The city of Cusco, Peru – gateway to the world-renowned ruins of Machu Picchu – is said to be the oldest still-inhabited city in South America, as it was the capital of the ancient Inca Empire many moons ago.

In fact its very long history and rich culture are windows into Andean mores, Peruvians still proudly adorning themselves with the colourful wraps and bowler hats of years passed and giving any outsider an exciting sense of cultural immersion into something quite different from the norm.

However, deep in the Sacred Valley and off the Inca Trail, many indigenous rural communities are literally fighting for their survival, unaware that they themselves are part of the reason for their own demise.  The majority of the rural people living in the Sacred Valley cook their meals inside their homes over an open fire, and without proper ventilation. This practice is causing rapid clearing of endangered forests and the inhalation of large amounts of injurious smoke. It is estimated that more people die from this type of indoor air pollution worldwide than from malaria every year!

To battle this disturbing trend, the Cleaner Burning Stove Project (CBSP) is a noble initiative by ProPeru (part of ProWorld) in the Urubamba province of the Sacred Valley. The CBSP replaces old, open-fire traditional hearths with wood-burning, clay stoves that have ventilation pipes. The advantages of this one little kitchen substitution are abundant: it helps to conserve nature by reducing reliance on endangered forests in the region while simultaneously improving the health of the local people.

In hard figures: the reduction in carbon emissions in one year is about a ton, there’s a 12% increase in locals’ lung capacity in three months, a 20-26% reduction in firewood and a cost savings of about 220 nuevos soles (about US$75) per year per family, which is quite a sum for this impoverished area. The actual stove is produced from homemade bricks and mud, costing about US$15 dollars.

CSBP has received support on many levels and one promising new local partner eager to get involved is Chaska Tours, the whl.travel local connection in Cusco and a company known for its proactive stance on sustainable tourism, especially as it applies to the indigenous, rural communities of the Sacred Valley.

“Chaska Tours has taken a special interest in the CBSP because it is making astounding progress for the indigenous villages around Cusco,” commented its founder, Rocio Valcarcel. “The benefits of this program are clear and our group is tremendously proud to be a part of an initiative making so much progress in the lives of Peruvians. In particular, we will be helping to increase awareness about the project by displaying the improved products to the indigenous populations in villages like Cachin, Choquecancha and Cuncani, educating people about the advantages and then asking if there is a problem with changing traditional cooking methods.”

Unanimous community support for the CBSP has been translated into direct action. Starting in November 2009, the community of Cachin in Lares will be the beneficiaries of the first round of new stoves. Chaska Tours itself will be funding several stoves and paying for their installation.

Travellers visiting Cusco and interested in joining the movement to help the indigenous peoples of the Sacred Valley should reach out to Chaska Tours and ProPeru. CBSP is just one of the area’s many undertakings, so contact Chaska Tours in Cusco or read about volunteering opportunities at ProWorld.

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As the whl.travel local connection in Cusco, Chaska Tours is a perfect partner with whom to discuss Cusco hotels, Cusco tours and more information about hiking the famous Inca Trail to the awe-inspiring ruins at Machu Picchu. Be sure also to ask about Chaska Tours’ reforestation initiative (they plant one tree for every person that walks the Inca Trail) and their assurances that the animals used for their tours are properly looked after. Chaska Tours also reaches out to the local communities by supporting indigenous people through employment with a fair wage.

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This entry was posted on Tuesday, October 27th, 2009 at 9:40 am and is filed under the following categories: