Damage Compensation Program Aiding Farmers

By: Alberto Tabango, Research assistant, Andean Bear Project.

Over the past few years the Andean Bear Project team has become increasingly worried about damages being caused by bears to the cornfields of farming families throughout our study area. Andean Bears are known to consume a great amount of corn during the ripe season and they annually cause much financial damage to the already deprived farmers of the Intag region.

Since 2002 we have been compensating farmers for these bear induced damages, prioritizing cases based on the extent of damages and the comparative income of affected families. However, in spite of our relentless effort, the poor financial state of the project over the years has prevented us from paying all the affected people.

This year we paid out a total of $210dollars, distributing the funds between the poorest and most affected families of the region. Don. Ermel Burgos from the town of Ampuenda, who was paid $50 for the damages to his corn crop said, ‘Thanks to the Andean Bear Project I have been saved from the potential financial effects inflicted on me by the damages. My family will now not go without food and clothes they would have without the compensation.’ The other farmers that were paid this year were Don Segundo Calderon $40, Don Jose Maria Vasquez $40, Don Carlos Morocho $40, Don Tarquino Teran $40, Doña Elbia Morales $30, and Don Alberto Cadena $20.

Due to our very tight budget and the non-existent governmental support for our program, we still owe various farmers for the bear induced damages in their corn fields. We owe Don Isaac Barrera $40, Don Daniel Meza $40, Don Jesus Teran $20, Don Efren Escoco $20, and Don Alberto Navarrete $20. These people will be paid as soon as there are enough spare project funds.

Our compensation program is advertised in the local newspaper, ‘Periodico Intag’ and this year we intend to advertise via the local radio station, ‘Radio Intag’ This increased publicity will increase the number of farmers using the compensation program, and hence radically change the farming communities perception on the issue of bear induced damages and also the actions they take. Instead of hunting bears that are eating their corn, more and more farmers will turn to us for help, therefore reaping the benefits of their crop without threatening the local bear population.

Over the past five years, it appears we have seen a slight regeneration of the bear population in the Intag region. This is hypothesized due to the gradual increase in reported bear sightings each year. We believe the actions of the Andean Bear Project are largely responsible for this population regeneration; firstly through increasing public awareness of the bears and the plight they’re in; and also our through our compensation program reducing hunting practices in the area.

With the future increase in demand of our compensation program, we will inevitably need a great deal of funds to meet the cost of all bear induced damages. We hope that through kind donations and support we can obtain sufficient funds to allow us to pay all affected farmers in years to come.