The Campesino Community of Cochabamba continues to consolidate important advances in the project “Expansion of the Private Conservation Area (ACP) Unchog”, developed by Islas de Paz Perú, which seeks to protect endemic and threatened birds in the area. During recent field trips, the technical team developed community outreach actions, environmental education, governance training and biological research, strengthening the technical and social basis for the expansion of the protected area.
Within this framework, in coordination with the Samuel Cárdich Ampudia School, students and teachers participated in a day where they explored the forests of Unchog and learned about conservation and responsible tourism. As a result, it was agreed to conduct a replicable teacher training with students and families, strengthening the educational commitment and sense of belonging to the territory.
Birdwatching with students from Samuel Cardich Ampudia EI. © Islands of Peace Peru.
In addition, a workshop was held on “Inclusion and Gender Equality in Community Conservation.”, In this meeting, concrete agreements were reached to promote greater participation of women and young people in the community committees, to promote rotating leadership and to encourage co-responsibility in the home and the community.
Participants of the Gender Inclusion and Equality in Community Conservation workshop. © Islands of Peace Peru.
Growing commitment to conserve the territories of life
The biological component achieved significant progress with the collection of information for the bird baseline and the georeferencing of points in the new polygon. During the field trips, emblematic species such as the Yellow-tailed Sunbeam (Aglaeactis castelnaudii), the Rufous-browed Hemispingus (Poospiza rufosuperciliaris) and the Yellow-scarfed Tanager (Iridosornis reinhardti), as well as native flora such as orchids and carnivorous plants. These data provide essential scientific evidence for the technical dossier for the extension of the ACP Unchog.
Photograph of a type of bird, the Yellow-bellied Sunbeam (Aglaeactis castelnaudii). ©Dorian Medioni
The actions were supported by ACR Carpish, the Cochabamba Tourism Committee, Nature and Culture International (NCI) and community volunteers. Bonds of trust were strengthened and commitments were made to collaborate in future training, monitoring and community surveillance activities.
With these advances, Islas de Paz Peru consolidates its presence in the area and strengthens its joint work with the communities. Thanks to the Bird Conservation Initiative, With the support of the Government of Canada, the project promotes an integral conservation that articulates community participation with the protection of ecosystems. The next actions will be oriented towards teacher training, formalizing the participation of women and young people in the participatory monitoring of birds, reinforcing the social and ecological sustainability of the project.
