A biodiverse marine paradise in Peru is now protected! 

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A significant step towards marine conservation, the creation of the Mar Tropical de Grau National Reserve. Over a decade of concerted effort orchestrated by Nature and Culture has brought together the local governments and coastal communities along Piura’s shores to work to protect a key marine sanctuary. This collaboration has led to the creation of a new protected area, announced on April 24th, 2024, by the Peruvian government, marking a significant milestone in marine conservation. Spanning an impressive 286,059 acres (about the area of San Antonio, Texas), this reserve safeguards the intricate tapestry of Peru’s marine ecosystem. 

According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), we are now protecting one of the world’s most critical areas for preserving marine biodiversity. 

A paradise of marine biodiversity 

The coast of Piura, in northern Peru, is one of the most extraordinary places in the Pacific due to the uniqueness of what happens beneath its waters: the meeting of two large marine ecosystems, one dominated by the cold waters of the Peru (Humboldt) Current and the other by the warm waters of the Southern Equatorial Current. Some of the species that can be found in this exceptional ecosystem include the rare Humboldt penguin (Spheniscus humboldti), the Pacific seahorse (Hippocampus ingens), humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) that travel to this area especially to give birth, the hammerhead shark (Sphyrna mokarran) which is endangered, all species of Pacific marine turtles, as well as hundreds of species of fish and corals. Additionally, being a transition zone, it has a high concentration of endemic species and species new to science. 

On land, this region features a desert ecosystem with tropical dry forests that are unique in the world, where gigantic wetlands of great importance for biodiversity develop, as they host some of the most important habitats for migratory birds on the coast of Peru. 

The ecosystem faces significant threats from mining, industrial fishing, and marine pollution, particularly from oil spills. However, with the establishment of the newly declared protections for this vital marine sanctuary, the wildlife inhabiting this area can finally breathe a sigh of relief, as these threats are now alleviated. 

A long road to conservation 

Although Nature and Culture has worked primarily in the Andes and Amazon regions of Peru, for more than 10 years we worked on the conservation and sustainable management of marine resources along the Peruvian coast. It all began in 2009, when together with the Cayetano Heredia Peruvian University (UPCH) and the National Service of Natural Protected Areas by the State (SERNANP), we presented the proposal for the creation of the Foca Island National Reserve. By 2014, SERNANP merged this proposal with three others: El Ñuro-Cabo Blanco, Punta Sal Reefs, and the Mancora Bank, to create what is now the Grau Tropical Sea National Reserve. 

The views from Foca Island

From there, and for 10 years, Nature and Culture contributed to the creation of the National Reserve through scientific research, socialization workshops, photographic exhibitions, among other activities aimed at raising awareness among the local communities. Our collaboration extended to the regional and local governmental partners, SERNANP, and the Ministry of the Environment. Together, we championed the government’s vision to establish Peru’s inaugural protected marine area within the Tropical Pacific Sea ecosystem. 

Additionally, together with the Regional Directorate of Production of Piura and the artisanal fishing communities of the region, we supported an initial effort to inventory the artisanal fishing fleet, establishing spaces for dialogue and training to develop a co-management plan for sustainable artisanal fishing. In 2020, we trained 45 artisanal fishermen from Foca Island, promoting the leading role of fishermen in the administration, control, and surveillance of fishing activity in their seas. 

“We have learned and understand that one of the most important challenges to reduce the gap in marine conservation in the country is to strengthen the alliance with the communities that inhabit the northern coast of Peru,” said Mónica Alzamora, Coordinator of the Coastal-Marine Program (2014-2018) at the time. 

The creation of the Grau Tropical Sea National Reserve allows for the sustainable use of resources, optimizing artisanal fishing techniques and the development of environmental tourism. This conservation status guarantees the permanence of a unique ecosystem, its species, its underwater landscapes, and the environmental services it provides to the fishing and coastal communities of the Piura coast. 

We are proud to have been part of this important conservation milestone for Peru’s marine ecosystem! 

Our contribution to the establishment of the Mar Tropical de Grau National Reserve would not have been possible without the collaborative work of SERNANP, the regional governments of Piura and Tumbes, and the Ministry of the Environment, and the financial support of Andes Amazon Fund, Paul M. Angell Family Foundation, Environmental Defense Fund, Walton Family Foundation, Re:wild and other funders. 

N MEMORIAM 

In memory of Mónica Alzamora (d. 2022) 

We remember with deep gratitude Mónica Alzamora, who left an indelible mark on the conservation of Peru’s natural landscape. At Nature and Culture, she worked tirelessly alongside the fishing communities of the Peruvian coast to protect Mar de Grau. 

Her dedication and leadership were instrumental in achieving today’s declaration of the Mar Tropical de Grau National Reserve. We honor her memory and legacy, recognizing her valuable contribution to the protection of the marine ecosystem of the Peruvian coast. As she used to say, “Without blue, there is no green, and without green, there is no us!” 

Rest in peace, Mónica. 

The effectiveness of our collaborative efforts is remarkable, and none of this would have been possible without you, our Nature and Culture Community! Since our founding, in total we have protected 26 million acres, preventing 3.9 billion tons of CO2 emissions!

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As you read through our Impact Report, we invite you to join us in celebrating our achievements.

Here’s a look at some of the incredible work you helped support over the last year.

On February 1, 2023, two Indigenous nationalities came together with the Provincial Government of Morona Santiago, Ecuador to create the 3,057,670-acre reserve, named  Tarímiat Pujutaí Nunka in Shuar, which roughly translates to “Territory of Good Living.” 

With the generous support of our donors and partners, Nature and Culture has been working since 2021, to facilitate a participatory process that led to the protection of this massive connected Amazonian forest. This process involved hosting 21 community meetings, during which 893 community members shared their traditional ecological knowledge, worldviews, and visions for a sustainable future within their ancestral territory to preserve natural and cultural resources for future generations.   

The declaration of this area aims to improve the quality of life for local communities through sustainable development opportunities, while safeguarding its 744 million tons of above-ground carbon stores.  

Tarímiat Pujutaí Nunka joins as the centerpiece of the Amazonian Platform, a collaborative alliance uniting 7 Indigenous nationalities and 3 Provincial Governments in protecting 11 million acres of continuous Amazonian rainforest. About the size of West Virginia, U.S. in total, this impressive biological corridor collectively sequesters an estimated 2.3 billion tons of above-ground carbon.  

The opportunity for Nature and Culture to attend the international climate conference, COP27, in 2022, and amplify Indigenous voices in climate action was a significant milestone for the organization. In 2023, we continued to build on the momentum and champion the presence of Indigenous leaders in pivotal international forums. 

