Enhancing knowledge and awareness of camelids with Andean communities in the International Year of Camelids (IYC)

Overview

This project is located in a culturally distinctive high Andean pastoralism SEPL (the puna or altiplano), and based on knowledge co-production between scientists and members of the Quechua indigenous communities and local schools concerning camelids as ecosystem components and as a contribution to Andean wellbeing. The UN declared 2024 the International Year of Camelids (IYC), recognizing the high value of these species for the livelihood of poor populations in arid zones. We consider this a great opportunity to develop new institutional frameworks for education and area-based conservation projects that include camelid fibre as a significant resource.
In SDM 2020 we concluded that the cleaning of the vicuña raw fibre must be done mechanically, so this project will explore this technique by taking the fibre to a textile company and studying all the relevant parameters before and after the cleaning treatment. In the value chain study, in a co-production initiative, we will develop community capacity activities in vicuña and llama fibre handicrafts, spinning contest and the building of space to sell camelids fibre clothes. We will emphasize the importance of education for sustainability in the local communities’ schools and the importance of camelids to the general public, with the production of bibliographic material, and children's and youth art contests. The 2024 IYC celebration is rooted in the multiple intrinsic, practical, and particularly relational values of the camelids.

Planned activities:

• Community workshops
• Women’s workshop
• Biodiversity studies
• Clean and dehairing vicuña fibre
• Book/Educational brochures