Synopsis

The green Poncho of the Andes is a documentary about the history of a fabulous forest creation in the Peruvian Andes. The forest covers now 40.000 ha and improved strongly the communities’ life conditions.

Since 1973, Peruvian visionaries with the help of Belgian Cooperation ministeries and European funds, initiated this forestation program in the poorest region of the Andes.

The documentary shows how the forest has been created, how it has been accepted and how it is generating more jobs every day.

It shows us those activities through Belgians who have well known their own forests and have created and supported this Peruvian program with patience during more then 30 years.

But we understand better this new forest through the Peruvian living from it now. It is astonishing to see Alberto who has climbed from a forest worker job to a highly appreciated environmental technician in a big gold mine. And it is attractive to see his daughter Marleny , who has born in the community forest becoming now Forest and Environmental engineer.

But it is not easy to manage well this new activity which was totaly absent 30 years befor : the Andean silviculture. Everything has to be adapted to the rude Peruvian conditions.

The documentary gives hope showing things from the nursery worker through the tree cutter going to the private investor, from the mother at home through the industry boss to the environmental minister.

There are very great opportunities to do the same in other parts of Peru and of the world !