In March 2023, Josefina Tunki, former President of the Shuar Arutam Nationality, journeyed to the United Nations Water Conference in New York alongside Nature and Culture, Executive Director, Matt Clark. Josefina delivered a compelling presentation on the critical issue of water resources in the Amazon. Josefina’s perspective was enriched by her deep connection to the land, stemming from her leadership in safeguarding the 3-million-acre protected area, Tarímiat Pujutaí Nunka. She is fighting to keep her ancestral territory free of mining activities that have devastated her community. 

Later in the year, our esteemed partners, Governor of Morona Santiago, Tiyua Uyunkar and Pastaza Governor André Granda, took the stage at COP28, proudly representing the Amazonian Platform—a testament to the collaborative efforts between Nature and Culture, subnational governments, and local Indigenous communities. They shared the remarkable successes achieved in protecting the Ecuadorian Amazon. Together, we’re safeguarding an astonishing 11 million acres of pristine forest, forming the largest biological corridor in Ecuador. 

By facilitating the participation of Indigenous leaders in global dialogues, we are supporting them in reshaping the narrative on conservation and climate action. Their invaluable insights, rooted in millennia of lived experience, are indispensable in shaping policies and solutions. As we forge ahead, Nature and Culture remains steadfast in our resolve to amplify Indigenous voices, ensuring that their rightful place at the forefront of the environmental movement is acknowledged and respected on a global scale.

In 2019, we celebrated the establishment of the Ñembi Guasu protected area, safeguarding 3 million acres in the Bolivian Gran Chaco. That same year, the world watched in horror as wildfires ravaged the country’s southern region of Santa Cruz.

Since then, Nature and Culture and one of our local implementation partners, have been working to ensure the long-term health of the Ñembi Guasu area. We’re doing this in several ways, including the creation of a management framework and sustainable finance mechanism, the development of a firefighting patrol, and post-wildfire reforestation projects. Recognizing the growing risk of fire in Bolivia’s precious dry forests, we have provided firefighting tools, conducted fire safety awareness campaigns, and devised emergency firefighting strategies to mitigate future disasters.  

Helping communities adapt to climate change is crucial because, despite efforts to mitigate its causes, the impacts of climate change are already being felt globally. These impacts often disproportionately affect vulnerable communities. By supporting adaptation measures, such as building resilience, enhancing infrastructure, and implementing early warning systems, communities can better withstand the effects of climate change and minimize associated risks to livelihoods, health, and well-being.

In the last eight years, Nature and Culture has documented more than 450 species of birds in areas we protect in the northern Tropical Andes of Peru, 24 percent of the country’s recognized avian species. Our work here spans a 3,763,481-acre ecoregion of high-altitude grasslands and cloud forests.  

Two new subnational areas are in the works which will join to surrounding protected areas between the departments of Huánuco and San Martín, Peru. This ecoregion provides critical habitat connectivity and food resources to birds and other wildlife in the region. 

Monitoring wildlife within the areas we protect is just one way we gauge the efficacy of our work. It also allows us to prioritize new areas for conservation as species’ ranges shift in response to climate change.  

In Ecuador, Water Protection Areas (WPAs) are a unique conservation measure aimed at safeguarding water resources for local populations and protecting key watersheds and their surrounding ecosystems. These areas legally shield forests and natural ecosystems from harmful activities like mining, ensuring a clean water supply and food security for local communities. From 2019 to 2022, our team in Ecuador spearheaded a comprehensive national-level hydrological study. This effort culminated in the creation of a Priority Map of Hydric Zones covering approximately 17.3 million acres. The study was instrumental in aiding the Ecuadorian government in prioritizing its watershed conservation projects, called Water Protection Areas.

Since the inception of this conservation mechanism, 32 Water Protection Areas have been established, 20 with Nature and Culture’s support. In 2023 alone, 12 areas were established, protecting 150,000 acres, and bringing positive change to the lives of 85,000 residents.

2023 Annual Impact Report

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In the heart of the Peruvian Amazon Rainforest lies the community of the Indigenous Ikitu people. Nature and Culture International has established a longstanding relationship with this community located east of the capital city of Loreto, Iquitos. Recently, Milton López, a local communicator for Nature and Culture, journeyed to speak with Marcelo Inuma, the great-grandson of the last chief of the Ikitu people.  

According to Peru’s Ministry of Culture, there are just 693 Indigenous Ikitu individuals left in all of Peru. An elder from the Ikitu community lamented that since the passing of their last Kuraka, or chief, in 1940s, the Ikitu have gradually lost touch with their identity and traditional customs due to the encroachment of loggers and land traffickers. Today, they are striving to reclaim their heritage through the strengthening of local organizations and community governance. Nature and Culture International is backing their initiative to revitalize their culture. 

While gathering the last irapay leaves for the new hut that will house an Ikitu statue, Marcelo Inuma, an elder from the San Antonio de Pintuyacu Native Community shares, “I am of Ikitu descent; my great-grandfather was Súkani. He was a very powerful man. Invincible.” The sculpture has been part of the community since 1987, but it was abandoned and began deteriorating due to exposure from the elements. Building a hut for the sculpture marks the beginning of a series of activities through which the Ikitu people are striving to reclaim their Indigenous identity in San Antonio. 

Preserving cultural heritage for indigenous communities is integral to our conservation efforts. It is essential for building community resilience to encroaching extractive activities and the effects of climate change. It helps to sustain biodiversity, maintain ecological balance, and promote sustainable resource management because Indigenous communities possess traditional knowledge and practices that have been developed over generations for living in harmony with their natural environment. 

The Ikitu and a colonialist past 

Marcelo Inuma recalls his ancestry as the great-grandson of the last kuraka of the Amazonian Indigenous Ikitu people. According to the Ministry of Culture’s Indigenous Peoples Database, the Ikitu inhabited the Nanay, Pintuyacu, and Chambira river basins in the Loreto region for centuries. However, in the 17th and 18th centuries, Jesuit missionaries forced them to evangelize. Between 1740 and 1767, their populations were consolidated into eight designated settlements or missions. One of these concentrated settlements was San Pablo del Napeano, later known as the Settlement of the Ikitu, which eventually lent its name to the present-day capital of Loreto, Iquitos. 

In 2022, Nature and Culture backed the development of a bilingual graphic novel (in Spanish and Ikitu) titled “The Last Kuraka.” The comic tells the tale of Súkani, the renowned leader of the Ikitu people who was captured by colonial traffickers aiming to take control of their land. 

View “El último Karaka” here.

A cultural revival of the Ikitu  

“We planned to build this hut as a community. The statue of César Paico is already here; we had it, but it was abandoned. Now that the hut is built, we are going to place the statue beneath it, for everyone to see. Here, people can also rest, this little shelter is going to have all the comforts for our community,” adds Marcelo Inuma, who was also a community leader or “apu” of San Antonio, situated in the Pintuyacu basin.  

