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Hope for the Future of the Amazon
by Chitra Gunderson
"When the big trees are gone, the birds have
no home and our children will not know the
joy of their songs,” says Chief Filipe,
Porvenir, Peru.
Chief Filipe’s
words sink into my heart like quick sand.
With a feeling of devastating loss I see
mental pictures of barren lands where lush
rainforests once stood home to exotic birds,
wildlife and medicinal plants. My heart
aches knowing that now logging roads weave
their way deep into the forests giving
entrance for loggers to rape the lands,
leaving in their wake homeless communities.
“What is our
destiny?” I ask myself. “Without the
rainforest to provide a majority of the
earth’s oxygen and medicinal plants what
will the future be like for our children,
grandchildren and the people of the Amazon?”
Then, as I read further I see a ray of hope
for the future…
Chief Philipe continues, “And now, with you
(John Easterling), we have rice and manioc
and machetes and things for our people. And
for you, these plants so your people can
know the power of the forest. And now when
the sun comes, the big trees will be there
to greet the morning."
My mind was
captured by the chief’s comments. I wanted
to know more about the positive things being
done in the rainforest. So, I contacted John
Easterling to find out more details about
his work and his vision for the future of
the Amazon Region. What I found is a unique
individual with a passion for rainforest
preservation and helping native
communities…definitely a ‘one of a kind’
person.
Affectionately
called “Amazon” John by the indigenous
people, John Easterling, CEO Amazon Herb
Company has dedicated his life to rainforest
preservation. For almost 30 years John has
been developing relationships with the
indigenous people of the Amazon Rainforest
based on trust, mutual respect, and a common
vision for a positive future.
It all started
with John’s passionate desire to explore the
Amazon seeking to unravel its mystique and
discover the treasures. He was living his
dream leading a life of adventure trekking
through jungles searching for hidden
civilizations and gem stones. Then a serious
health problem he had struggled with for
over a decade turned his attention from gems
and lost civilizations to the Rainforest’s
real treasures.
“I was
exploring upriver on the Rio Ucayali, the
main tributary of the Amazon. I knew I was
in rough shape, chilling and sweating with
fever in the searing afternoon heat. Weak
and exhausted, I turned my motorized dug-out
to the river bank and stumbled into a
Shipibo village. Once I lay down, I couldn't
get up. The natives took care of me. Their
herbalist began feeding me a special mixture
of herbs. A few days with these Shipibo
Indians on the headwaters of the Amazon
changed everything. I started getting
stronger. Drinking Uña de Gato and Quebra
Pedra herbal teas took my health not only
back to where it had been before I was sick,
but to an entirely new level of life
experience. I quickly realized that the
plants are the real treasure of the
rainforest,” says John.
With a mission
to bring the rainforest’s medicinal herbs to
the rest of the world and offer a
sustainable economic alternative to
indigenous communities, John started the
Amazon Herb Company. For over fifteen years
the Amazon Herb Company has been taking
proactive steps toward rainforest
preservation by offering an eco-business
model that is mutually beneficial to
everyone involved.
“The object is
to keep the circle of benefits going. So, as
the consumption of the rainforest products
grows the benefits to the rainforest also
grows,” says John.
The way it
works is the native people ecologically
harvest wild botanicals from virgin
rainforests, which provides their
communities with a sustainable way to
support themselves’ thus making the
rainforest more valuable to them when it is
alive and thriving. Forming sustainable
business partnerships is just one of the
many ways John helps make life for the
native communities easier and more secure.
John explains,
“There are many ways we are able to help the
local communities. We provide motorized
boats for faster travel up and down the
rivers, water filters to purify river water
for drinking and cooking, Naturopathic
health care, and solar powered short wave
radios to communicate between villages.
Also, now there is a radio program in
Shipibo language about the news and events
important to the Shipibo communities
broadcast by Glorioso Castro, Director of
Regional Institute of Growth for Native
Communities. So, those who have a radio in
the village can tune in to listen to the
latest news. Also there is a once a week
radio program for women’s issues given by
Senora Castro.”
John’s most
significant work is to protect the
rainforest against tree poachers by offering
the legal assistance to help secure land
rights for the native communities to own
their tribal rainforest lands.
In 2003 the
residents of the Shipibo village of Porvenir
were given legal ownership to the 13,000
acres of land that sustains them. Over
several years the Amazon Herb Company
offered the direction and legal assistance
needed to secure the deed for Porvenir. Then
later attorneys and engineers were provided
to defend their land rights in court when it
was challenged by loggers. Victory was won
when the court ruled in favor of Porvenir
village and banned the loggers from
encroaching on their land.
“We have a new
vision of hope for our future,” said Chief
Philipe. Without the help of the Amazon Herb
Company the village of Porvenir may have
been destroyed...another village trampled
on...more trees cut down…more of the healing
benefits of our living rainforest lost
forever.
As the word
about John Easterling’s help spreads to
other native communities the chiefs come
forward to introduce themselves to him at
the company’s headquarters in Peru, hoping
to also receive the benefits of affiliating
with the Amazon Herb Company.
The most
recent visit was in September 2005 when the
Chief of Neuvo Eden, Hildefonso Del Aguila
Flores, came down the Rio Pisqui River, a
3-5 day trip by boat and hitchhiking, to ask
John for help in forming the Federation of
Native Communities of the Pisqui River
Basin, also known as the Rio Pisqui
Federation.
“Rio Pisqui
River lies deep within the Peruvian
Rainforest,” explains John. “From Pucalpa it
takes about 8 hours traveling by boat along
the Rio Ucayali River to the Rio Pisqui
River, then another 20 hours to get to the
end of the river where it meets the Andes.
