P E RU

BIODIVERSIT Y,
SOUR CE OF A NE W
DE VELOPMENT
MODEL
 PERU: BIODIVERSITY, SOURCE OF A NEW
DEVELOPMENT MODEL
Plants & Knowledge
Punas, deserts, humid tropical forests, moun-
tains, Andean Paramos, dry forests, islands and
headlands, Andean forests, hills, steppes, tun-
dras, alluvial plains and tropical savannas create
a series of complex ecosystems. A vast amount
of species of flora and fauna live in all those
multiple habitats, but also grow a great amount
of domesticated plants, of which potato is the
main one, being one of the world’s most impor-
tant food crops. In Peru there are around 3000
varieties. The potato has a great genetic diver-
sity, as do other Andean tubers and grains. So
another of Peru’s ecosystem richness is its vast
germplasm.
Of course, that transformation would not
have been possible if it were not a cultural di-
versity.
Cultural diversity
linguistic families la ng
u a g es
One of the 17 megadiverse countries of the world
17 megadiverse countries
The wisdom that has been accumulated in
the diverse cultures is enormous and millennial.
The Peruvian Government has just begun to ac-
knowledge it some years back through institu-
tions like the National Institute for the Develop-
ment of Andean, Amazonian and Afro-Peruvian
people (INDEPA for its initials in Spanish) the
Mi-nistry of Culture, the National Institute of
Agrarian Innovation (INIA), the Institute of Inves-
tigation of the Peruvian Amazon (IIAP) and the
National Institute of Defence for the Competi-
tion and Protection of the Intellectual Property
(INDECOPI). In addition, The National Programme
on Biotrade Promotion is committed to environ-
mental, social and economic sustainable use of
biodiversity, rescuing and applying traditional
knowledge and technologies.
their knowledge led us
to the domestication of plants,
diverse ecological management,
technology development and the
ethnic groups
rationalization of water
Peru has a
complex geography,
varied landscapes, multiple
autochthonous cultures and most
specially a vast diversity of animal
and plant species
 Laws of
biodiversity

1960
1961 1961
1962
the first National
1963 Park (Cutervo)
1964 was created

1965
1966
1967
1968
1992
1969
1970 subscription to the
1971 Convention on
Biological
1972 Diversity (Brazil)
1973
1974 1993
1975
1976 Peruvian Congress
approves
Biodiversity Laws System of Protected Natural Areas by the State 1977 subscription to
the CBD
1978
Peruvian legislation has evolved to show the (SINANPE) that is currently managed by the Go-
1979
country’s focus on conservation and sustainable vernment’s National Service of Protected Areas
1980
use of biological diversity in benefit of the popu- (SERNANP1). SERNANP is the national authority 1981
1997
lation, as shown in the timeline: for protected areas and a specialized technical 1982
1983
public organism assigned to the Ministry of Envi- Law on Sustainable
1984 Use to Biological
Natural, protected and very rich ronment (MINAM2). 1985
Diversity is passed

Protected areas officially exist in Peru since 1961 1986

www.sernanp.gob.pe
1
1997
and all of them together form the National www.minam.gob.pe
2 1987
1988 Law on Natural
1989 Protected Areas is
approved
1990
Some biodiversity records 1991
1992
st 1993
2001
1994
1995 National
nd
1996 Biodiversity
2,000 Strategy
fish 1997 is approved
4,200 species 1998

1,816
1999
25,000 2004
2000plant
Butterfly
Peru has species
2001
species the highest Bird
the “Protection of
species 2002 Access to the Peruvian
butterfly 10% of the world’s Biological Diversity
species Birdwatchers total fish species 2003 and the Collective
Knowledge of the
records paradise (Marine and inland) 2004
Indigenous People”
2005 Law is passed
2,000 2006
fish 10% 2007
species wo rl o f th e
o rc h d 's 2008 2008
id s

