A team from the Frankfurt Zoological Society is in Yaguas —a reserved zone in Loreto region— looking to provide support for management actions since September last year.
The delegation was welcomed by Teofilo Torres, head of the Yaguas Reserved Zone, who told them how important it is to protect the area from illegal timber merchants and miners.
The Peruvian Amazon —mainly its protected areas such as Yaguas— is part of the world’s largest rainforest, key to combat climate change at a regional, national and global level.
Established in 2011 by the Peruvian State, Yaguas Reserved Zone has an extension of 868,927 hectares. It is located in Loreto and is accessible by air and a 20 hour boat ride from Putumayo and Yaguas rivers.
The protected area is located immediately after 13 communities settled along the Putumayo river. To those inhabitants, the area is a reservoir that will enable an adequate and sustainable use of natural resources in the future.
Putumayo is home of nine indigenous ethnic groups. The area is also accessible by flying boat or from Colombia and Brazil.
FZS underlines that such environmental variety matches different types of vegetation. Likewise, the place covers a wide range of water habitats.
Yaguas is not exempt from threats. The most remarkable include selective extraction of tropical timber, hunting, fishing, and illegal mining.
The Reserved Zone lacks infrastructure, critical for its preservation, and only a few organizations work in the area: Instituto de Bien Comun (IBC) and FZS. IBC has worked with Bajo Putumayo communities for over 10 years.
Another key ally is the Loreto regional government, which has supported regional conservational initiatives.
FZS pursues Yaguas conservation, as it is home of great biodiversity of mammals and fish species.
The new project will focus on control and surveillance, equipment, infrastructure and monitoring. It will last five years and will boost the State’s presence in the area through Sernanp.
(END) NDP/MAO/RMB
Published: 2/13/2016