Hut that shelters the Ikitu statue.

Confronted with the loss of their ancestral knowledge, the elders and leaders of the Ikitu community in San Antonio, along with their political representatives, decided to form a Culture Committee. Marcelo Inuma is a member of this committee, tasked with the important responsibility of gathering and preserving songs and cultural artifacts. In doing so, he plays a role in revitalizing the rich cultural legacy passed down by his great-grandfather, Súkani. 

Other members of the committee include Inés Pacaya Inuma (Historian); Silvia Díaz Saboya (Dance and Traditional Clothing); and Nelson Pacaya Inuma (Bilingual Hand-Lettering Specialist). 

Nature and Culture collaborated with the Culture Committee to create a comprehensive plan aimed at reclaiming Ikitu culture and reinvigorating the use of their language. This plan includes various strategies to ensure that the entire community embraces the Ikitu language and culture once more. These strategies involve organizing instructional workshops, providing bilingual teachers and Ikitu learning materials to the community’s children to help them become proficient in their native language, and broadcasting radio programs about their people to raise awareness of their cultural significance among the population of Loreto. 

In the long journey of recovering Ikitu knowledge in San Antonio, the responsibility falls not only on the Culture Committee but also on the entire community. For example, another advocate for Ikitu culture is César Paico Llona, who, at 17 years old, served as the model for the very sculpture now housed in the hut. Crafted by artist Felipe Lettersten in 1987, the sculpture symbolizes the community’s dedication to preserving their heritage. 

César Paico Llona next to the statue made in his likeness.

Ancestral knowledge for future generations 

Despite being one of the most recognized Indigenous groups in the Peruvian Amazon, the Ikitu population is still among the most vulnerable and least populous. The situation is compounded by the fact that very few people speak their language. According to a national census from 2017, only 519 individuals reported speaking the Ikitu language. 

However, this was not always the case. In the year the Ikitu statue was built, the situation was different. “We’re talking about 1987. More people spoke Ikitu back then. San Antonio was much smaller, the area behind it was not inhabited, and the main port that exists today did not exist, nor did the staircases; they were elsewhere. It was common knowledge that there was a statue and that it was tucked away. Originally, I personally erected it to be at the port,” recalls César Paico. 

On October 12th of last year, Nature and Culture supported the Fourth Amazonian Ancestral Knowledge Gathering in Iquitos, an event that brought together elders from seven Indigenous Peoples of Loreto. At this gathering, Marcelo Inuma and his niece Margarita Beuzeville were present and the Ikitu elder shared his story: “I come from a mother who spoke Ikitu and understood Spanish, and grandparents who spoke Ikitu exclusively. My grandfather never spoke Spanish. I was raised speaking the language and using natural medicines with them. No one was ever lacking during their “minga” (collective work). Everyone shared.” 

Currently, in the Ikitu village, only two wise men are recognized by the Peruvian state. “But they are already old; they are over 70 years old. I am left as the only wise man and interpreter-translator of this language. I write, speak, translate. What we want is to revitalize all these customs we had before, and for me not to be alone,” concludes the wise Marcelo Inuma. 

Communal authorities and Ikitu wise men hope that with the realization of the various mentioned activities such as teaching Indigenous culture and language, the production of bilingual materials, and the revitalization of the language through radio transmission, Peru and the world will learn about the existence and importance of the Ikitu in the past, present, and future of national history. 

Nature and Culture International supported a recent photographic exhibition that sheds light on the environmental and social impacts of illegal mining on the Madre de Dios region of the Peruvian Amazon.

From December 21st to January 6th, a series of photographs was exhibited at the Parish Hall of the Main Church of Iquitos, Peru. These images illustrate the devastating impacts of illegal mining in the Madre de Dios region over the years. The impacts are not only environmental; they also result in a breakdown of the connection between people and the surrounding natural landscapes that are slowly disappearing.

Effects of illegal mining in Madre de Dios | Credits: Pavel Martiarena

A warning of the consequences of illegal mining

Photographer and climate activist, Pavel Martiarena, is from Puerto Maldonado, the capital city of the Madre de Dios region in southeast Peru. He traveled to Iquitos to exhibit more than 20 photographs that detail the harmful effects of illegal mining in his region. The photographic exhibition not only summarizes the fatal impacts of mercury on the natural landscape of the Amazon Rainforest but also exposes the irreparable marks mining has left on the population: domestic violence, drug trafficking, alcoholism, and human trafficking, among other crimes.

In this sense, Pavel Martiarena’s exhibition was received in Iquitos as a warning of the negative impacts of illegal mining in an Amazonian landscape. This reality could be repeated in Loreto, especially in the basins of the Chambira and Nanay rivers, both of which supply potable water for the city of Iquitos with over 400 thousand inhabitants.

The photographic exhibition featured more than 20 photographs illustrating the devastating results of illegal mining | Credits: Pavel Martiarena

Nature and Culture worked together with organizations like the Frankfurt Zoological Society, Derecho, Ambiente y Recursos Naturales, and the Center for Amazonian Scientific Innovation to handle the organization and logistics required for the exhibition.

The photographic exhibition was presented by the Apostolic Vicariate of Iquitos and the management committees of the protected areas affected by illegal mining in Loreto: the Regional Conservation Area “Alto Nanay Pintuyacu Chambira” and the National Reserve “Allpahuayo Mishana.” The exhibition opening was attended by representatives of the Vicariate, the “Allpahuayo Mishana” National Reserve, and regional and national authorities, including the Minister of the Environment, Albina Ruiz.

Recently, a scientific publication in the Amphibian & Reptile Conservation journal announced two new species of reptile in Peru, specifically in the Amazonas department.

Meet the Petracola amazonensis and Petracola shurugojalcapi lizards – the “rock lizard of Amazonas” and the “Rock lizard of La Jalca.” These remarkable creatures have been uncovered in the Chiliquin and La Jalca districts, deep within the Amazonas department. 

Petracola amazonensis | photo credits: Chaparro Auza
Petracola shurugojalcapi | photo credits: Victor Vargas García

These discoveries are not just fascinating from a biological standpoint; they shed light on the critical need to protect untouched areas in Amazonas with undiscovered biodiversity. 

Leading the research are scientists like Luis Mamani, Juan Carlos Chaparro, Alessandro Catenazzi, and Víctor Vargas, who have dedicated their efforts to unraveling these mysteries. 

The lizard Petracola amazonensis got its name in honor Amazonas region | photo credits: Chaparro Auza

The species’ names reflect their origins – “Petracola amazonensis” honors the Amazonas region, while “Petracola shurugojalcapi” blends the Quechua words “shurugo” (the local name for the lizard) and “jalcapi” (meaning “of Jalca”). 

Research on new species

Biologist Víctor Vargas shares the incredible journey of discovering these species, highlighting that they’ve been known for over a decade but have only recently been studied with advanced scientific methods. 

