Chorrillos, Lima (FUA), Peru
City population: 11391137
Duration: 2023 – ongoing
Implementation status: Ongoing
Scale: Sub-microscale: Street scale (including buildings)
Project area: 4000 m2
Type of area: Other
Last updated: September 2024

The World Health Organization estimates that 80% of the population in developing countries use medicinal plants for health prevention and care, primarily in rural areas (3). These plant species have therapeutic potential in treating various diseases, and they are considered safe and effective medications with fewer side effects and affordable prices (3). In Peru, medicinal plants have historically been used to treat respiratory, gastrointestinal, and digestive ailments. To this day, they continue to be used by both native and urban communities (3). To promote, develop, and encourage research, innovation, and technologies related to the use, preservation, conservation, and employment of medicinal and food plants, the National Center for Social and Intercultural Research in Health (CENSI) of the National Institute of Health (INS) has inaugurated its medicinal and food plant nursery located in one of its facilities (Chorrillos) in Lima (1, 3). The primary objective of this project is to adapt various species from the coast, mountains, and jungle of the country and initiate a plant production program that contributes to improving public health, environmental quality and the revitalization of the ancestral knowledge of indigenous, Amazonian, Andean, and Afro-Peruvian communities (1). Additionally, it aims to contribute to mitigating the effects of climate change by creating green areas, reducing atmospheric carbon dioxide levels through plant photosynthesis, improving soil quality, and promoting the responsible use of water resources, among others (3). For the development of this project, the INS is working in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration to benefit not only the health and well-being of the Peruvian community but also promote the integration and care of the migrant population in the country (2).

Crop of Cymbopogon citratus (DC.) Stapf “hierba luisa
Crop of Cymbopogon citratus (DC.) Stapf “hierba luisa
Silva J, Vicuña W, Bartolo-Marchena M

Overview

Nature-based solution

  • Community gardens and allotments
  • Other

Key challenges

  • Climate action for adaptation, resilience and mitigation (SDG 13)
  • Climate change mitigation
  • Environmental quality
  • Air quality improvement
  • Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
  • Green space creation and/or management
  • Cultural heritage and cultural diversity
  • Preservation of natural heritage
  • Promotion of cultural diversity
  • Preservation of historic traditions
  • Health and well-being (SDG 3)
  • Improving physical health
  • Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
  • Social justice and equity
  • Environmental education
  • Sustainable consumption and production (SDG 12)
  • Sustainable production
  • Food scarcity / security

Principal problems in Functional Urban Area (FUA)

  • Environmental Degradation
  • Soil degradation and loss
  • Poor water quality

Key priorities

Climate action (adaptation and/or mitigation), Biodiversity (conservation and/or restoration), Social Justice and community

Focus

Creation of new green areas, Creation of any other green urban spaces, Knowledge creation and awareness raising, Sustainable use of natural resources to improve livelihoods and food security (eg. community- based wildlife or forest management), Indigenous and community-based conservation initiatives, Educational and awareness raising programs, Scientific research of biodiversity or ecosystems

Project objectives

- To cultivate plants to improve health and prevent disease (1) - To implement a crop production programme that contributes to improving the population's health, the quality of the environment and the revival of the ancestral knowledge of indigenous, Amazonian, Andean and Afro-Peruvian communities (1, 3). - To promote and disseminate the safe use of medicinal plants and produce medicinal and food plant seedlings for distribution to local communities, especially vulnerable groups (1, 2, 3). - To ensure sustainable urban development and contribute to the growth of green spaces (1) - To contribute to the preservation, conservation and sustainable cultivation of medicinal and food plants (1, 2, 3) - Contribute to mitigating the effects of climate change by reducing atmospheric carbon dioxide levels through plant photosynthesis, improving soil quality, and promoting the responsible use of water resources, among others (3). - To promote strategies to revitalise traditional medicine and the safe use of medicinal plants (3)

Implementation activities

For the nursery's implementation, the distribution of the areas for the cultivation of cuttings, propagation, growth, adaptation, and maintenance, as well as the access routes to the nursery, were designed. The land was levelled and cleared, an irrigation system was installed, organic matter was added to the soil, and the plants were planted. So far, 15 species have been planted (3). For maintenance, professionals are involved in the development of cultivation, propagation and validation of the taxonomic identity of each species in the nursery to contribute to research and technology transfer (1, 3). In addition, processes of adaptation and care of each species are carried out to ensure their preservation and to continue enriching the herbarium of medicinal plants (1). Regarding the social impact of the project, joint efforts are being made between the INS and the IOM to prioritise the distribution of medicinal and food plants produced in the nursery to the most vulnerable population (1, 2). Finally, to meet the objectives of promoting and revitalising traditional medicine and the safe use of medicinal plants, health fairs are being organised in which seedlings of medicinal species from the nursery are distributed to the general population (3).

