Anexo Tematico: La Coca y Los Recursos Naturales

The area is located in the provinces of Cajabamba, San Miguel, Bolivar, and Pataz, and is situated on both sides of the Marafon River. The region is economically backward, with the population relying mainly on agriculture and mining as sources of employment. The agriculture is rudimentary and has low productivity, with a limited number of main crops such as wheat, barley, potatoes, yellow maize, and beans. The region's physiography is unique, with zones of natural life presented in the table I.A.1. The zones of life favorable for coca cultivation are the humid pre-montane tropical forest and the very humid-montane tropical forest. For coca cultivation under irrigation, the dry montane tropical forest, the dry pre-montane tropical forest, the montane tropical steppe, and the aspinous-premontane tropical forest are suitable. The zones of life for coca cultivation in dry areas are characterized by having abundant water throughout the year, while the zones of life for coca cultivation under irrigation have a dry season during the rest of the year. The region's climate is characterized by fluctuations in temperature, ranging from 26°C to less than 17°C, with abundant precipitation, with totals ranging from less than 1,100 mm to more than 2,000 mm, concentrated mainly between October and April. The information was obtained from the ecological investigation carried out by the ONERN in the Study of Evolution of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Plan for the Huallaga Central and Bajo Mayo Special Project (February 1984). The region has been classified into four bioclimatic units of the first order, known as zones of life or ecological formations, with the following designations: a) Dry Tropical Forest (BST), b) Humid-Premontane Tropical Forest (Bh-PT), c) Very Humid-Premontane Tropical Forest (Bmh-PT), and d) Very Humid-Montane Tropical Forest (Bmh-MT). Additionally, there are four transitional zones of life, known as dry tropical forest transitional to dry tropical forest, humid-premontane tropical forest transitional to humid-premontane tropical forest, humid-premontane tropical forest transitional to very humid-premontane tropical forest, and humid-tropical forest transitional to very humid-premontane tropical forest. The region's ecosystems are very fragile in terms of their sustainability and bioclimatic balance. The impact of coca on the environment in the region has been analyzed, and it has been found that the cultivation of coca has a significant impact on the environment, particularly in terms of soil degradation and loss of biodiversity. The region of Aguaytia and Pachitea is characterized by a humid tropical climate, with a biotemperature of 24°C to 25°C, and an annual precipitation of 4,000 to 7,000 mm. The region has a very humid tropical forest zone of life, with a temperature of 24°C and an annual precipitation of 2,400 mm. The region's relief is characterized by a valley with high and low hills, with acidic and irritable soils, and along the rivers, fluviosoles are present. The region's vegetation is composed of a dense and exuberant forest, with trees of regular height, reaching up to 60 meters, and a diameter of up to 2 meters, with a volume of wood of approximately 300 m3/ha. The forest is used for timber, and the colonos and natives are using the forest for grazing. The region's soil is acidic and irritable, with a texture of acrisoles, fluviosoles, and fluvionales, which are fertile soils suitable for agriculture. The region of Puerto Inca and Coronel Portillo has the same ecological characteristics and has basically the same zone of life, with a humid tropical forest and a very humid-premontane tropical forest. The region has transitional formations of very humid tropical forest to very humid-premontane tropical forest. The region's climate is characterized by a temperature of 24°C and an annual precipitation of 2,400 mm. The region's relief is characterized by a valley with high and low hills, with acidic and irritable soils, and along the rivers, fluviosoles are present.