10% of the 2009

25,000
plant the government
species world’s total 2010 established the
plants 2011 Ministry of
Environment and the
5.000 of them are National Service of
used in food and Protected Natural
Areas by the State
medicine (SERNANP)

2/3
 PERU: BIODIVERSITY, SOURCE OF A NEW
DEVELOPMENT MODEL
I. WILD RELATIVES
Another strength that the Peruvian biodiver-
sity has is its vast amount of crop wild relatives.
Plants like the olluco, mashua, oca, potato, kañi-
hua and quinua were found first in a wild state
and then derived into cultivated species, related
to the previous ones. This was able to happen
due to the overall vision and practices of the An-
dean people. This still exists today among rural
Peruvians and has managed to conserve mul-
tiple varieties of species such as the potato.
One of the advantages of having wild rela-
tives, as the potato, for example, is that they
produce stronger seeds that can stand harsh
soil, diseases and weather conditions better.
This is one of the reasons why it is so important
to maintain them in their habitats, so that they
can continue to maintain the genetic variabi-
lity of our natural resources.
Prodigious species
Several kinds of wild relatives can be found in
Peru’s protected areas. The kañihua, for exam-
ple, is a gramineous plant that can be found in
the National Reserve of Titicaca Lake, located
southeast of the country. Its seeds contain a
large amount of proteins, which make them
very good for low meat diets that are nowadays
so popular worldwide.
Some years ago, another plant from the An-
des (grown above 3800 m.a.s.l) called maca (Le-
pidium meyenii) caused great international stir.
It is a well-known tuber used in the mountain
region to promote animal fertility. It became fa-
mous when it was also proven to be as efficient
for humans. Nevertheless the real boom of the
maca came when it became famous for its ener-
gizing properties. Nowadays it can be found
in tablets, candy or even flour that is added to
juices, milk, soups and stews.
There is a place located in the central Andes
of Peru, between the Junín and Pasco regions,
called the “Bombon Plateau” which is consi-
dered one of the centres of origin of the Maca
plant and where the greatest amount of crops
Wild relatives are species
that have the same genus as
native crops and that can be
found in the same ecological
and cultural environment.
are located. Maca is produced in the buffer zone
of the National Reserve of Junín, which is lo-
cated above 3850 m.a.s.l. The principal source
of life on the plateau is the Chinchaycocha Lake
that generates a special microclimate, granting
special properties to the Maca and favouring
ecosystem development that ensures the pro-
tection of its wild varieties. The Maca of these
areas is currently waiting its denomination of
origin to be approved.
Conservation of important plants
In order to preserve these treasures the In Situ
Project3 was created in the year 2000, destined
to “In situ conservation of the native crops and
their wild relatives in Peru”. This was an initiative
of national character and specially, multi-insti-
tutional because it includes the Government,
NGOs and investigation institutions. The idea,
as its name suggests, is to face the immediate
threats that hang over these biodiversity won-
ders, as much in the Andes as in the Peruvian
Amazon, in order to guarantee the sustainabi-
lity of the ecosystems where they live, and with
that, ensure the security of local food and the
future benefits derived from a good use.
In the 70s, in view of serious genetic erosion
mainly due to the irruption of the “Green Revolu-
tion” (encouragement of intensive monoculture),
an ex situ conservation of various species was
promoted, which consisted of displacement to
herbariums or gene banks. Nevertheless this
strategy soon revealed three serious problems:
www.insitu.org.pe
3
 • Loss of the collected plants vitality
• Lack of traditional knowledge in
handling them
• High cost
Therefore tactics were changed and it
was decided to put traditional knowledge
on centre stage, to lead the management of
evolution processes of cultivated plants. Thus,
conservation began to be in situ, in its natu-
ral habitat, which also allowed the plants to
maintain ecological interactions with their
surroundings and a genetic flow with their
wild relatives. The ex situ works continued but
In situ conservation maintains
and recuperates viable
populations in their natural
habitats by using diverse
management categories of
protected areas.
Ex situ conservation protects
endangered populations
outside of their natural habitats:
zoological parks, botanical
gardens, gene banks.

