Sunrise over the high altimontane yunga forests within the proposed project area.
Photography: Jonathan Chancasana
The proposal to create the “Huata Private Conservation Area” has made significant progress since it began in February, after months of work with the Huata farming community, under the leadership of the Andinus Association and with the support of the Conserva Aves initiative.
The advances help in the mission to conserve and protect the native high altimontane (rainforest) forests of Yunga and its headwaters. The project aims to protect the habitat of the Atlapetes melanopsis, From a perspective that seeks to generate direct opportunities for sustainable development for local communities, the project seeks to empower the rural community of Huata with respect to the future of the region, allowing them to conserve different species within the proposed space to safeguard the territories of life.
Juvenile specimen of the Black-eyed Thrasher (Atlapetes melanopsis), endemic species and with threat status; both in the Peruvian Red Book and in the IUCN.
Photography: Jonathan Chancasana
Key project milestones:
- To date, the following have been completed more than 12 community assembly meetings for the socialization of the project, as well as for the signing of agreements.
- Participation in two diffusion fairs of the project in the Andamarca district square.
- Signing of an agreement for collaborative work between the Andinus association and the Huata farming community.
- Elaboration of the social baseline
- Elaboration of the line de biological basis and realization of first monitoring.
- Alliance with Universidad Peruana Los Andes for cooperation with a social projection group to support the implementation of a nursery (part of the habitat restoration component).
- Painting of Muraves in the framework of the first phase of the environmental education plan.
First phase of a mural alluding to the species of interest in the area.
The peasant community of Huata, under previous coordination, has The company has allowed the entrance to their areas, and in this way to be able to carry out the different field trips. Thus, it has helped to establish the various advances in the components proposed in the project proposal; likewise, the results and findings of the biological baseline have been shared with the community.
Coordination meeting in the community center of the Huata farming community
Photography: Jonathan Chancasana
Main findings from baseline and biological monitoring:
- Flora evaluation: 62 species of flora associated with birds in the area. The following genera stand out Escallonia and Buddleja as ideal options for restoration proposals according to what the areas require and according to consensus with the community.
- Bird diversity: 58 species recorded, distributed in 20 families and 9 orders. Among the most outstanding: Altapetes melanopsis, Asthenes palpebralis y Dark Grallaria, all of conservation interest. Subsequently, during the first monitoring and after collating the presence/absence records, a historical total of 84 bird species was reached.
Progress demonstrates the agreement between the farming community of Huata and the Andinus association to carry the work forward and conserve biodiversity in this crucial area. The project, financed by Conserva Aves, continues to develop, seeking to establish a conservation area that protects the environment and benefits the community. To this end, it promotes the sustainable development and partnerships are established necessary through the active collaboration of civil, community, public and private actors.
Join us
Fressia Ames
ANDINUS President and researcher
fressiames@gmail.com
