Last Friday, November 8, an environmental education workshop was held in the Milpuj Private Conservation Area (ACP) as part of the Conserva Aves Initiative in Peru through the organization RED AMA. The activity aimed to socialize the process of re-declaration and approval of the Milpuj ACP, as well as to educate young people and members of the communities of Nogalcucho and Quimbaleran about forest fire prevention. During the day, students, community members, and other participants joined together in a common effort to protect this unique natural area.
Community members from Nogalcucho and Quimbaleran participate in an educational session.
Photo credit: Angers William Espejo Pingus
Conserva Aves is a hemispheric conservation initiative led by ABC, Audubon, BirdLife International, Birds Canada and the Latin American and Caribbean Network of Environmental Funds (RedLAC). The workshop is part of the activities promoted by RED AMA through the Conserva Aves Initiative in Peru to strengthen the knowledge and commitment of communities to conserve their environment. The main objective was to educate participants on the importance of the re-declaration of the Milpuj ACP and to provide them with tools to combat and prevent forest fires, promoting better governance in fire management.
The activity involved local educational institutions and included the participation of young people from the César Vallejo Educational Institution of La Magdalena, who walked along ecological trails and became familiar with the flora and fauna of the ACP. These workshops not only benefited the students, but also strengthened the link with the communities of Nogalcucho and Quimbaleran, raising their awareness of the environmental risks and threats in their area. The initiative involved students, teachers and community members who received training on fire prevention, its causes and consequences, and sustainable fire management practices.
In a context where forest fires are affecting more and more natural areas, it is essential that communities are trained to recognize risks and take action. This workshop, held in a region vulnerable to these events, helped participants understand the impact of fires on their environment and the importance of having a prevention strategy in place. The topics of governance and the phenological calendar, discussed with community members, strengthen community management in the face of this type of threat.
This workshop in the Milpuj ACP is just one of several activities that Conserva Aves in Peru, led by Profonanpe and supported by ECOAN and the AMA network, is planning to carry out to consolidate the conservation and sustainability of this natural area. Through regular trainings, Conserva Aves aims not only to raise the communities’ awareness of environmental risks and improved fire management practices, but also to empower them to take an active role in protecting their environment. By implementing local governance practices in fire management and building a culture of prevention, these communities will be able to manage their natural resources sustainably in the long term, strengthening their bond with the environment and ensuring the preservation of this valuable area for future generations.