The importance of conservation

The La Jalca community’s conservation efforts are also noteworthy. With support from Nature and Culture International, they’ve expanded their protected area from 43,248 acres to an impressive 64,781 acres in just six years. 

La Jalca landscape | photo credits: Victor Vargas García
La Jalca protects important water sources | photo credits: Victor Vargas García

Beyond wildlife preservation, this area plays a vital role as a water source for human consumption and local economic activities. It’s a lifeline for communities and a driving force for Amazonas’ development. 

In summary, these discoveries and conservation endeavors in Amazonas are both scientifically intriguing and vital for the region’s well-being. 

Researchers recently recorded notable wildlife sightings in the Páramos and Montane Forests of Jaén and Tabaconas Protected Area in Peru. Camera traps in the region documented the presence of the impressive puma (Puma concolor) and the symbolic spectacled bear (Tremarctos ornatus) as they moved through the area.

These findings are especially meaningful because they serve as biological indicators of the healthy conservation status of the area.

Analu Fernández Rafael, head of the Páramos and Montane Forests of Jaén and Tabaconas Protected Area, emphasizes that these discoveries highlight the importance of joint efforts between governmental entities and non-governmental organizations in the conservation of our ecosystems. They ensure a balance that benefits both wildlife and local communities, reaffirming the need to strengthen research in the páramo and montane forest ecosystems of Cajamarca.

Spectacled bear

Biologist Iván Mejía from Nature and Culture International explains that the spectacled bear, besides being an emblematic species, is a seed disperser. For this reason, it plays a key role in the functioning of high mountain ecosystems.

Additionally, the spectacled bear is endangered according to the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature), in the “vulnerable” category.

Puma

In contrast, the puma ranked as the fourth-largest feline in the world, plays a crucial role in the health, regulation, and balance of other species in mountain ecosystems. It keeps other species in check given that it is a top predator. It is a born controller of the food local food chain. According to biologist Mejía, the presence of the puma is key to maintaining the harmony and sustainability of the ecosystems it calls home.

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These revelations underscore the importance of understanding and preserving interactions between species, recognizing their valuable contribution not only to biodiversity but also to the dynamic balance of high mountain ecosystems.

The passage from the Páramos and Montane Forests of Jaén and Tabaconas Protected Area

A shared commitment

These monitoring activities are led with dedication and commitment by the technical team of the Páramos and Montane Forests of Jaén and Tabaconas Protected Area, part of the Submanagement of Natural Resources and Protected Natural Areas of the Regional Government of Cajamarca (RENAMA). This work is carried out in close collaboration and strategic partnership with Nature and Culture International and Andes Amazon Fund, thus strengthening the protection and preservation of this protected natural area, which has the largest coverage of the páramo ecosystem in the department.

Welcome to Nature and Culture’s latest conservation update, a direct glimpse into our ongoing efforts across Latin America.

We’re excited to share updates on our latest initiatives and projects, including a 360 view of one of our very first protected areas, the Cazaderos Reserve, a brand new protected area in Bolivia, and amazing avian biodiversity in Peru.

Our commitment to safeguarding the rich biodiversity and cultural heritage of this remarkable region remains unwavering, and it is thanks to supporters like you that our projects continue to thrive. Thank you for joining us on this journey!

Real Stories. Real Impact.

Ikíitu Indigenous youth connect to their culture, language and ancestral customs with Nature and Culture’s publication of the comic, “El Último Kuraka.”

Each year on August 9th, people around the world celebrate Indigenous Peoples. It’s an important time to raise awareness around Indigenous autonomy and equal rights to their ancestral lands, native languages, and traditional customs. This year’s theme centers around Indigenous youth who have so much at stake in the struggle to maintain their cultural identity. That is why Nature and Culture, together with the Ikíitu people of the Indigenous community, San Antonio, Pintuyacu river, Loreto, Peru, produced and published the comic, “El Último Kuraka,” or “The Last Chief.”

Margarita Beuzeville Panduro, Ikíitu community member

Nature and Culture hopes to raise awareness around the Indigenous Peoples of the Amazon by sharing their traditional knowledge.

Alongside our efforts to conserve forests, our team provides opportunities to strengthen the Indigenous identity of the local communities that help keep the forest standing. In this way, forest management is imbued with local understandings and experiences that have persisted for centuries. Written in both Spanish and the Ikíiitu native language, “El Último Kuraka” serves as written documentation of the cultural history of the Peruvian city of Iquitos (named after the Ikíitu people), the capital of the Maynas Province. We hope that this history is not only shared amongst the Ikíitu youth but spread to youth across the region and throughout Peru!

In the comic, hero Súkani, a leader with supernatural powers, is imprisoned by colonialists attempting to seize his people’s land. This traditional story was adapted by Nature and Culture from collected facts from the oral tradition of the Ikíitu people. During the 17th and 18th centuries, many Ikíitu were forced to join missions and displaced from their ancestral territories. The city of present day Iquitos bears the name of the Ikíitu people, in homage to the first residents of the area, although it is not known exactly when and who settled on the plateau surrounded by the Nanay, Amazon, Itaya and Lake Moronacocha rivers. The true story of the death of “El Última Kuraka”, Alejandro Inuma, in the the 1940s was decisive moment for the Ikíitu people because the language ceased to be used as a primary language and many customs began to be lost. According to data obtained by the Ministry of Culture, it is estimated that today there are only 519 people from the communities of the Ikíitu people remaining.

A view of the Peruvian city of Iquitos

In the comic’s prologue, Inter-cultual Specialist, Elena Burga Cabrera affirms that “Amazonian Indigenous peoples have their own stories about who they are, where they came from, who were their leaders, how their first contact with ‘mestizos’ went and about the events they have experienced, generally with a lot of violence and suffering, and that has generated changes in their way of life and in the characteristics of the territories they occupy.”

Ema Llona Yareja, bilingual Ikíitu community member asserts, “(Children) must learn, so that our language is not lost, from an early age they should receive education in the Ikíitu language”.

The identity of Indigenous Peoples is attached to the land, language, traditional livelihoods, ceremonies, arts, crafts, and family members and society as a whole. The elders of the Ikíitu community, like Ema Llona Yareja, pictured above, provide a connection between generations, a crucial aspect of Indigenous Peoples’ wellbeing. She asserts, “(children) must learn, so that our language is not lost, from an early age they should receive education in the Ikíitu language”.  In areas of high cultural and economic exchange like the Nanay river basin, Indigenous cultures are at risk of being lost. “The Nanay basin, where the community of San Antonio is located, is subjected to processes of cultural and economic exchange with western society. The pressures riverside communities face create challenges that must be confronted to safeguard the well-being of their families, the forest, water and, above all, the right to stand firm before illegal actions,” says former Nature and Culture Peru Country Director, Patricia Ochoa.