In Situ conservation Agrobiodiversity

Protected
Natural
Area
Gene
bank

FARM

4/5
only as a complementary strategy. The In Situ
Project managed to work for the preservation
of around 27 species of native crops, which
involved 800 families grouped in 162 farming
communities of 12 regions of the country.
There have been several achievements
due to the In Situ project. One of them was the
encouragement of rural people and farmers
to acknowledge themselves as the masters of
biodiversity conservation. Intercultural educa-
tion was also promoted, incorporating agro-
biodiversity topics, in order to ensure that tradi-
tional knowledge would be passed along to the
younger generations. Given this, a great amount
of information on biodiversity was generated,
especially on: conservation, traditional agricul-
ture, awareness and sensibilization, traditional
knowledge and technologies, and genetic di-
versity.
Although the project ended in 2009, nowa-
days, exists the In Situ Network, which involves
the same entities that brought forward the In
Situ project. It aims to make available the ga-
thered information to the authorities (national,
regional and local) as also to the farmers as a
means of conserving Peruvian biodiversity.

Some important native crops

sweet-potato arracacha olluco oca mashua achira

(lpomoea batata) (Arracacia xanthorrhiza) (Ullucus tuberosus) (Oxalis tuberosum) (Tropaeolum tuberosum) (Canna indica)

has a high consumed has a high has a very high has the same produces a
content of when tender content of nutritional nutritional high quality
carotene, and has a vitamin C, value from its value as starch and is
sugars, and crunchy calcium, protein and cow's milk easily digested
provitamin A texture that carotene and essential
combines well carbohydrate aminoacids
with celery, content
cabbage, and
toasted nuts
 PERU: BIODIVERSITY, SOURCE OF A NEW
DEVELOPMENT MODEL

II. AGROBIODIVERSITY & BIOTRADE

These lands originated food crops such as corn, Plants and their uses
potato and tomato, three central foods in the
world’s nutritional diet. But even though potato
is one of the country’s most emblematic species
with its 3000 varieties, there are also other im-
portant tubers, medicinal and aromatic plants
and more than 161 species of fruits and ama-
zonic plants such as camu camu, cocona, gua- 78 2 134
foo d sp e ci
nabana, chestnut and guayaba. spe cie s fo r n ae s
483 d ye s tu ra l
fod der
1,400 spe cie s
1,608 medicinal
ornamental 61
Plants in abundance species
species sp 8
fo r e c i e s
a n d wo o
5 000 of the 25 000 existing plant species in con
stru
d
c tio
Peru are used by the population for different n

purposes:
At the present time Biotrade looks to revalue
the use of this millenary heritage as a sustainable
business model with sustainable environmental,
social and economical criteria.
5000 species
Through its “Biotrade Initiative”, the United
Nations Conference on Trade and Development
(UNCTAD) has worked with Peru to create the Na-
tional Programme on Biotrade Promotion (PNPB).

COOPERATION SYSTEM
With the object of implementing the actions and achieving the goals set by the National
Strategy on Biotrade, the National Programme on Biotrade Promotion relied on the follo-
wing projects:
1. The Biotrade Facilitation Programme, executed from the “Biotrade” initiative of the
UNCTAD (2003 - 2007), with the coordination of PromPeru. The purpose was to “facili-
tate the sustainable commerce in biodiversity products and services” and although it has
ended, the programme has opened the path for Peruvian products in this market.
2. The Peru Biodiversity Project financed by Swiss Cooperation and carried out by the Ger-
man Technical Cooperation (GTZ), with a 6 million dollar budget, and whose objective
was to increase the business competitiveness of the Biotrade sector.
3. The Capacity Building on Biotrade Project, also promoted by GTZ, is being carried out
in three countries: Namibia, Nepal and Peru. It aims to strengthen capabilities in negotia-
tion topics and relevant policies on Biotrade.
4. The finance facilitation for biodiversity businesses and support for the development
of activities in the Andean Region Market Project. Promoted by the CAF and financed
by the GEF its objective is to promote the sustainable development of biodiversity in the
region, through Biotrade at a local, regional and national level.

