Peru advances in the proposal “Creation of the Huata Private Conservation Area.”

Peru advances in the proposal “Creation of the Huata Private Conservation Area.”

The proposal to create the “Huata Private Conservation Area” has made significant progress since it began in February of this year, working closely with the Huata peasant community under the leadership of the Andinus Association and with support from the Conserva Aves initiative.

These advances support the mission to conserve and protect the high-elevation Yunga (cloud) forests and their watershed headwaters. The project aims to protect the habitat of Atlapetes melanopsis, an endangered species according to the Red Book and nearly threatened according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), as well as other species near the area that are of conservation interest. Seeking to generate direct sustainable development opportunities for local communities, the project empowers the Huata peasant community to take control of the region’s future, allowing them to conserve various species within the designated space to safeguard life territories.

Key project progress:

• To date, more than 12 community meetings have been held for project awareness and agreement signing.
• Participation in two project outreach fairs in the Andamarca district square.
• Signing of a collaborative agreement between the Andinus Association and the Huata peasant community.
• Development of the social baseline.
• Development of the biological baseline and completion of the first monitoring.
• Partnership with the Universidad Peruana Los Andes for collaboration with a social outreach group to support the establishment of a nursery (part of the habitat restoration component).
• Painting murals as part of the first phase of the environmental education plan.

 

With prior coordination, the Huata peasant community has allowed entry into their areas for various field trips. This has helped to establish the project’s varied advancements in each planned component. Likewise, the community has been informed of the results and findings from the biological baseline.

 

Main findings from the baseline and biological monitoring:

• Flora assessment: 62 species of flora associated with the area’s birds. The genera Escallonia and Buddleja stand out as ideal options for restoration efforts based on area needs and community consensus.
• Bird diversity: 58 species recorded, distributed in 20 families and 9 orders. Among the most notable are Atlapetes melanopsis, Asthenes palpebralis, and Grallaria obscura, all of conservation interest. Later, during the first monitoring and after presence/absence record checks, a historical total of 84 bird species was reached.

 

The progress reflects the strong agreement between the Huata peasant community and the Andinus Association to move forward with the work to conserve biodiversity in this crucial area. The project is funded by Conserva Aves, led regionally by the American Bird Conservancy, National Audubon Society, BirdLife International, Birds Canada, and RedLAC. National partners include the Andean Ecosystems Association (ECOAN) and Profonanpe, who lead the project execution in the country with support from the Bezos Earth Fund.

The project continues to develop, seeking to establish a conservation area that protects the environment and benefits the community. To this end, it promotes sustainable development and builds the necessary partnerships through active collaboration with civil, community, public, and private stakeholders.