Environmental education is vital to ensure a strong future for the forests and their inhabitants. Volunteers Erick and Monica continued our education work this week with school children in Moyobamba, Peru.
Tag: conservation
Biological Monitoring in Peru
Some pictures from our recent biological monitoring trip to the Jardines Angel del Sol Conservation Concession in San Martin, Peru. The seven and a half thousand hectare reserve is run by a group of local people from the villages of La Primavera, Libano and Santa Cruz. Thanks to a grant from the IUCN Netherlands and local NGO AMPA, the group has been able to buy more land to extend the reserve and to carry out these biological monitoring trips.
More photos soon!
Workshop in Peru
Yesterday NPC participated in a workshop with the Peruvian Forestry Service, the San Martin Regional Government and representatives of many local conservation areas. The Forestry Service is looking to improve the Peruvian governments response to the needs of local reserve administrators and is carrying out a series of workshops, this is the second that we have participated in, to hear recommendations from the different actors. We look forward to seeing the positive results on-the-ground!
Anti-trafficking Workshops
For the last few weeks, we’ve been busy running a series of workshops designed to help prosecutors, environmental police and other wildlife authorities and forestry officials identify and intervene in instances of illegal wildlife trade. Such workshops are a run regularly, and each time we focus on a different theme. For example, last time we focused on the veterinary care of rescued animals.
This time around, we’re honoured to be joined by US Fish and Wildlife Service Special Agent Roger Turnell. Based at the US embassy in Lima, Roger works all over Latin America and has over 20 years enforcement experience. Last week, we brought Roger to Belen market in Iquitos and sadly, but not surprisingly, there were thousands of animal carcasses for sale; primarily deer and caimans, but others, too. Monkey meat was being sold very cheaply.
Workshops have already been held in Iquitos, and are due to begin in Chachapoyas and Tarapoto over the coming few weeks. In addition to Roger’s presentation, NPC’s own Sam Shanee, Nestor Allgas and Catalina Ocampo Carvajal spoke about our anti trafficking social media campaign, the environmental implications of wildlife trafficking, and the fundamental importance of wildlife to the region.
Unfortunately, extremely high turnover is very common for enforcement-related staff in this region. For example, although we’ve held workshops in Iquitos on numerous occasions, only one attendee this time had been in post long enough to have attended a previous workshop. Taken together with a lack of training and, at times, a lack of will to carry out this important work, it’s incredibly important that we carry on with these sessions. We want to extend our sincere thanks to Lush for funding this series of workshops, and to the authorities of Iquitos, Tarapoto and Chachapoyas for taking part.
This was part of a project developed in partnership with the Colombian Primatológica Association and financed by USFWS International Affairs.
It was easy to find monkey meat on sale in Belen market 
NPC work together with authorities and communities against the poaching and trade of these endangered primates
Forest Conservation in the Alto Mayo Region of Peru
Local conservationist Adolofo, of the Jungla de los monos reserve, speaks about his work protecting one of the last forests in the Alto Mayo region of Peru.
Conservation in the Community
A few days ago we were in Santa Cecilia, Risaralda, in an active dialogue with the community. Community members from associations, educators and people interested in working in Santa Cecilia attended.
We have been working together to identify the ways in which they relate to the forest, as well as the major environmental problems in the area. It was nice to learn a little more about this community and although the day was intense, we left recharged from the meeting and motivated to continue working together to conserve life in all its forms.
One of the conclusions drawn from the finished map was: “The forest is everything. We must take care of it.”
This was part of a project developed in partnership with the Colombian Primatológica Association and financed by USFWS International Affairs.
Continuing to Fight Against Animal Trafficking in Peru
On our recent trip to Pucallpa we again saw first-hand the levels of animal trafficking that still occur all over the Amazon. We continue in our efforts against this cruel trade and are beginning another campaign with the Peruvian wildlife authorities later this month.
