Search

La degradación de los hábitats de especies endémicas con rangos de distribuciones restringidas, se han acelerado en los últimos años, aún más si se encuentran en peligro de extinción. En este estudio se evaluó el estado de las áreas ambientalmente sensibles a la degradación de los hábitats de dos especies de aves endémicas, Loddigesia mirabilis y Xenoglaux loweryi al noroeste de Perú. El análisis se basó en determinar un mapa de las áreas ambientalmente sensibles a la degradación de la tierra del área de estudio, utilizando el método Desertificación del Mediterráneo y uso de la tierra (MEDALUS) y como rangos de hábitat de las dos especies se superpusieron los mapas de distribución de la IUCN. El estado de las áreas ambientalmente sensibles a la degradación del hábitat de Loddigesia mirabilis estuvo representada el 78,40 % de la superficie en riesgo moderado, seguido por un alto riesgo (13,52 %), bajo (7,77 %), y grave (0,31%). Por otro lado, el estado de las áreas ambientalmente sensibles a la degradación del hábitat de Xenoglaux loweryi, se encontró que el 87,84 % estaba en riesgo moderado, seguido por un riesgo bajo (10,81 %), alto (1,35 %) y grave (0,01 %). Los resultados pueden contribuir como información de referencia para los tomadores de decisiones para la recuperación de hábitats a través de la conservación de ambas especies.

We report a disjunct population of Dicrodon guttulatum Duméril & Bibron, 1839 on the eastern slope of the Cordillera Occidental in the inter-Andean Seasonally Dry Forests of the Marañón River, in the Departments of Cajamarca and Piura in northwestern Peru. We include an updated range distribution map using records from museum specimens, the Global Biodiversity Information Facility, and available photographic records on iNaturalist. In addition, we identify widespread cultivation of rice crops as the main threat to D. guttulatum in the inter-Andean Seasonally Dry Forests of the Marañón.

Apiculture plays a vital role in maintaining a genetically diverse ecosystem and is an economic activity that contributes to the development of rural communities, thereby enhancing the livelihoods of beekeepers. However, despite the presence of over forty thousand beekeepers in Peru, there is currently no cartographic information available on optimal areas for the development of apiculture. Our study focused on assessing the suitability of land for apiculture development in rural and indigenous communities within the Amazonas Department in northwest Peru. We integrated biophysical and socioeconomic criteria using the Multiple Criteria Evaluation (MCE) technique, in conjunction with state-of-the-art geoinformation and earth observation techniques, to model and validate land suitability for supporting apiculture. It was identified that suitability is influenced by biophysical criteria (65%) and socioeconomic criteria (35%), resulting in highly suitable areas covering 315.6 km2 within the territory of peasant communities, 128.4 km2 within native communities, and an additional 41.4 km2 within conserved areas. Furthermore, to validate our results, we combined the use of high-resolution satellite imagery and visits to artisanal producers. This research provides valuable insights for spatiotemporal land use planning, emphasizing apicultural activity as a driver of rural development and biodiversity conservation. Consequently, this study contributes as a management tool to promote apicultural activities as support for rural development and in local-level decision making.

Spectacled bears (SB) (Tremarctos ornatus) are the only bear species native to South America. This particular bear is the single species of its genus, and it is listed as vulnerable according to the IUCN red list. A critical SB conservation habitat is in the rural territories of the Peruvian Amazon, where anthropogenic land-use changes and landscape fragmentation threaten SB habitats. The following questions arise in this context: How much has land-use changed? How to design the establishment of ecological corridors (ECs) to support the conservation of SB?. We investigated the temporal land use and land cover changes for last 30 years (1990–2020) for a better projection of the ECs and to quantify the temporal landscape metrics. Furthermore, we integrated cloud computing, machine learning models with cost-effective techniques to delineate the ECs for SB within the rural territories. Ensemble Random Forest model associated with Google Earth Engine (GEE) was used to develop four land use and land cover (LULC) maps (for the years 1990, 2000, 2010 and 2020). The least cost path (LCP) model based on Dijkstra’s shortest path algorithm was assembled based on six variables (altitude; slope; distance to roads; distance to population centers; land use map; inventory map of SB). Then, we calculated the ECs based on the multidirectional origin-destination points, we found that forest patches increased by 57% between 1990 and 2020. Results showed statistically significant agreement (R2 = 0.47; p

