ACR Montane Forests of Huamantanga and Chorro Blanco. Credits: Angela Montero
The establishment of the Huamantanga and Chorro Blanco Montane Forests Regional Conservation Area (RCA) marks a significant step forward for conservation in Cajamarca, becoming the region's fifth RCA. This achievement is the result of a process initiated in 2021 by the Regional Government of Cajamarca, with the active participation of local communities, municipalities, academia, SERNANP (National Service of Natural Protected Areas), technical support from Nature and Culture International (NCI), and funding from the Andes Amazon Fund.
The ACR covers an area of 14,022.65 hectares and is located in the districts of Colasay, Chontalí, Huabal, Jaén, and San José del Alto, in the province of Jaén. It protects the montane forests of the Eastern Cordillera Real ecoregion, strategic ecosystems that store carbon, ensure water supply, and harbor high biodiversity.
This area directly benefits more than 116,000 inhabitants, by protecting water sources that supply the Chamaya and Chinchipe basins and the Alto Marañón III interbasin. It also contributes to the conservation of the habitat of threatened bird species such as Penelope Barbata (bearded guan) and strengthens the ecological connectivity of Northern Andes Conservation Corridor, part of a binational conservation initiative between Peru and Ecuador.
In this new stage, Conserva Aves, with its national partners, Profonanpe and ECOAN, joins the efforts for the sustainability of the ACR through the formation of a steering committee for participatory management, the design of a financial sustainability strategy linked to MERESE-H and the implementation of a biological monitoring plan with emphasis on threatened bird species.
Odile Sánchez, Sub-Donations Manager at Profonanpe, highlighted that “This recognition marks the beginning of a key stage in which the conservation of the area will go hand in hand with strengthening local capacities and developing sustainable management mechanisms. The active participation of the communities will be fundamental to ensuring that this Regional Conservation Area is maintained over time and contributes to the well-being of the territory.”
While the recognition of the ACR represents a significant step forward, its effective management faces challenges related to the expansion of agricultural activities, habitat fragmentation, and the need to strengthen local capacities. In this context, the continued support of strategic partners and collaborative work with communities will be key to ensuring the long-term sustainability and impact of this new protected area.
About the Bird Conservation Initiative
Conserva Aves is a hemispheric initiative that is committed to conservation with a vision for the future: protecting endemic birds, strengthening community governance, implementing participatory monitoring, promoting ecotourism, and developing management and financial sustainability plans with a focus on gender, interculturality, and community conservation.
The Conserva Birds Initiative is led by the American Bird Conservancy (ABC), the National Audubon Society (Audubon), BirdLife International, Birds Canada, and the Latin American and Caribbean Environmental Funds Network (RedLAC). The national partners are Profonanpe and ECOAN, which are leading the implementation in Peru, with funding from the Government of Canada.
