After several months of work and internal dialogue, the Pichirhua Farmers’ Community in Apurímac obtained certification of the community resolution supporting the creation of the Pichirhua Private Conservation Area (ACP), a fundamental requirement for continuing the process of official recognition by the National Service of Natural Areas Protected by the State (SERNANP). The proposal covers 4,810 hectares of high-Andean ecosystems located at altitudes ranging from 2,200 to 4,500 meters. This area is home to queñua forests, wet meadows, lagoons, and extensive grasslands that play a fundamental role in water regulation and biodiversity conservation.
The decision was supported by 238 community members and will directly benefit approximately 350 families, consolidating a proposal driven by the community itself with the support of Conservación Amazónica – ACCA as part of the Conserva Aves Initiative.
During the surveys conducted in the area, community members and specialists recorded iconic species such as the taruca (Hippocamelus antisensis), the vizcacha (Lagidium viscacia) and the little bull of the Andes (Anairetes alpinus), one of the country’s most endangered birds and considered a conservation priority. Furthermore, the report confirmed the good conservation status of much of the territory and the importance of its ecosystems for protecting the water sources that supply downstream communities.
Beyond protecting biodiversity, the future ACP aims to serve as an opportunity to strengthen community-based bird monitoring, boost nature tourism, and promote sustainable development alternatives for families in Pichirhua.
Certification of the community minutes and the roster of eligible community members.
At the same time, the community has been making progress on the technical report and the participatory zoning of the territory—steps that will allow them to submit the application to the SERNANP and move closer to official recognition of the area.
With this progress, Pichirhua joins the growing number of communities that are demonstrating that conservation and people’s well-being can go hand in hand, by embracing a development model that protects biodiversity and ensures water availability for future generations.
The Conserva Initiative is a partnership between American Bird Conservancy (ABC), National Audubon Society, BirdLife International, Birds Canada and the Latin American and Caribbean Environmental Funds Network (RedLAC). In Peru it is implemented by Profonanpe in conjunction with Andean Ecosystems Association (ECOAN). It also has the financial backing of the Government of Canada, through Global Affairs Canada (GAC).
