A new protected area is safeguarding more than 98,000 hectares of biodiverse Amazon rainforest in Peru, helping protect endangered wildlife, secure freshwater supplies and strengthen Indigenous conservation after a decade-long effort.
“The creation of the Regional Conservation Area is very important to us because it is the headwaters of our streams. We rely on its resources and also its hot springs and beautiful waterfalls,” said Manuel Taricuarima Galan, Vice President of the Association of Five United Villages.
The Aguas Calientes Maquia Regional Conservation Area covers 242,563 acres (98,162 hectares) in Loreto and is home to 979 documented plant and animal species, including at least 20 endangered species such as the white-bellied spider monkey. It also helps secure drinking water for around 31,147 people and strengthens protection for Indigenous Peoples living in voluntary isolation by connecting with neighbouring protected areas. Established on 10 June 2026 after a process that began in 2013, the reserve also includes areas for carefully managed ecotourism alongside extensive strict conservation zones.