View the full comic here!

The Ikíitu people have a cultural richness, which to this day persists in their daily customs.

Utensils and tools, fishing techniques, knowledge of medicinal plants, knowledge of the forest for hunting, cultivation of their farms are all pieces of knowledge that are preserved in the rich culture of the Ikíitu people. In addition to documenting their native language, the “El Última Kuraka” comic also records some of the customs and artifacts that are used to this day, including garments, pottery and cooking utensils.

Adith Pacaya Inuma, Ikíitu community member, demonstrating the use of a batán, one of the most important utensils for making a traditional drink made from fermented cassava.


Supporting Indigenous communities in conserving nature in their lands requires recognition of their lived experiences and world visions. By documenting the culture and history of the Ikíitu people, we are helping to preserve not only their way of life, but also the sustainable practices that have been passed down through generations. They have been great stewards of their ancestral lands and we are working alongside the elders in the community to ensure future generations will have the same local knowledge and support to continue to protect these sacred places.

If you’d like to support our efforts please give today.

More than 450 bird species identified over 8 years!

Since 2015, research and fieldwork carried out by our technical team has led to the registering of more than 450 species of birds in one of the areas we’re working to protect in the northern tropical Andes. According to our research, 24% of all the bird species in Peru can be found in this region! More than 30 of these species are endemic, or found no where else in the world.

A Brief History of the Region’s Conservation Efforts

Following the creation of the Carpish Montane Forest Regional Conservation Area and the Unchog Private Conservation Area, Nature and Culture, with the support of the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund, conducted a Rapid Biological Study to determine the distribution of endemic species of the Carpish Montane Forest. This study served as a baseline for the development of monitoring and evaluation plans that help to track the health of the ecosystems in these areas.

The study also helped to prioritize other areas nearby in need of protection. Nature and Culture, together with the Huánuco Regional Government and funding from Andes Amazon Fund, began negotiations for the creation of two new Regional Conservation Areas in the department of Huánuco, Peru: Regional Conservation Area Yanajanca, and Regional Conservation Area San Pedro de Chonta. 

In 2021, the American Bird Conservancy joined the effort. They generated information on the behavior of birds and determined the conservation status of the forests that provide them with food and shelter.

At the end of 2021, Rainforest Trust joined Nature and Culture’s initiative with the Huánuco Regional Government, to conserve the work towards conserving proposed San Pedro de Chonta and Yanajanca Regional Conservation Areas. 

Tricolored brushfinch (Atlapetes tricolor)
House wren (Troglodytes aedon)
Plumbeous sierra finch (Geospizopsis unicolor)
Andean Guan (Penelope montagnii)

Our work in the Carpish-Río Abiseo Mosaic 

The Carpish-Río Abiseo Mosaic is 3,763,481.26 acres of very fragile ecosystems of biological and environmental importance located between the departments of Huánuco and San Martín. It also provides valuable ecosystem services to local populations.

The 3.7 million acres are divided into National Areas (Tingo María National Park and Río Abiseo National Park), Sub National Areas (Regional Conservation Areas Shunté and Mishollo, Regional Conservation Area Montane Forest of Carpish and Private Conservation Area Unchog), and Areas in the process of creation (Proposal of Regional Conservation Area Yanajanca and Proposal of Regional Conservation Area San Pedro de Chonta). 

Connecting and protecting these areas, and all of the key ecosystems and endemic spieces that live within the region is at the heart of what Nature and Culture International does.

Want to read more about Nature and Culture’s Carpish-Río Abiseo Mosaic in the News?

Read local report here

For World Rainforest Day, will you join our community of monthly donors who have pledged to protect South America’s rainforests year-round?

Over the course of a year, you’ll care for 12 acres – the size of 6 professional soccer fields!

Your gift… 

  • Defends wild places from deforestation, mining, and other unsustainable activities  
  • Connects irreplaceable habitat for threatened plants and animals  
  • Supports Indigenous and local communities in mapping, monitoring, and managing forests for the long-term 
  • Preserves the services these ecosystems provide to us all, including clean water and a stable climate 

Not all rainforests are alike

Rainforests are ecosystems that experience a large amount of annual rainfall. They support an incredible number of plants, animals, and other life forms. Although they occur in different parts of the planet, tropical rainforests are found on and around the equator where sunlight is consistent throughout the year.

Nature and Culture International has projects and protected areas in rainforest ecosystems in many types of rainforest in South America. Our work occurs in the lowland Amazon rainforest, cloud forests in the Andes, and the Chocó forest of coastal Colombia and northern Ecuador. 

Andean Cloud Forest: Highland rainforest 

The extraordinary cloud forests of the Andes are a type of mid-altitude tropical rainforest. When humid air, transpired from the billions of trees in the lowland Amazon, moves west and up the mountain slopes of the Andes, some of it condenses and falls as rain. Some remain in the form of low clouds and mist, which condenses directly onto the foliage of cloud forest trees.

Cloud forests extend from about 3,000 feet in elevation up to about 8,000 feet, so temperatures tend to be cooler than in lowland rainforests. The terrain is often on steep slopes, with more open canopy, leading to more vegetation on the forest floor.

These higher-elevation forests are characterized by waterfalls and quick-moving, shallow rivers.

Cloud forest trees are often covered in plants called epiphytes, which capture much of the moisture found in cloud forests. Clouds and mist condense on the epiphytes’ leaves and pool at the bases of epiphytes (providing habitat for insects and some types of frogs). Trees here are generally shorter than in lowland rainforest, hence the cloud forest tree canopy is lower.

Nature and Culture is currently working with local communities and authorities in our North Andes Mosaic to protect highland forest in Peru which is essential for providing water resources to over two million people who live in the region.

Amazon: Tropical rainforest east of the Andes

The Amazon rainforest is the largest tropical forest on Earth, with the highest density of plant and animal species anywhere.

This region provides essential ecological services, stabilizing the world’s rainfall patterns and storing massive amounts of carbon that mitigate climate change.

This lowland rainforest is east of the Andes mountain range and spans eight South American countries. The Amazon is impressively large, more than double the size of the next two largest rainforests combined. It is also well known for its mighty Amazon River which is made up of 1,100 tributaries, including the Marañón River which is considered the source of the Amazon in Peru. 

The province of Loreto, Peru, is facing the second-highest rate of deforestation in Peru. Nature and Culture is currently partnering with Indigenous communities and local authorities through sustainable livelihood projects in our Nanay-Tigre Mosaic.

Chóco: Coastal rainforest west of the Andes

On a strip of forest in western Colombia and Northwestern Ecuador, between the Pacific Ocean and the Andean mountain range is the Chocó forest.