So, it was a significant trip for Chief
Aguila Flores to travel that far to meet
with me.”
Ten
communities live along the 100 mile stretch
of the Rio Pisqui (Neuvo Eden, La Cumbre,
Manco Capac, Charasmana, Tupac Amaru,
Vencedor, Irazola, Santa Rosa, 9 do Cotubre,
Tres Unidos), Neuvo Eden being the largest
with 1500 members. These communities wanted
to come together as a group to have a voice
to protect the land along the river, an area
rich in natural resources and wildlife and
to have the right to decide for them selves
what would happen to their lands, their
future and the future of their children.
They were concerned that the lumber and oil
companies would take over major land rights
in the area – the time was right to come
together to protect the whole Rio Pisqui
River region.
John
coordinated and funded the forming of the
federation by flying three of the federation
representatives to Iquitos, supplying legal
assistance and living expenses. After taking
several week long trips over many months the
goal was accomplished…the Rio Pisqui
Federation was formed.
“I am pleased
the way things developed with the formation
of the Rio Pisqui Federation – the legal
process usually takes three years or more.
The consciousness around the program was
very positive; from beginning to end the
whole process took only nine months to
complete,” says John.
Forming the
federation has legally empowered these ten
villages to have greater say over what
happens in the region. It grants them
greater authority to protect and preserve
the land, plants, animals and bodies of
water there as well as their traditional
knowledge and way of life by advocating for
laws favoring native communities. It also
gives them the opportunity to provide a
better education for their children.
When I asked
John what the next step was for the Rio
Pisqui region, he explained, “The big goal
was getting the federation formed now we
will go into the area to get the rainforest
land deeded and titled to the individual
communities along the river. We will also
help with supplies for the schools. Only a
couple of communities have schools, others
need assistance with educational materials –
paper, pencils, and financial assistance to
start schools.”
John
Easterling was invited to Nuevo Eden to
“swear in” the 17 member board of directors
of the new Rio Pisqui Federation. Upon his
return to the USA, he received a formal
letter of appreciation from the president of
the federation:
June 24, 2006
Dear Sir:
As soon as we
returned from our business trip to the city
of Iquitos, the first thing I am doing is to
take the pleasure in writing you these few
words of gratitude and to once more express
our deepest gratitude for the many
attentions received from your worthy
company. Words do not suffice to express
that your kindness and supportive spirit
have eternally sealed our gratitude.
Thank you for
all that you and your worthy company have
done for us. My only desire and good fortune
gain me the opportunity of having you in our
Native Communities of the Rio Pisqui River,
and I know that we will never be able to
repay the exquisite care of which we have
been the object.
Your friend,
Hidelfonso Del Aguila Flores, President of
the Federation of the Rio Pisqui,
affectionately greets you.
John Easterling’s passion and dedication to
rainforest preservation and helping
indigenous communities’ stands out as more
than a career or business…it is what he
lives for…every moment of every day.
Since 1990,
the Amazon Herb Company has been working
directly with Rainforest communities in an
eco-trade relationship to create new models
of prosperity and sustainability. Offering
everyone the opportunity to take part in an
eco-business by creating a business model
where health conscious people, ecological
entrepreneurs, indigenous tribes, and the
Rainforest all win from a mutually
beneficial circle of ecological commerce.
With a model of sustainable eco-harvest the
Amazon Herb company has protected hundreds
of thousands of acres of Rainforest from
destruction.
Deforestation
activities continue to destroy the lungs of
our planet, tropical botanical species, and
indigenous cultures. For more information
about how you can take a pro-active part in
rainforest preservation contact Chitra at
Chitra@RainforestCanopy.com.
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Objectives and Goals of the Rio
Pisqui Federation
As Outlined in the Founding
Decree
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Protect and promote the
integrity of the region
while conserving its natural
resources.
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Promote bilingual education
while maintaining ethnic
identity.
-
Renew and strengthen
traditional and spiritual
medicine, including
medicinal plants, healers,
practices and songs.
-
Protect traditional
knowledge.
-
Watch over the social
dignity and integrity of the
native community and its
members, food, shelter,
health, education and labor.
-
Strengthen ties between the
communities of the Rio
Pisqui, as well as with
other native communities and
national and international
sectors.
-
Work toward a constitution
of a native Amazonian
organization.
-
Promote the organizing of
multi-communal enterprises
creating a consciousness of
solidarity and efficiency.
-
Promote community work and
participation through
incentives.
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Appreciation Letter from Republic of Peru
translated to English
Republic of
Peru
Ucayali Regional Government
“Year of the Infrastructure for Integration”
Letter of Gratitude
The Regional Institute of the Development of
Native Communities – IRDECON-GRDS, on behalf
of the Indigenous Shipibo Conibo People,
convey our recognition and gratitude to Mr.
John Easterling, CEO and the Amazon Herb Co.
Associates, for the support that they bring
to the native indigenous communities in
areas such as – obtaining the official
recognition of the communal territory (LAND
Rights), Health, fluvial transport (Boats),
acquisition of communication equipment,
sponsoring indigenous radio programming, as
well as the commercialization of natural
products; all of these directly benefiting
the Native Communities of Nueva Eden, (Rio
Pisqui), Porvenir, Galilea, Puerto Firmeza,
San Francisco, Caco Macaya, Puerto Nuevo and
Curiaca.
For all of this we commend you and are
thankful for your humanitarian support and
solidarity with the Indigenous People of the
Amazon.
Pucallpa, December 5th, 2005
UCAYALI REGIONAL GOVERNMENT
REGIONAL INSTITUTE OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF
NATIVE DOMMUNITIES – IRDECON
Glorioso Castro Martinez
Executive Director - IRDECON |
