The Community

The Quebrada Verde town of Pachacamac begins with its agriculture and farming over 100 years ago. But, over 10 years ago, a group of entrepreneurs from the Centro Poblado Rural of Quebrada Verde assume the challenge of the economic development of their community, by the tourism and conservation of one of the few green valleys of Peru. Many institutions bet and invest on this challenge with training, installment of the circuit and infrastructure.

The Asociacion del Circuito Eco turistico de Lomas de Lucumo was formed by their population with the shared goal of bringing hundreds and thousands of tourists who visit in the green season of Lomas de Lucumo; which year by year increase and at the same time offer new job positions, most of them as touristic guides. Most of the local guides are the youngsters of the community that were motivated by their community to make their tourism development a reality, and at the same time an opportunity of money coming in to their homes.

On the way, many problems showed up, like lack of motivation from some population about the development of their community, the introduction of cattle on the hills, threats from big companies who tried to own part of the hills without any communication with their population, among others.

However, the local initiative to push this challenge forward; and the economic and environmental sustainability is still growing. Let’s hope that this CHALLENGE for development becomes a model for all of us.

Tourism in Lomas

Lomas de Lucumo, is an all green-ecosystem, that thanks to different climatic factors, like fog and trade winds, are capable of making it the ideal place to enjoy nature.

Is for this matter that the touristic activity is one of the main economic suppliers of the community, been the national tourists the preferred market, like high school and college students. Some travel agencies had put their hopes on this new destination by offering full day programs, with a mix of other activities and touristic resources located nearby.

There is also a good number of tourists who travel to Lucumo by themselves, by public or private transportation, motivated for the special desire of spend some time with their relatives or group of friends, choosing outdoor activities like trekking, rappel, hiking, paragliding, or biking; combined with the natural sightseeing that surrounds the area, are the perfect combo to escape from the smog and stressful habitat of the capital.

On the receptive tourism side, there are very few visits. This could happen because of the lack of promotion from the promoters, as well as the lack of infrastructure, highly needed to make this place a touristic product.

Sustainable Tourism in Lucumo?

At Lomas de Lucumo, tourism is one of the profitable activities linked with the concept of sustainable development, which entails the active participation of its population. Many institutions have promoted the tourism here, but is quite obvious that there is still a lot to improve in the correct handle of Sustainable Tourism.

To make Sustainable Tourism entails that all of the actors involved, like tourism companies, transportation and other, assume the commitment as an organization and remarks how to contribute to maintain the ecological procedures throughout the tourism, by preserving biodiversity and the respect to the traditional values of the community, the cultural exchange, and tolerance.

It would be great and an excellent initiative from most of our agencies that this information could be share through their websites, and promoting all the variety of products and services offered by the community, such as local guides, restaurants, handicrafts and others.

GEA GROUP

An entity that is betting on Lomas de Lucumo is the NGO Grupo GEA (Group of Environmental Entrepreneurs), the GEA Group is a nonprofit organization that promotes the practice of sustainability, social inclusion and environmental responsibility for 18 years.

Throughtout of the Tourism and Sustainable Communities area, GEA running the project “Live Pachacamac”, which promotes economic development for community well-being of the last green valley of Lima.  The Project has financial support from the Italian-Peruvian Fund, strategic alliances with Atocongo Association and the Municipality of Pachacamac in order to build capacity and enhancement of resources for rural tourism development community, likewise, inserted other communities of the rural villages of Quebrada Verde, El Cardal and Santa Rosa de Malpaso in this activity.

Specific activities in Quebrada Verde:

- Infrastructure implementation of the Interpretation Center, Research and an accommodation for the researchers
- Ecotourism Circuit Implementation
- Training for local people in guide services and techniques.
- Strategic alliance with Merck Peruana: Afforestation of the tare to improve urban spaces
- Improve the urban image of Population Centers rescuing the traditional architecture and main access routes to the visitor for the development of rural tourism Community

City Hall of Pachacamac

Lomas de Lúcumo began as a local initiative, which initially struggled without much support for taking forward the development potential of the place not only benefit the community economically but most importantly, for conservation. It is true that in the early years the participation and support of local government was not expected. However, this has changed in recent years, especially with the latest management at City Hall, as it has worked and supported tourism in the district, becoming the first touristic district of Lima and also exists a plan of government that in a structured manner intended to made an strong emphasis on this activity and development.

It is clear that they are achieving it, positioning in today's media, being recognized by the public and well as being host to many fairs and food festivals. No doubt that the emergence of tourism in the district has contributed to the greater diffusion of one of its most representative sites, such as Lomas de Lúcumo, working hand to hand with the GEA Group. As a district, we supports the sustainable development of tourism product, but must act impartially with all its attractions and promote them equally, The job doesnt stop there, it requires a more complex work involving various forms of support and various sources, the development of Lomas de Lúcumo is not based just on promotion but create databases that allow the community to manage the sustainability of the site. So far from the Sub Management that handles this area; is attracting attention and visitors, is a good start..

Atocongo Association - Cementos Lima

Atocongo Association is an association created by Cementos Lima in 2003, has the mission to implement the policy of Corporate Social Responsibility Cementos Lima, with the aim of mitigating the economic, social and environmental impacts of their business.

There are various interest groups that have a direct and indirect relationship with the company and hence is part of its value chain, which is inherent in the company's CSR. In one of the stakeholders, the community, working on three lines of action: education and culture, local development and infrastructure.
One of the mainly function is to mediate between the company and local communities. Today the Atocongo Organization is supporting Quebrada Verde as follows.
In the “Vive Pachamac” draft, they made the donation of cement to the implementation of the interpretation center which is close to opening.

Future Project: Project for Multiple-Use of Water and Water Resources, with the aim of greening the Ventura Hill in Quebrada Verde.

Future Project: Urban Reforestation for the recovery of the Lomas de Lúcumo, donating 600 plants and 2 engines for modern irrigation.
Today, the most consistent companies are those that achieve a constructive and unified organization-wide integrated into their society. It is claimed that companies have clear policies, cohesion from deep inside, in order that all the members of the organization envision the same goals. A company that has a good social responsible management has to avoid confusion that may damage the link Company - Community, generating social instability.
In this context, we can analyze and ask what is the essence of corporate social responsibility. If we understood that the natural and cultural heritage of all Peruvians and therefore beyond our own business objectives.
And although local communities, NGOs, associations, town halls, and companies are directly linked to sustainable social development is the responsibility of all citizens to maintain a constant vigilance.

But there is a CoNtRoVeRsY....