6/7
 Peru’s exports of Biodiversity-based Products (in millions of US$)

160
140
120 135
120 125
100
80 87 87
60 66
40
20
0
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

Source: PromPeru 2009

In the last decade the process of transfer-

ring powers and resources from the capital to
the regional governments and the opening up
of trade in the country have been contributing
factors in the dynamic growth of the exports of
biodiversity-based products.
In this framework the National Programme
on Biotrade contributed to consolidate a sustai-
nable offer of these native products, driving asso-
ciation mechanisms forward, facilitating market
access, promoting scientific investigation and
supporting the regulatory and legal framework.
In this way, the seed sown by the Biotrade
Initiative managed to take root in Peru. Although
there are institutions that form part of the Natio-
nal Biotrade Programme that acknowledge that
there is further work to be done by giving greater
emphasis on the verification of the principles and
criteria of Biotrade in the implicated businesses of Outstanding products
the sector, as well as among associated harvesters
and producers. It is also necessary to differentiate
more the products in this sector and to improve
marketing, certification and verification strategies.
As well, there should be better articulation within
institutions, producers and harvesters associated 1 st EXPORT er o
fT ara
duc ld
or pro he wor
expgani
1
st
with Biotrade. ort c co in t
er ffee

For more information: In 2010 the

www.biocomercioperu.org coffee Tunki
(Puno) was
2 nd organic cocoa
producers
considered the
best in the world produced in
by the Specialty south-eastern
Outstanding Products Coffee Association
of America
areas of
Puno and
Madre de Dios
Tara (Caesalpinia spinosa) is a wild product from and

7
oducer
coffee pr rters of
organic

5
po th with
th trade' ex th
prod e highes
the mountain region of Peru that has a strong 1st 'fair
this pr od uc t uc
nic pr
t am
orga ers that im ount of
oduc plement
tion sy
stem
international demand for which sustainability s

and management plans have been applied.

 PERU: BIODIVERSITY, SOURCE OF A NEW
DEVELOPMENT MODEL

III. ECOSYSTEM SERVICES

Ecosystem services and protected areas

* Provisioning services (food, shelter, water, biochemical)

* Regulating services (carbon capture, water cycle, pollination,
erosion control, natural disaster prevention)
* Support services (soil fertility, soil conservation)
* Cultural services (leisure & tourism)

Rich protected areas
A good way to be able to boost the services
provided by our multiple ecosystems is by
doing an economic valuation of the services
given by the numerous protected areas. As
mentioned in the book “Protected Areas a
contribution to National Economy4”, at least
50% of the Peruvian economy and 80% of its
exports depend on biological diversity, which
lie mainly in protected areas. The environmen-
tal services provide the natural flow of life but
also the local, regional and national economy.
Looking at the numbers: 350 million dollar
investment by the Peruvian government would
ensure a 10 thousand million dollar contribution
from national protected areas over the next 10
years to the country. In order for this to happen
it is important to understand that SINANPE is the
main support to conserve the natural assets that
benefit so much our national economy.
4
www.katoombagroup.org

