Consolidating the conservation of Abra Patricia nature reserve, Peru

The World Bank and World Wildlife Fund rank the Peruvian Yungas ecoregion among the richest ecosystems in the world, a ‘Globally Outstanding’ ecoregion, which is endangered and constitutes a ‘highest conservation priority ecoregion’ at a global scale. The Peruvian Yungas are home to an exceptional concentration of endemic plants and animal species; e.g., at least 100 endemic ferns have been reported for this ecoregion. The northeastern section of the Peruvian Yungas, which is the target for this project, comprises habitat for 317 resident bird species, of which 23 are considered globally threatened, including endemic and extremely rare birds such as the Critically Endangered Long-whiskered Owlet (Xenoglaux loweryi) and the Endangered Ochre-fronted Antpitta (Grallaricula ochraceifrons), both restricted to small, mid-altitude watersheds in the project site, the Abra Patricia pass, located in the Amazonas Department on the east slope of the Andes. The altitude ranges from 1,850 to 2,300 masl. From the pass, an unbroken panorama of virgin forest stretches northeast to the Amazonian lowlands of north-central Peru. According to data presented in 1999, nearly 60% of the Peruvian Yungas had already been deforested by that time, particularly in the areas of Pomacochas and the middle and lower Mayo River, which precisely surrounds our region of interest. Slash and burn agriculture has become so common that even inside protected areas, such as the Alto Mayo Protection Forest located next to Abra Patricia, thousands of hectares have been deforested. Despite the apparent remoteness of some parts of the Abra Patricia Reserve, the main ridge is traversed by a recently paved highway, and the area close to the road is under increasing pressure from slash and burn agriculture, though so far, only a narrow strip along the road itself has been affected.. Other parts of the cordillera are also being rapidly deforested for coffee, coca, and marijuana cultivation. Starting in June 2005, ABC and its Peruvian partner, Asociación Ecosistemas Andinos (ECOAN) have already purchased land to establish a 2,586.5 hectares Abra Patricia Nature Reserve. The proposed project aims to conduct a 198 ha expansion of the reserve to acquire additional key areas for the region’s endemic fauna and flora. All of the seven properties are currently threatened from deforestation and the acquisition of these properties will improve the connectivity of the Abra Patricia Nature Reserve to the Alto Mayo Protected Area and Alto Mayo Forest Concession creating a significant biological corridor in the northern Yungas. ABC and ECOAN will provide training to members of the local communities, as well as municipal and regional government staff on matters such as conservation planning and nature tourism, nature guiding, reforestation, and ecological restoration for productive purposes. This project is part of a more ambitious initiative to foster the establishment of a sustainable system of community and private reserves in the northern sector of the Peruvian Yungas and the Marañon Dry Forest ecoregions that will safeguard an important number of endemic, rare and/or threatened bird species not protected within the few officially-decreed protected areas existing in that region of Peru.

With the support of IUCN, ABC and ECOAN advanced conservation across 10,000 ha of endangered humid Yungas forests in northern Peru for threatened and endemic biodiversity through the consolidation of Abra Patricia Nature Reserve. ABC / ECOAN acquired seven key properties containing core habitat for the IUCN Endangered Long-whiskered Owlet, Yellow-tailed Woolly Monkey and Ochre-fronted Antpitta and several other IUCN Threatened species. Before they were protected by ABC and ECOAN, each of the seven properties was threatened with deforestation. The acquisition of these tracts, totalling more than 180 hectares, significantly improves the connectivity of the Abra Patricia Nature Reserve to the Alto Mayo Protected Area and Alto Mayo Forested Concession, creating a important biological corridor in the northern Yungas.