Las Áreas de Conservación Privada (ACP) son uno de los mecanismos de conservación, gestionadas por ciudadanos privados que más protagonismo han adquirido en los escenarios de conservación local en los últimos años. En este estudio evaluamos la efectividad de cuatro ACP gestionadas por comunidades locales (CC). Se aplicó el Índice de Efectividad Compuesto (IEC) para determinar la efectividad del diseño, la integridad ecológica y la gestión. Los resultados muestran sistemas de gestión con una efectividad media, tres de las cuatro ACP evaluados (Copallín, Huaylla Belén-Colcamar y Tilacancha) reportan un diseño efectivo. Los rangos altitudinales protegidos están entre 2500 y 3500 m.s.n.m., con un índice de representatividad de la superficie promedio de 4,55% con respecto al área conservada en la categoría ACP para el departamento de Amazonas. La evaluación de la integridad ecológica indica que las ACP presentan menor superficie transformada (TS) (0-10%) y mayor TS en sus áreas circundantes, especialmente en el ACP Tilacancha (13,37% de TS en un buffer de 1,5 km). La suma ponderada de los índices individuales resulta en índices de efectividad compuestos de mayor a menor para el ACP Copallín (2,22), Hierba Buena Allpayacku (1,82), Huaylla Belen Colcamar (1,81) y Tilacancha (1,56).

Based on a review of literature related to the biological diversity of the inter-Andean Seasonally Dry Tropical Forest of the Marañón valley (ISDTFM), located in the regions of Cajamarca, Amazonas, Piura, La Libertad, Ancash and Huánuco (Perú), this study highlights the richness of endemic species of woody flora and tetrapod fauna, as well as addressing their threats and state of conservation. In fact, we report 143 woody flora endemics, most notably the species, Coursetia cajamarcana, Parkinsonia peruviana and Pradosia argentea, due to its Critically Endangered (CR) by the IUCN. Regarding tetrapod fauna endemic, there are four species of amphibians, 28 of reptiles, 22 of birds and six of mammals; outstanding among them Synallaxis maranonica due to its Critically Endangered (CR). A well-known problem with this forest is that it has been severely threatened by the expansion of the agricultural frontier and access routes, a situation that could become even more exacerbated if energy and extraction activities are developed. On the other hand, only 1.01% of all these forests, are protected under Protected Natural Areas (PNA). For this reason, it is essential to have this information in order to prioritise its conservation and protection.

The IUCN has listed the long-whiskered owlet (Xenoglaux loweryi) as vulnerable due to the presence of few geographic records, its restricted range, and anthropogenic threats. Its natural history and ecology are largely unknown, and its distribution is widely debated; therefore, there is an urgent need for the real-time conservation of X. loweryi. In this study, 66 geo-referenced records of X. loweryi, 18 environmental variables, and the maximum entropy model (MaxEnt) have been used to predict the current and future (2050 and 2070) potential distribution of X. loweryi in the Amazonas and San Martin regions of northwestern Peru. In fact, under current conditions, areas of “high”, “moderate”, and “low” potential habitat suitability cover 0.16% (140.85 km2), 0.46% (416.88 km2), and 1.16% (1048.79 km2) of the study area, respectively. Moreover, under future conditions, the “high”, “moderate”, and “low” probability areas present profits and losses in terms of habitat suitability. Based on the environmental variables, this species mostly inhabits areas with a forest fraction with presence of trees with an emergent tree canopy of ~10–30 metres and depends on Yunga montane forest habitats with high humidity but it is not dependent on bare cover area, crops, or grasslands. Nevertheless, most of the current and future distribution areas are not part of the protected natural areas of Amazonas and San Martin. Additionally, the combination of climate change and anthropogenic activities contribute to further losses of this species habitat. Therefore, from the management point of view, corrective and preventive actions will help to preserve this species over time.