8/9
Some paradigmatic cases
Diverse initiatives both in the mountain and
Amazon region of Peru certify the importance
and effectiveness of the environmental servi-
ces. The Investigation Institute of the Peruvian
Amazon (IIAP) promoted the management
of chambira (Astrocaryum chambira) fibre,
a palm tree from the Amazon, in the area of
Iquitos (northeast of Peru). The women, who
live in the regional community conservation
area of Tamshiyacu-Tahuayo and Alto-Nanay
Chambira-Pintuyacu, are already exporting
crafts made from this product to the United
States. One store has already agreed to buy 30
thousand dollars worth of products a month.
The vast amount of plant species in this region
represents a huge asset, which can be shaped
into products, like aguaje (Mauritia flexuosa)
and ungurahui (Oenocarpus bataua) oils, or
the exploitation of other non-wood forest
products. To sum up, there is an immense and
very promising supply of services.
An even more interesting case is in pro-
gress in the Sandia area (south Andean region
of the country, Puno) where not so long ago
a coffee, grown by Wilson Sucaticona, was
rated the “worlds best special coffee” by the
Specialty Coffee Association of America for
his Tunki coffee. Due to this, the Ministry of
Environment (MINAM) has started research to
verify if the natural cross pollination of certain
insects influences the quality and producti-
vity of this praised plant. If this environmental
service is proven, a fund would be generated
to preserve the natural forests which grow in
alliance with the coffee plantations in order
to allow cross pollination to continue. This
would take care of the prestigious coffee and
create a circuit uniting commerce, conserva-
tion and the welfare of the farmers.

PROTECTED AREAS: SERVICES A LA CARTE

• The biological diversity contribution to agriculture could reach 4 thousand million do-
llars a year.
• The marine and continental fishing industry provide 400 thousand tonnes of fish per
year for human consumption.
• Around 2 700 000 Peruvians receive their water from 16 protected areas. This is the equi-
valent of 254 900 000 cubic meters of water a year.
• 61% of the water used to produce hydroelectric energy in Peru comes from protected
areas. The cost of this amount of energy would be equivalent to 320 500 000 dollars.
• At least 376 000 hectares of agricultural land are irrigated with water provided by the
protected areas. Their production is equivalent to 513 900 000 dollars a year.
• The protection of upstream watersheds in protected areas has prevented the sedimenta-
tion of 5 dams of national importance. If these areas would have been neglected for the
past 10 years, this would have meant a cost of 5 200 000 dollars to clean the dams.
• Protected areas collect 1,7 million dollars a year from tourism.
• The indirect income produced by a protected area can be up to 20 million dollars a year.
• 4 000 million tonnes is the amount of carbon sequestered by the tropical, mountain and
plain forests of the protected areas of Peru.
• The Peruvian natural protected areas, due to conservation techniques, is preventing 36
387 000 tons of carbon from entering the atmosphere.
 PERU: BIODIVERSITY, SOURCE OF A NEW
DEVELOPMENT MODEL

IV. CONSERVATION CORRIDORS

The creation of these conservation corridors res-

ponds to some of the key problems in biologi- The Conservation
cal diversity conservation: the speed and scale Corridor: concept becomes
of habitat loss and their fragmentation. a sustainable development
The conservation corridors not only con- strategy that combines
template biological or ecological factors in environmental conservation
their design, but also the concept has evolved with social welfare.
to include the needs of communities and eco-
nomical, social, political and ecosystem services
dynamics. There are several initiatives of corridors
The conservation corridors generally con- in Peru. The first one was the “Vilcabamba –
sist of a coherent system formed by: Amboró Binational Conservation Corridor” at

