The document proposes the Environmental Protection for Indigenous Children (EPIC) project, which aims to improve health outcomes for indigenous children in Madre De Dios, Peru and reduce deforestation through several initiatives. It would establish a health response team to increase access to healthcare, an environmental education program called Saplings to teach children about the environment, and economic development programs to provide jobs and sustainable livelihoods as the environment changes. The project expects to see a reduction in deforestation and child mortality rates, as well as improved health outcomes, through these coordinated public health and environmental protection efforts over its proposed 5-year timeline.

1. Megan Richard, Morgan Rozek, Alex Plazas, & Kane Agan

3. Deforestation in
Madre De Dios, Peru
■ Proposed construction of a road along
the Acre River
■ One of the largest deforestation fronts in
the world
– Usually occurs near infrastructure
development
■ Environmental and health concerns tied
to deforestation

4. Goal
To improve health
outcomes for
indigenous children
and decrease
deforestation in the
Madre De Dios
Region, Peru

5. Family
Yine near
Iñapari
Target Population
■ Protecting an intersection of
health vulnerable populations
■ Ensuring good health within the
critical first 1000 days of life
■ Focus on community
leadership, indigenous land
rights, and self-efficacy
■ Founded on a community-
engaged needs assessment

6. Health
Response
Team
Education
Program
Economic
Empowerment
Deforestation
Monitoring
Environmental Protection for
Indigenous Children (EPIC)

7. ResponseTeam
■ Fighting to reduce deforestation and its effects
through increased access to health care
■ Centrally-located hub and terrain-friendly
transportation for community health workers to
travel to indigenous communities
■ Collaborate with the local health clinics,
indigenous healers, and community leaders to
best address their needs

8. Services Provided
■ Supply and teach Oral RehydrationTherapy
■ VitaminA and Zinc oral supplements
■ Appropriate antibiotics and oxygen
■ Plumpy'Nut and nutritional education
■ WASH education – infectious disease prevention and
water decontamination techniques
■ Water monitoring
■ Early symptom recognition

9. Environmental Education Program
Saplings
Inspire
TransformEducate
■ Community-based program
■ Held at local schools
■ Led by volunteers
■ Incentives for children and leaders

10. AppropriateTechnology: Nutrition
■ Plant Identification ■ Leaf Fortification ■ Community Gardening
Castaña (Brazil nuts)
- Fiber, Magnesium,
Zinc,Vitamin B1
Ungurahui (Palm Fruit)
-Vitamin E, Omega-9
Fatty Acids
Bactris gasipaes
(Peach Palm)
-VitaminsA, B, C,
Iron,Calcium,
Potassium
Cordoncillo Leaf
-Treats respiratory
illnesses, gallstones,
and hemorrhaging

11. AppropriateTechnology:Water
Filtration
■ Water filtration and purification
Biosand Filters SolarWater
Purification
Water
Pasteurization
Indicator (WAPI)

12. Economic Development
■ Changing environment will mean changing
livelihood
– Capitalizing on increased traffic
■ Build locally controlled, environmentally
friendly economic growth
– Ecotourism
– Sustainable lodging, hospitality
– Local arts and culture
■ Focus on transferable skills and a viable
career field for future generations

13. 500,000 hectares of
deforestation 4,000 km of
"spider" road
2,000 km of road
36% decrease

20. Increase
Monitoring and
Prevention
Decrease the local
effects of climate
change
Improved health
outcomes for
indigenous children

22. Evaluation
of
Health ResponseTeam
• Child Mortality Rates
• Disease Prevalence
• Biometric Data
Education Program
• Enrollment Rates
• Biodiversity Data
Economic Development
• Start-up funds distributed
• Local economic impact
Forest Guardians
• Deforestation Rate
• Community Participation

23. Budget
$500,000
$850,000
$150,000
$250,000
$400,000
$200,000
$150,000
EPIC (in USD)
Health Resources
Monitoring Equipment
Construction
Economic Development Fund
General Staff Budget
Program Incentives
Response Vehicles/Equipment

24. Key Partners
■ Indigenous
Community
■ Rainforest
Foundation
■ Peruvian
Government
■ Mass Design Group

25. Timeline
Months 1-6
Establish relationships
& partnerships
Initial needs
assessment
Construct EPIC hub
Purchase medical
equipment
Recruit and train
CHWs
Monitoring and
Evaluation
Months 7-12
Recruit and train
Saplings’ leaders
Recruit for business
development program
Recruit and train
Forest Guardians
Launch Medical
Response Team
Re-training and
recruitment
Year 2
Launch Saplings
program
Economic
development training
Teach forest mapping
techniques
Launch Forest
Guardians
Year 3
Distribute economic
development funds
Build community guard
posts (as needed)
Help with land
management planning
Years 4 & 5
Final evaluation and
training for
community hand-off

26. Sustainability
Essential community
partnerships
Transfer of
knowledge
Economic
development
Long-term
environmental
health focus
Inclusion as a core
principle

27. Narative

29. Limitations
■ Long term sustainability and community adoption
■ Limited funding
■ Cultural appropriateness
■ Opportunity cost
■ Long term environmental destruction (ecological
tipping point)