Climate-focused activities

Climate change mitigation:

  • Increase the availability of green urban space for carbon storage (street tree cover)
  • Install vertical or horizontal artificial surfaces that help with carbon storage and cooling
  • Raise public awareness of behaviours, lifestyle and cultural changes with mitigation potential

Main beneficiaries

  • Researchers/University
  • Citizens or community groups
  • Marginalized groups: Refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants

Governance

Management set-up

  • Co-governance with government and non-government actors

Type of initiating organisation

  • Public sector institution

Participatory approaches/ community involvement

  • Dissemination of information and education

Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project

Instituto Nacional de Salud (INS) through the Centro Nacional de Investigación Social e Interculturalidad en Salud (CENSI): funding and implementing actors of the project. They have a team of experts who are responsible for the maintenance of the nursery (1, 3) Migration and Health Unit of the International Organization for Migration (IOM): collaborator of the project, providing non-financial resources and supporting the execution of its social impact goals (1, 2) Ministry of Environment and CENSI Botanical Garden: project support. Both stakeholders were present at the inauguration of the nursery (1) Departments of Integrated Health Networks of Lima, Ministry of Environment, Armed Forces and National Police: stakeholders supporting the distribution of plants in health fairs and events (3)

Project implemented in response to ...

... an EU policy or strategy? Unknown
... a national policy or strategy? Unknown
... a local policy or strategy? Yes (It is not specified whether the nursery is done according to a specific law, but the work of the CENSI (implementing agent) around Medicinal Plants is based on the Law for the Sustainable Use of Medicinal Plants (Law N°27300), which gives it specific competencies in the field of Traditional Medicine (4). )

Type of enablers

Technological innovations, NBS research project (e.g., H2020, Urban Living Labs, national research projects), Other

Financing

Total cost

€10,000 - €50,000

Source(s) of funding

  • Public local authority budget

Type of funding

  • Earmarked public budget

Non-financial contribution

Type of non-financial contribution
  • Provision of land
  • Provision of goods
  • Provision of labour
  • Provision of expertise
Who provided the non-financial contribution?
  • Public authorities (e.g. land, utility services)
  • Other

Impacts and Monitoring

Environmental impacts

  • Green space and habitat
  • Increased green space area
  • Achieved increased green space area
  • Increased number of species present
  • Achieved increased number of species present
  • Other

Economic impacts

  • Increase of green jobs (e.g. paid employment positions)
  • Expected increase of green jobs (e.g. paid employment positions)

Socio-cultural impacts

  • Social justice and cohesion
  • Increased visibility and opportunity for marginalised groups or indigenous peoples
  • Expected increased visibility and opportunity for marginalised groups or indigenous peoples
  • Increased access to healthy/affordable food
  • Achieved increased access to healthy/affordable food
  • Cultural heritage and sense of place
  • Promotion of cultural diversity
  • Achieved promotion of cultural diversity
  • Education
  • Increased support for education and scientific research
  • Expected increased support for education and scientific research

Type of reported impacts

Presence of formal monitoring system

Yes

Presence of indicators used in reporting

Yes

Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports

Yes

Availability of a web-based monitoring tool

No evidence in public records

Potential risks of implementation and trade-offs

Unknown

References

1.
Peruvian Government (2023). CENSI inauguró vivero de plantas medicinales y alimenticias para la preservación de la biodiversidad ante el cambio climático. Accessed on August 22, 2024, [Source link];
2.
Peruvian Government (2024). INS fortalece puesta en marcha del vivero de plantas medicinales y el mantenimiento sostenible de sus jardines botánicos. Accessed on August 22, 2024, [Source link];
3.
Silva J, Vicuña W, Bartolo-Marchena M. (2023). PROMOCIÓN DEL CULTIVO Y USO SEGURO DE PLANTAS MEDICINALES. Accessed on August 22, 2024, [Source link];
4.
Peruvian Ministry of Health (n.d.). Centro Nacional de Salud Intercultural. Accessed on August 22, 2024, [Source link];
5.
Municipalidad de Chorrillos (n.d.). Portal de Transparencia. Accessed on August 22, 2024, [Source link];
6.
Instituto Nacional de Estadística e Informática (2020). Planos Estratificados de Lima Metropolitana a Nivel de Manzanas 2020. Accessed on August 22, 2024, [Source link];
Wall of the medicinal and food plant nursery with a sign of CENSI, the organisation in charge of the implementation of the nursery
Wall of the medicinal and food plant nursery with a sign of CENSI
UCOM - Peruvian Government
Crop of peppermint, one of the nursery's medicinal plants
Crop of peppermint, one of the nursery's medicinal plants
Silva J, Vicuña W, Bartolo-Marchena M
naturescapes bannerInformation about this nature-based solution was collected as part of the Naturescapes project funded by the European Union under Grant Agreement No 101084341.