It is a dense and diverse tropical rainforest that blends with adjoining mangrove forests, rocky cliffs, and coastal plains.

It is one of the world’s wettest rainforests and one of the most biologically rich areas in the world. Many species here cannot be found anywhere else on Earth, such as the golden poison frog (one of the three most poisonous vertebrates in the world).

Between two to three percent of this ecosystem is left, making it one of the most threatened and lesser-known forests in the world. With Nature and Culture International’s support, the Bajo Baudó protected area was established in 2018. This is the largest regional protected area ever created in Colombia. We are currently working in our Southern Chocó Mosaic to declare two new protected areas and establish sustainable management plans.

Why we protect rainforests

Although rainforests only cover 6 percent of our planet, an estimated 80 percent of terrestrial animals, plants, and fungi species worldwide live within them. Many species have not yet even been described by science. Rainforests contain a huge amount of biodiversity, which has major implications for our health, including improving mental well-being, preventing zoonotic diseases (diseases transmitted from animals to humans – e.g. West Nile virus, Lyme Disease, and some types of coronaviruses, among many others) from entering human populations, and providing fresh water, clean air, and vital medicines. Indigenous peoples have lived in and sustainably managed tropical rainforests for centuries, if not millennia. Many Indigenous communities are reliant upon the natural resources that the rainforest provides, particularly clean water.

Shuar children

By destroying rainforests, humans are exacerbating the climate crisis by releasing additional CO2 into the atmosphere. All rainforests have a huge volume of carbon stored in the vast amount of vegetation they house. There is so much carbon stored in these ecosystems that, if released, it would not be able to be restored by the 2050 global goal of reaching net-zero emissions; this is known as “Irrecoverable Carbon”.

For World Rainforest Day

and every day, it is important to support rainforest conservation and raise awareness of the threats they face.

We know we can do better for Earth. You can help by spreading awareness and supporting Nature and Culture’s nature-based solutions by pledging your $10 monthly gift today.

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On April 22th we commemorate Earth Day, an opportunity to recognize our role in caring for the planet and all the forms of life that inhabit it.

For our Peru Country Director, Guillermo Maraví, it is necessary to create immediate actions to stop the accelerated loss of biodiversity and generate effective actions collaboratively to address climate change.

English quote of Peru Country Director
Cita en español del Director Ejecutivo Perú

In this sense, he emphasizes that Nature and Culture International, in addition to promoting the establishment of conservation areas connected to other conservation initiatives, also engages in their management and handling, with the aim of making them sustainable over time. For Guillermo, this work, which is only possible because we do it in collaboration with local, peasant and indigenous communities, must prevail, because it is there where the accumulated knowledge for years about caring for the land has many of the solutions to the world’s climate and biodiversity crisis.

In addition, in Peru, we help endangered and endemic species have a safe place to feed and move. We protect the habitat of animals such as the spatuletail hummingbird in Amazonas, known for being one of the most beautiful hummingbirds in the world, or the emblematic spectacled bear that we have registered in Piura, Cajamarca, Amazonas, and Huánuco.

Marvelous spatuletail (Loddigesia mirabilis), an endangered species of hummingbird endemic to northern Peru.

Peru is home to thousands of species whose habitats we must protect and rehabilitate! Our actions matter. Let’s be responsible! We have only one planet to live on, with hundreds of plants and animals that, like us, depend on the good condition of ecosystems, pure air, fresh water, and so many other services provided by Mother Earth.

There are a number of ways our team works to conserve biodiverse hotspots throughout Latin America. We employ many different strategies to protect wild places, from municipal and local level government protection to national level protection, to land purchase when necessary. No matter the method, we always consider the local communities who live in these areas along with long-term ecosystem health.

Supporting local communities is key to long-term conservation

In 25+ years, Nature and Culture has never seen a protected area reversed and we believe that is because of our commitment to serving local communities. The relationships we have built with the people who live in the areas we work to protect are key to our success. Our co-management model is what sets us apart. Providing access to legal tools to establish a protected area, technical training for skills such as monitoring a protected area for threats, or investing in a new means of sustainably generating income from local resources are just a few of the ways we support the WHOLE ecosystem.

Our protected areas are living, breathing, dynamic spaces that require fostering relationships and understanding local needs. Indigenous Peoples and local communities are often the initial advocates for the protected areas we support. We simply provide them with the tools they need to safeguard their natural resources like clean water and fresh air. This approach in turn supports the health of the tiniest of species and the health of the entire planet.

Peru’s Ministry of Environment recognizes Nature and Culture and local communities

Last month Nature and Culture Project Managers, Lleydy Alvarado and Elvis Allauja attended the National Service of Protected Natural Areas (SERNANP) annual meeting. SERNANP, an agency of Peru’s National Ministry of Environment, presented the official declaration of two new Private Conservation Areas (ACP) Yasgolca-Santa Lucia, Montevideo in Amazonas, and Utco in Cajamarca. Both areas were declared in February of this year, and together they protect more than 19,000 acres of the dry forests of Marañón, Yungas, and montane forests.

SERNANP meeting in Peru where the team was recognized for their work with Utco and Montevideo Private Conservation Areas.

Our team in Peru was recognized along with the presidents of each of these two new Private Conservation Areas, with whom Nature and Culture’s technical team collaborated to create the new areas. In response to our team’s dedication to supporting the local effort, SERNANP recognized Nature and Culture for its important contribution to the declaration of both areas and for being an ally in the departments of Piura, Cajamarca, Amazonas, Huánuco, Loreto and Ucayali.

Alan Sánchez, Nature and Culture’s Environmental Legal Coordinator accepted the recognition award on behalf of the team.

Two new protected areas cover more than 19,000 acres

The Yasgolca-Santa Lucia Private Conservation Area, Montevideo protects 11,677.43 acres and is an important water source for communities in the Amazonas region of Northern Peru. Establishing this protected area was crucial for the local community because it plays a fundamental role in water regulation. This ecosystem is also a significant carbon capture and connects to other nearby protected areas. According to Lleydy Alvarado, both newly declared areas connect with other conservation areas, which creates a larger wildlife habitat. It’s not enough to simply establish areas, says Lleydy, they need to be connected so the team’s environmental services are more effective.

The Yasgolca-Santa Lucia Private Conservation Area, Montevideo protects 11,677.43 acres and is an important water source for communities in Amazonas.

The Utco Private Conservation Area protects 7,562.31 acres of dry forest. This unique ecosystem is known for being an epicenter of biodiversity. It is home to a large number of endemic birds, reptiles, amphibians, and plants. Together these two new areas protect over 19,000 acres and are critical to local inhabitants’ well-being.

View from within the Utco Private Conservation Area that protects 7,562 acres of dry forest. Photo courtesy of Elvis Allauja

Congratulations to our team in Peru and the communities of Utco and Montevideo for their determination to conserve their ecosystems.