Connectivity Networks

Conservation corridors,
articulating the landscape

us
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Connectivity elements

10 / 11
a binational level (1998). At a national level
three initiatives were identified and incorpo-
rated to national projects or programmes:
• Dry forest component of the “Protection
of Natural Areas” Project
• “Strengthening of Biodiversity Conser-
vation through the National Program of
Natural Protected Areas” (PRONANP) and
• “Sustainable development of local com-
munities and the conservation of biologi-
cal diversity in the Nanay Pucacuro Bio-
logical Corridor”.
The second project mentioned above,
was approved in August of this year and is the
most important one at a national level for its
scope and committed resources to the con-
servation corridor theme.
Strengthening of Biodiversity
Conservation through the National
Programme of Natural Protected
Areas (PRONANP)
This project is financed by the World Bank in
agreement with the Ministry of Environment
and its main purpose is to contribute to the
integrated management of protected areas
through the establishment of conservation
corridors, taking a landscape approach, besides
offering sustainable alternatives for its financing.
In this way the project is oriented to contribute
to ecological sustainability, in the long term, of
the protected areas in Peru.
Vilcabamba-Amboró, a fundamental
corridor
The purpose of the Vilcabamba-Amboró Conser-
vation Corridor (CCVA) is crucial not only for the
countries where it is located but for the whole
planet given that it aims to preserve the Tropi-
cal Andes Region, one of the most biologically
diverse places of the earth. It extends 30 million
hectares from the Vilcabamba Cordillera (moun-
tain range) in Peru all the way to the Amboró Na-
tional Park in Bolivia. It goes through 19 protected
areas between both countries, which allow for
policies to be developed to preserve thousands
of mammal, bird, reptile, fish, amphibian and
plant species. The following habitats can be
found in the CCVA: southwestern amazonic wet
forest, Yungas, mountain forests, high tropical
plains, high altitude Andean areas and dry forests.
CCVA biological records (in Peru)
MACHUPICCHU TA M B O PATA
More than 90 Orchids 1,200 Butterfly
species species
M A N U VILC ABAMBA
More than 1000 123 bats species
Birds species
Condor-Abiseo-Kutuku Conservation Regional governments have been working
Corridor (CCCAK) an achievement for on their “Regional Strategies for the Conservation
peace of Biodiversity” and are developing their Ecologi-
After years of recurring border conflicts, Peru cal Economic Zoning processes, where they are
and Ecuador signed a Peace Agreement in 1999, prioritizing the most regionally important areas
which reached important integration levels bet- for conservation of biodiversity, both for the re-
ween both countries. At that time, this corridor, presentation of endemic and/or endangered
also called the “Mountain Forests of the North” species, as well as existing ecosystem services.
was conceived. It covers between 10 to 13 mi-
llion hectares and extends from the Sangay Na-
tional Park, in Ecuador, to the Cordillera Azul Na-
tional Park, in Peru. Hence covering 6 protected
areas in the Peruvian territory.
The purpose of this corridor is to preserve
two basic regions: the oriental foothills of the
Tropical Andes and the Andean-Amazonic low-
land. They are high endemic areas that in spite
of their conservation state host numerous en-
dangered species: 45 bird and 25 mammal spe-
cies in Peru.
Although advances in the implementation
of both corridors have been made there is still
the challenge of securing public policies. These
would give a socio-environmental focus allow-
ing them to link the opportunities that come
from having a healthy biodiversity within the
economic development activities of the people
that live principally in the rural areas.

The National System of Protected

Natural Areas of Peru, encouraging
connectivity
The protected natural areas have three admi-
nistration levels: central, regional and the private
conservation areas, which look to improve co-
nnectivity between habitats and ecosystems,
and whose management is aimed at maintai-
ning the structure of landscapes.
There is awareness that habitat fragmenta-
tion and isolation of natural areas is a major cause
of biodiversity loss. Different regions of the coun-
try are developing initiatives to improve connec-
tivity between priority conservation areas with a
sustainable development approach.
The innovation in these processes is that
they seek to ensure the connectivity of eco-
systems, thereby strengthening the SINANPE.
Privates (local communities) are integrated into
the process by asking the Peruvian government
recognition of their properties as private conser-
vation areas for containing important elements
of biodiversity conservation. Currently there are
68 protected areas of national administrations,
6 Regional Conservation Areas and 25 Private
Conservation Areas, together representing a-
pproximately 16% of the country.

