversity management, wildlife conservation and indigenous knowledge related issues based on their capacities.

Registration costs and support:


Each participant has to submit an abstract consisting of 350-500 words and related to the main subject areas of interest. The abstract should be sent electronically to one of the members of the organizers below not later than 30th July 2011. Candidates whose abstracts have been selected will be notified on 30th of August 2011. The invited participants are requested to submit the full paper following the Instruction for Authors (in word document) not later than 30th of September 2011.

The language of the Summer School is English.
This Summer School is being funded by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD-Deutscher Akademischer Ausstauschdienst). Therefore, there are no participation fees for invited experts and German Alumni participants from Latin America. Travel and accommodation of all selected participants will be fully covered by the organizers.

Contact persons in Germany:

Dr. Jolanta Slowik, jslowik(at)gwdg.de

Dr. Kamini Barua, kbarua(at)gwdg.de

Dr. Margaretha Pangau-Adam,mpangau1(at)gwdg.de

Dolly Faßbender dfassbe at gwdg.de

Contact person in Peru:


Prof. Vincente Castaneda

Rector, University UNAT-A, Peru
INDES-CES Research Institute for Sustainable Development
Campus Universitario-Barrio Higos Urco
Chachapoyas, Peru
Email: v.mcast at hotmail.com

MS Jorge Maicelo

Institute for Sustainable Development of Peruvian High Jungle
Chachapoyas, Peru

jomaqta at yahoo.es