Large Indigenous Territories Receive Protection in Peru
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by World Wildlife April 1, 2005
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Gland, Switzerland – The Peruvian government today announced the creation of one of the largest combined protected areas and indigenous territories in the world.
WWF, which has been involved in the establishment of the 2.7 million-hectare Alto Purús area – nearly the size of Belgium – in the Amazonian forest, says it is a significant move in improving protection of indigenous people.
The global conservation organization stresses that representatives of the nine indigenous groups who live there supported the designation and demarcation of the Alto Purús Reserved Zone.
The new protected area is also home to rare animals such as the jaguar, harpy eagle, scarlet macaw, giant river otter and black spider monkey.
Furthermore, it is one of the last refuges for large populations of the highly-valued big-leafed mahogany.
The Alto Purús Reserved Zone combines a traditional national park, a communal reserve for indigenous communities, and a territorial reserve which will increase protection of the land rights of the Mashco-Piro, an indigenous group which has chosen to avoid all contact with the outside world in order to safeguard its centuries-old culture.
Indigenous groups living in voluntary isolation are especially vulnerable to outside pressures, as well as to diseases for which they have little resistance.
Alto Purús covers vast expanses of lowland tropical moist forests, unique flooded savannas dotted with palm trees, and extensive bamboo-dominated forests.
While it is relatively undisturbed, development pressures from cattle ranching, commercial agriculture, illegal logging, and infrastructure building are increasing.
WWF believes that the government's decision to create a special commission which will oversee the drafting of regulations to respect and protect the way of life of indigenous people living in voluntary isolation in the Peruvian Amazon is a major step in the right direction.
"We are very happy about the establishment of the park, communal reserve and special commission because it will help our communities better manage their territories according to the traditions of our ancestors," said Fredy Lopez Tranbeca, Chief of the 180-inhabitant Gasta Bala community in Purús.
With financial and technical support from WWF, Peru is also reforming its forest concession bidding processes – all in the Peruvian Amazon.
This has resulted in the allocation of 7.3 million hectares of permanent production forests – about the size of Ireland – to forest concessionaires for sustainable management.
It is part of the Peruvian government's efforts to modernize the country's forest sector by replacing a socially and economically unsustainable system of small contracts plagued by illegal harvesting and corruption with a system of large forest concessions managed according to responsible forest management and operations plans.
WWF also welcomes the creation – by the government – of a multisector commission against illegal logging, and hopes it will mitigate the negative environmental, social and economic impacts associated with this illicit industry.
"The Peruvian government's commitment is a critical advance for the conservation of the country’s biological and cultural diversity," said Dr Claude Martin, Director General of WWF International. "It clearly recognizes the need for synergy between conservation and the rights of indigenous people."
In recognition of the Peruvian government’s leadership in protecting the country’s rich biological and cultural diversity, WWF today presented President Alejandro Toledo a "Gift to the Earth" award, the global conservation organization’s highest mark of distinction.
NOTES:
1. WWF's "Gift to the Earth" award is symbolic certificate signed by Dr Claude Martin. It publicly recognizes an important conservation achievement by a government, a company or an individual, and can also serve as an example, helping encourage similar actions by others elsewhere. To date, more than 90 "Gifts to the Earth" have been granted since 1996.
2. The nine indigenous groups who live in or around the Alto Purús Reserved Zone are the Cashinahuas, Amahuacas, Sharanahuas, Chaninahuas, Mastinahuas, Yine, Ashaninkas, Culinas, and the Mashco-Piro group, the only one to live in voluntary isolation within the National Park and the territorial reserve. The total indigenous population living in the Province of Purús is estimated at 2,829 inhabitants. This does not include the Mashco-Piro. Due to their decision to maintain isolation, their population number is not known. Nonetheless, experts estimate that they may be 200 individuals.
For further information:
Sebastian Suito
WWF Peru Programme Office
Tel: +51 1 440 5550
E-Mail: sebastian@wwfperu.org
Soh Koon Chng, Communications Manager
WWF Global Forest Programme
Tel: +41 22 364 9018
E-Mail: skchng@wwfint.org
Olivier van Bogaert, Senior Press Officer
WWF International
Tel: +41 22 364 9554
E-Mail: ovanbogaert@wwfint.org
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Source: World Wildlife
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