12 / 13
 PERU: BIODIVERSITY, SOURCE OF A NEW
DEVELOPMENT MODEL

NATIONAL SERVICE OF STATE PROTECTED NATURAL AREAS

(SERNANP) - PERÚ
Peru’s progress on achieving the goals set by the Programme of Work
on Protected Areas (PoWPA)
Situation Objectives PERU’S PROGRESS
Programme Element 1: Direct Actions for Planning, Selecting, Establishing, Strengthening, and
Managing, Protected Area Systems and Sites
1.1. To establish and The National System of Protected Natural Areas by the State
strengthen national (SINANPE), which includes the areas of national, regional and private
and regional systems administration, has increased over the last 10 years from 37 to 98
of protected areas protected natural areas (PNA) representing 15.25% of Peruvian territory.
integrated into a global
network as a contribution In 2010, the System of islands and guano headlands was created
to globally agreed goals under the category of National Reserve with a total area of 140 833
ha, of which 97.5% corresponds to the marine environment.
1.2. To integrate The management of the PNA is being strengthened through the
protected areas into implementation of 7 projects and programs aimed at improving
broader land- and the management of protected areas and providing options for
seascapes and sectors so sustainable economic development for the populations related to
as to maintain ecological these areas.
structure and function
The connectivity of the PNA of national administration is improving
through the creation of protected areas within a subnational
conservation systems framework.
1.3. To establish and Progress in implementing programs and projects aimed at
strengthen regional strengthening the management of conservation corridors across
networks, transboundary national boundaries (Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia).
protected areas (TBPAs)
and collaboration Progress on the implementation of a project to manage the marine
between neighbouring ecosystem of the Humboldt Current (all of the Peruvian coast).
protected areas
1.4 To substantially The management of the PNA’s System has strengthened through the
improve site-based creation of the National Service of Protected Natural Areas by the
protected area planning State (SERNANP) and 36 PNA’s management strategies have been
and management guided through the development of their management plans.

Participation in the PNA management has been strengthened

through the provision of management contracts with third parties
and the establishment of management committees, ensuring the
participation of indigenous and local communities.
1.5. To prevent and Several rules that regulate the activities within the PNA have been
mitigate the negative created. In special cases regulation is much stricter, e.g. for species
impacts of key threats to that are under pressure of use, or inappropriate techniques of use,
protected areas specially in fishing.
Programme Element 2: Governance, Participation, Equity and Benefit Sharing
2.1. To promote equity A participatory management project for the nationwide PNA is under
and benefit-sharing implementation. Among its components it develops sustainable
economic activities with local organizations.

