Day In The Life

Peru

Conditions in the Andean mountains can be challenging for conservation work. It’s a cold and humid climate and it rains a lot.

Kennedy Zela, an agrobiodiversity specialist with WCS Peru, works here with Quechua Indigenous communities to conserve and recover Andean crop varieties (called agrobiodiversity). He does this work for a number of reasons.

This is part of conserving the area’s biodiversity. It also helps keep traditional knowledge alive to be passed down through generations. It ensures local food security and sustains the economy of families who rely on this practice as their main livelihood.

It’s also good for the environment. To cultivate these crops using ancient terracing systems, Indigenous communities manage broader territories, conserving wetlands and areas where wild relatives of crops grow. In doing so, they help preserve key ecosystems that are home to diverse species of wild flora and fauna.

My work with communities takes place at over 3,400 meters. Together, we work in harmony with nature, respecting Andean cosmology, and promoting sustainable practices.

This year, I accompanied the start of the native potato harvest, assisting communities in selecting and classifying seeds that will be safeguarded in their communal seed banks.

Additionally, we reduce the use of chemical products to support farmland and the farmers’ health.

To strengthen agrobiodiversity, we organize seed exchange fairs, fostering access to a greater variety of crops.

Together with farmers, we promote the equitable participation of men and women in the care of the land.

I also support communities in the management and responsible use of water, a vital resource for Andean agriculture.

All this work contributes to the protection of vulnerable wildlife species such as the Andean cat, the Andean bear, and the taruca deer.

In high Andean wetlands, the breeding of colored llamas and alpacas is part of agrobiodiversity and a key livelihood for communities.

This work is very rewarding. The communities have welcomed me and made me part of their traditions, inviting me to participate as an Ayarachi in one of the biggest festivals in southern Peru: the Feast of the Virgin of Candelaria.

Thanks for visiting!