Real Stories. Real Impact.

New protected areas, beekeeping for conservation, and gender equity in reforestation are a few of the stories you’ll explore in our 2023 Spring Newsletter!

Make a donation today to continue supporting projects like these!

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The 6th Assessment Synthesis Report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) warns that despite progress in climate mitigation efforts, the current pace of action is insufficient to keep global temperatures below the threshold of 1.5°C. That is the threshold beyond which scientists say climate impacts increase significantly and damage becomes rapidly irreversible. Below is a summary of the report’s findings.

Action needs to happen now, this is the decisive decade

To ensure temperatures do not exceed the threshold of 1.5°C, global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions will need to peak within this decade, decline by 43% by 2030, and 60% by 2035. Adverse climate impacts are already far more extreme than initial reports anticipated. The current global surface temperature has already warmed 1.1°C above preindustrial levels. With this alone, there has been an increase in biodiversity loss, drought, extreme heat, and flooding, among other impacts. Despite a decrease in the cost of green energy, improved technologies, and national commitments to reduce GHG emissions. These measures have continued to increase and will fall short. Unsustainable energy use, land use, lifestyles and patterns of consumption and production all contribute to the GHG emissions. A rapid scaling of policy and increased funding to climate is needed to achieve climate stabilization.

Even small increases in overall temperature matter

The report defines the risks, adverse impacts, and related losses and damages from climate change at varying degrees of temperature rises. At each tier, the loss of biodiversity increases, access to clean water and food decreases, and sea levels rise. There is no question that any positive changes to keep global warming in check will help to avoid further loss of life and encourage ecosystem health. At a certain point, it is no longer reversible. As certain losses and damage occur, reversal and adaptation options are far less feasible, if even effective at all. It is important to take every action possible at this very moment. Hope lies in the prevention of further tipping the warming scales.

A member of the Shuar Indigenous nationality in the province of Morona Santiago, Ecuador.

Biggest impacts threaten those who have historically contributed the least to climate change

According to the IPCC, nearly half of the global population lives in areas where their lives or livelihoods are under threat of climate change. It is said that between 3.3 billion and 3.6 billion people live in countries that are highly vulnerable to climate impacts, including those within Central and South America where Nature and Culture operates. In addition, many of these areas face extreme poverty, governance challenges, and limited access to financial resources or technical support. In this 6th Assessment Report, the IPCC also notes that climate adaptation challenges are often “exacerbated by inequity and marginalization linked to gender, ethnicity, low income or combinations thereof, especially for many Indigenous Peoples and local communities.”

Data on the global inequalities of CO2 emissions reveals that higher-earning countries as well as higher-earning individuals produce more of the world’s GHGs and yet it is those who are producing the least who are most heavily impacted. The highest income-earning households contribute around 45% of the world’s consumption-based CO2 emissions, while the bottom 50% account for only around 15%.

The threats of climate change weigh more heavily on regions that are not historically responsible for the production of GHGs; however, the world is looking to many of these areas for quick adaptation efforts or asking for limitation on development that could provide an immediate higher standard of living. That is why it is important to allow these most vulnerable groups or regions inclusive governance, and transparent and participatory decision-making for mitigation and adaptation efforts.

Tropical forests provide ecosystem services such as food security and clean water and air.

What is Nature and Culture’s role?

Protecting Earth’s remaining oceans, plants, animals, and soils is the most cost-effective climate adaptation option. The most potential exists in preventing deforestation in tropical regions. For Nature and Culture that means maintaining tropical forests in the Amazon and Andes. Long-term management of our protected areas supports biodiversity resilience in the region and supports ecosystem services at a global scale, including the sequestration of billions of tons of carbon. Beyond the protection and management of these threatened forests, reforestation and agroforestry (or sustainably cultivating native crops) also contribute to climate mitigation. All these efforts can positively affect local communities if they are done in coordination with the people who live in these areas. Reforestation can improve air quality, access to clean water and food, and agroforestry techniques include economic benefits that have potential to reduce poverty and improve local livelihoods.

The Amazon Rainforest stores billions of tons of carbon and provides ecosystem services to the entire planet. Protection and long-term management of these tropical forests benefits all life on the planet.

Many climate adaptation solutions already exist and positively impact global well-being

According to the report, there are feasible, effective, low-cost, low-trade-off options already available, and many include wider societal benefits. A major conclusion of the synthesis is the need to prioritize equity, climate justice, social justice, and inclusion in the near-term actions to mitigate climate change.

Focusing on societal enhancements like education, hunger, poverty, gender, and energy access can support regions and people with the highest climate change vulnerabilities. It not only supports overall societal well-being, but it can also scaffold climate adaptation development programs. Recognition of the inherent rights of Indigenous Peoples is also crucial to successful adaptation across forests and other ecosystems, according to the report. This has always been a cornerstone of Nature and Culture’s work, prioritizing the needs of the local communities we work with.

Looking to communities, governments and businesses for leadership

Cooperative climate mitigation is essential. This means including climate adaptation practices that are informed by Indigenous Peoples and local communities. Truly effective climate action will involve coordination among many stakeholders. A prime example of this in action is in our work on the Amazonian Platform, This is a agreement between 7 Indigenous nationalities and local governments to manage 11 million acres of the Amazon rainforest. Nature and Culture supports projects that require buy-in from varying levels of government and marketplaces and include frameworks that hear a multitude of voices, including Indigenous Peoples and local communities.

At the Shuar El Kiim Center, the first Indigenous-managed, nationally recognized conservation area is celebrated by members of the Shuar community with Nature and Culture technician, Trotsky Riera.

The climate adaptation measures we implement are done in close collaboration with Indigenous Peoples and local communities and in partnership with local government. These types of projects put people at the heart of the outcome and provide access to finance and technology that would otherwise be unavailable. They often also provide other economic benefits, such as food and water security and improve the overall health of the human populations while safeguarding biodiversity and promoting carbon sequestration.

Please join us in safeguarding our climate future by making a donation today!

Peruvians are a resilient, united, strong, and proudly biodiverse country. We have shown that together we are capable of making small actions to generate big changes. On International Forest Day we want to recognize the efforts of Peruvians who joined the “Plant a tree and sow life” campaign.

A few months ago, we involved the general public in Peru in the “Plant a tree and sow life” campaign with the aim of giving back to the forest of the peasant communities of Llamapampa La Jalca and San Pedro de Chuquibamba in Amazonas and thereby recovering ecosystem services such as climate control, water regulation, and flood control.

This campaign was born as part of an agreement between the Amazon Voluntary Conservation Network – AMA, which brings together voluntary conservation initiatives, and Nature and Culture International, which works in the Private Conservation Areas of both communities.

