The newly recorded Telipogon orchid species in the RCA. Photo Credit: Nature and Culture International
Environment PeruNew Sanctuary to Protect Endangered Ecosystems
Peru has designated the San Pedro de Chonta Regional Conservation Area (RCA) in Huánuco, protecting over 128,000 acres of fragile ecosystems and securing water for nearly 42,000 people downstream.
“This area represents a significant step forward in conserving highly threatened ecoregions like the páramos and the Marañón Dry Forests,” says Vilma Vilcas Melchor, Regional Environmental Manager for Huánuco.
The sanctuary safeguards páramos wetlands, Marañón Dry Forests, and the Peruvian Yungas —ecosystems never before protected in the region. Surveys documented 296 bird species, 570 plant species, and 39 high-altitude lagoons that feed three rivers. By linking with nearby reserves, the area strengthens an ecological corridor across the Andes-Amazon transition, boosting biodiversity and resilience to climate change.
