The «Rontoccocha Vive» campaign, promoted by the Rontoccocha Initiative Preserves Birds, seeks to make visible the strategic value of the system of high Andean lagoons and wetlands that supply drinking water to a city. To conserve its biodiversity, the creation of the first Regional Conservation Area of Apurimac is promoted, to add more territories of life. These actions are led by the Regional Government of Apurimac, with the technical support of Institute for Development and Environment (IDMA), Amazon Conservation ACCA, the support of Andes Amazon Fund and the Bird Conservation Initiative through Profonanpe y ECOAN.
A natural reserve of living water
Rontoccocha is a system of queñua forests, lagoons, grasslands and high Andean wetlands located in the Apurimac Andes, at more than 4,000 meters above sea level. 93 lagoons and 74 wetlands supply 30% of Abancay's drinking water, benefiting more than 60,000 people. The queñua forest plays an extraordinary role: captures rain and moisture from the clouds, filters it into the wetlands and releases it little by little into the springs and lagoons. They are, in essence, water planters.
The territory is home to 138 wildlife species and 154 flora species, including four critically endangered species of birds: the Red-crested Curassow, the Ash-breasted Woodpecker, the White-browed Warbler, and the Andean Condor. With funding from the Bird Conservation Initiative, In June 2025, the annual census of avifauna in the scope of the proposal, recording more than 60 species in its queñua forests, a baseline that technically supports the ecological importance of the territory.
Concrete progress towards the establishment of the RCA
The establishment process is in its final stages. last technical stage before formal establishment. In November 2025, stage 2 of the process was validated, which made it possible to move on to stage 3, which is currently underway. In this phase, work is underway to gather observations on financial sustainability, The final technical file will be validated at the end of this stage. The final technical file will be validated at the end of this stage. «It would be historic for Apurímac to have its first regional conservation area.» Marisol Valer Miranda, vice-governor of the Regional Government of Apurimac, stated.
Community assembly in the Caype community, active promoters of the creation of the Rontoccocha RCA.
Rontoccocha's bet lives
The project being implemented by the Institute for Development and Environment (IDMA) proposes the creation of the RCA as a mechanism to contribute to the sustainable development of the region. In order to achieve this, the Bird Conservation Initiative supports the leadership of the Regional Government of Apurimac, IDMA and the eleven farming communities, who, thanks to this funding, have strengthened their recognition of the strategic value of a territory that they have protected for generations and that today is fundamental for water security and the conservation of the region's biodiversity.
Odile Sanchez, Subgrant Manager at Profonanpe, he emphasized that «Rontoccocha is a territory that demonstrates that conservation is possible when the regional government, communities and partners work in the same direction. The Conserva Aves initiative is committed to accompanying this process until it is established, because conserving Rontoccocha is also guaranteeing the water future and biodiversity of a region.»
About the Conserve Aves Initiative
Preserves Birds is a Latin American initiative led by American Bird Conservancy, Audubon Americas, BirdLife Americas, Birds Canada y RedLAC, with financing from the Bezos Earth Fund. In Peru, the national partners are Profonanpe y ECOAN, The initiative supports the creation and expansion of natural protected areas at the subnational level to protect birds and their habitats. The initiative supports the creation and expansion of natural protected areas at the subnational level with the objective of protecting birds and their habitats, actively involving local communities, regional governments and technical institutions.