#Residents of the communities of Llamapampa La Jalca and San Pedro de Chuquibamba in Amazonas who took part in the campaign

During the campaign, the main protagonists were the residents of the communities, who took care of the native plants in the community, until they had the resources to move them to the forest and plant them in degraded areas. Now, these trees are monitored and receive the necessary care to develop.

#Napoleón Vega Escobedo took part in the campaign

We spoke with Napoleón Vega Escobedo, president of the Palmira Forestry-Agricultural Association, in the Leymebamba district, and he describes the campaign as an opportunity to strengthen the propagation of native and medicinal species, the latter with added value for marketing.

Thanks to the “Plant a tree and sow life” campaign, dozens of Peruvians did their bit to maintain the good condition of the forest, improve the climatic conditions for humanity and the hundreds of animals that live in both ACPs, because there they find necessary food and ideal setting to reproduce.

As a supporter of Nature and Culture, take a moment to review our impact in 2022! 

Our 2022 Annual Impact Report is a testament to our commitment to community-based conservation. As trailblazers in this field, the well-being of local communities is as important as protecting and conserving natural resources. For us, those go hand in hand.  

Our work is organized into 5 key strategy areas: wild places, climate, water, people, and species. As you read through this report, you’ll see how our team approaches our projects through these lenses, ensuring the long term overall health of the areas we protect. 

Please remember that none of this would be possible without the generous support we’ve received from so many of you!

  • There are two new conservation areas located in Cajamarca and Amazonas, Peru which protect 19239.74 acres of dry forest, pajonal, and montane forests.
  • The conservation areas will protect these ecosystems, the habitat of important species, and strengthen community organization.

The Ministry of Environment of Peru recognized two areas of private conservation (ACP) this week. The ACP UTCO in Cajamarca and the ACP Yasgolca-Santa Lucia, Montevideo in Amazonas. Both natural spaces have a unique natural wealth.

Utco

The UTCO conservation area protects 7562.31 acres of the dry forest, known for being an epicenter of biodiversity, thanks to the important endemism of flora and wildlife.

9 species of endemic birds, 9 species of endemic reptiles, and an endemic amphibian can only be found in the UTCO conservation area. In addition, “it is a natural research center, where 20 species of endemic flora have been reported in critical danger, such as Parkinsonia Peruviana, Cedrela Kuelapensis, Caesalpinia Celendiniana, and Piptadenia Weberbaueri,” said Elvis Allauja, Nature and Culture International.

The Yasgolca-Santa Lucia Private Conservation Area, Montevideo protects 11677.43 acres of pajonal and montane forest. The area is an important natural source of water, providing this vital resource to communities in Amazonas. Also, it is home to 140 species of birds, 9 species of amphibians, and 14 species of mammals.

Aegialomys xanthaeolus

The area protects threatened species, such as Polylepis Racosa and Cedrela. This area is also home to species such as Johnson’s spatulilla (Poecilotriccus luluae), spectacled bear (tremarctos ornatus), and night monkey (Aotus miconax).

Life and the forest

The officially declared areas connect with other conservation areas, allowing wildlife to have more habitable space, according to Lleydy Alvarado, of Nature and Culture International.

Montevideo’s main ecosystem services are carbon capture and water regulation, which is why Alvarado points out that it is not enough to establish areas, they need to be connected so that their environmental services are more effective.

Long-term protection

For years, it was believed that ecosystems possessed inexhaustible ecosystem goods and services, which has led to the overexploitation of forests. Due to this, the communities of Utco and Montevideo decided to return to the forest and work to achieve the official recognition of their conservation areas.

Photo by Michell León

The process to establish both private conservation areas was made possible thanks to the effort and perseverance of both communities, with the technical support of Nature and Culture International and the support of Re:wild, and Andes Amazon Fund in Utco; and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Montevideo.

Climate change adaptation, species discovery, and newly declared protected areas in Nature and Culture’s latest round-up of news from 2022.

Our strength as an organization lies within the passion of people around the globe who share our same dream. As part of the Nature and Culture community, you help us achieve so much — diverse vibrant cultures; wild places alive with plants and animals, and clean water and other ecosystem services for communities throughout Latin America. Thank you!

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Nature and Culture is working to develop a connectivity corridor that spans 5 million acres, protecting key ecosystems and diverse habitats.

We are working with community partners and government officials to develop the first “bi-national” corridor in South America. The proposed Andean Corridor will connect mountain habitats in southern Ecuador and northern Peru, creating an intact biological corridor that crosses international borders. The end result will unite three of our existing landscape mosaics. With this corridor, wide-ranging species that traverse the area will have unencumbered mobility in their natural habitat.

Nature and Culture Spotlights Connectivity

The Andean Corridor was initially set in motion fifteen years ago with the establishment of our Sangay Podocarpus mosaic, Ecuador’s first connectivity corridor. The impetus for this mosaic was a noteworthy gap in protected areas between Sangay National Park and Podocarpus National Park in the southern Ecuadorian Andes. Because our conservation model values connectivity, we partner with local expert conservationists to customize conservation areas based on the needs of endangered species.

Since the establishment of the Sangay Podocarpus mosaic, we’ve added 11 protected areas in the region. The Andean Corridor will expand this area even further to 236 miles along the Andes thus linking a chain of protected areas.

Andean Corridor
The proposed Andean Corridor will include 3 of Nature and Culture's existing landscape mosaic protected areas.

Three of our Landscape Mosaics Already Contribute to the Andean Corridor

The Sangay Podocarpus and Podocarpus El Cóndor mosaics in Ecuador span the páramo grasslands, montane forests, and cloud forest ecosystems. Whereas the North Andes mosaic in Peru encompasses some of the most diverse, fragile, and complex cloud forests on Earth.

Overall this region encompasses some of the most biologically diverse places on our planet. The Tropical Andes are a global biodiversity hotspot. For example, the area contains about one-sixth of all plant life in the world and boasts the largest variety of amphibian, bird, and mammal species. Its ecosystems help to regulate the natural cycles that produce and renew the planet’s air, water, and climate.

Species Monitoring to Improve Conservation Efforts

Habitat range is a strong indicator of species’ vulnerability. By combining ecosystems together into landscape mosaics, networks of wildlife movement are protected. This helps maintain whole species’ survival.

Some wildlife travel long distances to migrate seasonally, others need to disperse away from their natal groups to find new home ranges to prevent inbreeding and competition. For these wide-ranging species, like the Andean bear that can traverse up to 150 miles of terrain a day, protecting these far-reaching ecosystems means giving these animals adequate room to roam.

To learn more about how we are partnering with local wildlife specialists, watch our panel discussion, Conserving Habitat for Wide-Ranging Species in the Andes. Our team and local species specialists presented on the conservation needs of three wide-ranging, endemic species — the Andean bear, black-and-chestnut eagle, and the pampas cat.