August

One of the reasons rainforests worldwide are threatened is because the ground is poor in nutrients. Thus farmers have to extend the farming land periodically to more nutrient-rich areas – which means converting more forest into farmland. One of the most important reasons for the nutrient-poor soil, is that biomass in these rainforests is degraded in such a fast and effective way, that these nutrients don´t stay outside of any organism for a long time. In other words this means that the richness of the rainforest is found within the organisms and not in the ground.
Although most of its extension is actually not suitable for agriculture, it is one of the most important activities in the Amazon. In order to get the nutrients from the organisms (mainly plants, trees and vines), into the ground, farmers first slash down the forest and weeks or months later, burn it. Farmers usually slash down the forest between June and July, and burn it between August and September, when soil is at its driest level. The ash of burnt organic material will enrich the soil as it works as a fertilizer. Slash and burn agriculture is responsible for most of the deforestation of tropical rainforests in Peru.

Birds and mammals are among the most important seed dispersers in the rainforest. However, some trees like the balsa wood tree depend on the wind and water, to accomplish this utmost important part in plant reproduction.
In August, small cotton-like fibers almost resembling snow fall down from these trees. The seeds of the balsa wood tree are wrapped around a light colored fiber that is easily blown away by the wind. Some locals use this fiber to fill their pillows.

The best time for fishing in the rainforest is the dry season as there is less water than in the rainy season when fish have much more options to move between several creeks, rivers and lakes that are all connected. Although fishing is not among the most important economic activities in the region, fish is an important source of proteins.
Locals mostly use fishing lines or nets to fish in the river or lakes. Interested guests can fish with local fishing lines. If you are among them, please let us know beforehand.