Transport in Ashaninka territory

The only transport in Ashaninka territory is by foot or by river. Walking for over a day to a nearby town is common. While we outsiders have constantly struggled with short two hour walks through the jungle, carrying our back packs, the tribes people have easily managed repeat trips in the same time.

Locals and Ben Cackett in motorised canoe
Locals helping Ben Cackett get around without swimming

Sometimes, the lack of alternative and faster transport has been costly, however. Last year, a house fire badly burned two young village children. Because the town of Cutivereni didn't have its own power boat, it took three hours to borrow one and scrounge enough petrol to set off to the nearest hospital, ten hours away.

Unfortunately, the boat didn't make it in time for one of the children, who died from dehydration.

The community has now been able to buy a new 70 foot boat, using some of the money from Cool Earth. It will ensure casualties reach hospital quickly and can also be used to carry the tribe's chocolate to be sold at the nearest cooperative in the frontier town of Satipo. Here, they can get it weighed properly and receive a fair price. So far, their only option has been to sell it to river traders, who rip them off.

In this way, Cool Earth hopes that as well as protecting the forest, it's also helping the Ashaninka to build sustainable livelihoods and buy the necessities, without having to resort to accepting money from illegal loggers.