The people, who make any use of natural resources, in compensation,

carry out monitoring, surveillance and control activities in the PNA.
2.2. To enhance and Indigenous and local communities are involved in the processes
ensure involvement of of creation and categorization of PNA, as well as in developing
indigenous and local management tools for protected areas.
communities and relevant
stakeholders The creation of the National Programme of Citizen Participation
for SINANPE is being developed to date. It aims to ensure the
participation of various actors in the management of PNA.
Situation Objectives
Programme Element 3: Enabling Activities
3.1. To provide an
enabling policy,
institutional and socio-
economic environment
for protected areas
3.2. To build capacity
for the planning,
establishment and
management of
protected areas
3.3. To develop, apply
and transfer appropriate
technologies for
protected areas
3.4. To ensure financial
sustainability of protected
areas and national and
regional systems of
protected areas
3.5. To strengthen
communication,
education and public
awareness
Programme Element 3: Standards, Assessment, and Monitoring
4.1. To develop and adopt
minimum standards and
best practices for national
and regional protected
area systems
4.2. To evaluate and
improve the effectiveness
of protected areas
management
4.3. To assess and monitor
protected area status and
trends
4.4. To ensure that scientific
knowledge contributes
to the establishment and
effectiveness of protected
areas and protected area
Systems
PERU’S PROGRESS
MINAM approved in 2009 the National Environmental Policy and
in 2008 created the SERNANP, being one of their functions to give
technical opinion in defence of the natural heritage of the PNA.
Peru has a National Strategy for Biological Diversity and National
Action Plan for the Conservation of Marine Biodiversity. By 2009 its
National Strategy for Protected Natural Areas was updated.
Peru has a strategy and capacity building plan that focus on the
technical strengthening of the park’s rangers.
The trainings are conducted in a decentralized manner through
training nodes. To ensure a good level of training, SERNANP has
cooperation agreements with universities.
Six agreements with scientific institutions.
A GEF project for the management of the marine ecosystem of the
Humboldt current, which includes developing management tools
for coastal and marine areas, has been approved.
SINANPE has a financial plan and for 2010 SERNANP’s budget is U.S.
$ 1 130 000 from state funds; in addition it has the financial support of
international cooperation to implement the management of various PNA.
For the financial sustainability of the PNA, ecosystem valuation
studies are underway, and contracts with third parties administration
of PNA have been signed. Stakeholders have also signed
management agreements that contribute the financing of the PNA’s
via a counterpart budget commitment.
A PNA guide has been produced and designed to recognize the
natural values and promote tourism in protected areas.
The media office focuses its work on promoting activities, which
transmit the importance of PNA in the context of sustainable
development; it uses the country’s media and also virtual
communication and national and international thematic network
platforms (RAMSAR, IUCN, MAB, CBD, WHIN, etc.).
An ecological cover analysis of SINANPE was carried out and inserted
in the updated National Strategy for Protected Natural Areas.
In 2009 SERNANP developed protected areas management
effectiveness indicators.
SERNANP regularly analyzes the PNA’s coverage, mainly in land areas.
Characterization analyses of PNA exist but are not yet integrated to
the vision of the situation of the whole system. Indicators are being
developed to assess the state of conservation and biodiversity use
in PNA.
The National Strategy promotes and prioritizes the use of the results
of scientific research to support decision-making in the management
of PNA. Creation studies for PNA already provide for the inclusion of
a baseline of scientific information.
= positive changes
= progressive changes
14 / 15
 PERU: BIODIVERSITY, SOURCE OF A NEW
DEVELOPMENT MODEL

Protected Natural Areas

16 PNA supply water to 2.7 million Peruvians

60.81% of hydroelectric power comes from these
10.5 million hectares of lowland tropical rainforests
5.4 million hectares of tropical montane rainforests

15% of cultivated area is irrigated by water from 12 PNA in 8 regions

12 National Parks
9 National Sanctuaries
4 Historic Sanctuaries
13 National Reserves
2 Wildlife Refuges
6 Protection Forests
2 Landscape Reserves
8 Community Reserves
2 Hunting Grounds
10 Reserve Zones

In Peru the protected areas are one of the most powerful tools for conserving a great part of the enor-
mous biological diversity.

BIODIVERSITY IN NUMBERS
• All of the Peruvian forest cover by the protected areas captures around 3901 million
tonnes of carbon, which is valued in 127 million dollars.
• At least 128 of the most important birdwatching areas (IBA) are located in the different
regions of Peru.
• In 1 hectare of traditionally cultivated potatoes in the highlands of Puno (southeast of
Peru) there are up to 3 species and 10 varieties of potato (more than all the species and

GIACOMOTTI: 98-127*0046
varieties of potatoes cultivated in North America).
• The 2020 fish species that live in Peru’s marine and continental waters are more than all
of those in the Atlantic Ocean.
• Peru is probably the country where the most native plant species have been domesti-
cated, from around 10,000 years ago.
• The Peruvian territory is the principal habitat for the South American camelidae (llamas,
vicuñas, alpacas and guanacos)
• There are 3000 varieties of potato in Peru, some of which are yet to be discovered in the wild.
• One of every five species of butterflies can be found in Peru.
• Around 5000 million dollars come from the use of hydrobiological and forest resources
and tourism to natural areas.

Ministry of Environment
Ministerio SERNANP webmaster@minam.gob.pe
PERÚ
del Ambiente www.minam.gob.pe

Special thanks to: German

Technical Cooperation (GTZ)