Biodiversity is an indispensable resource and contributes to the balance of ecosystems, being of great importance for the development of a society and its culture through good management of natural spaces. However, the reduction in and fragmentation of habitats, trafficking, and illegal trade in wild animals affect the great diversity of wild flora and fauna that characterize Peru. Considering this problem, we modeled the biogeographic distribution of five species of wildlife categorized as threatened by Peruvian legislation and included in the red list of threatened species of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN): critically endangered (CR) Lagothrix flavicauda, endangered (EN) Aotus miconax, in vulnerable-status (VU) Tremarctos ornatus and Lagothrix cana, and in the near-threatened category (NT) Panthera onca. Our study aimed to identify their current potential distribution in the Peruvian territory which is legally protected by the conservation areas of national, regional, or private administration. In this regard, we used a maximum-entropy approach (MaxEnt), integrating 14 variables (7 bioclimatic variables, 3 topographic, 3 variables of vegetation cover, and relative humidity). It was observed that 3.6% (46,225.50 km2) of the Peruvian territory presented a high probability (>0.6) of distribution of the evaluated species and 10.7% (136,918.28 km2) of moderate distribution (0.4–0.6). Based on this, our study allowed us to identify the geographical spaces for threatened species on which conservation actions should focus, through the formulation of strategies, plans, policies, and participatory management in the Peruvian territory.

The tropical Andes in South America stand at the top of the world’s list of endemism hotspots, due to their high species richness per unit area. Thus, our study focuses on the Key Biodiversity Area (KBA) of the Utcubamba River (PER-84), one of the 96 KBAs, with an extension of 35,534 hectares. This area is located in northwest Peru, within the hotspot of the tropical Andes. The study area is well known as the waterfalls valley, which holds the world’s third highest waterfall “Gocta”, an outstanding national and international tourist attraction. Nevertheless, despite its great ecological and tourist value, research reports are deficient in the area. Therefore, we conducted a biological inventory in 2019 during the wet season, with the aim of recording and identifying species of tetrapod fauna, as well as promoting actions for their conservation. Based on field assessments, the following number of species was recorded: amphibians (14), reptiles (6), birds (229), and mammals (20). Interestingly, for the first time, two species of amphibians (Gastrotheca aguaruna and Gastrotheca spectabilis) and two reptiles (Dipsas palmeri and Tachymenis affinis) have been recorded; furthermore, the following several endemic species have been observed: amphibians (3), reptiles (2), birds (3) and mammals (1) that have not yet been reported for the ACB, which have not yet been reported for the KBA. This finding, in fact, increases the number of species of endemism in this part of Peruvian territory. Consequently, this study aims to be the basis for promoting further research to discover new species for science and to propose strategies for their conservation over time.

The increasing demand for tropical timber from natural forests has reduced the population sizes of native species such as Cedrela spp. because of their high economic value. To prevent the decline of population sizes of the species, all Cedrela species have been incorporated into Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). The study presents information about the modeled distribution of the genus Cedrela in Peru that aims to identify potential habitat distribution of the genus, its availability in areas protected by national service of protected areas, and highlighted some areas because of their conservation relevance and the potential need for restoration. We modeled the distribution of the genus Cedrela in Peru using 947 occurrence records that included 10 species (C. odorata, C. montana, C. fissilis, C. longipetiolulata, C. angustifolia, C. nebulosa, C. kuelapensis, C. saltensis, C. weberbaueri, and C. molinensis). We aim to identify areas environmentally suitable for the occurrence of Cedrela that are legally protected by the National Service of Protected Areas (PAs) and those that are ideal for research and restoration projects. We used various environmental variables (19 bioclimatic variables, 3 topographic factors, 9 edaphic factors, solar radiation, and relative humidity) and the maximum entropy model (MaxEnt) to predict the probability of occurrence. We observed that 6.7% (86,916.2 km2) of Peru presents a high distribution probability of occurrence of Cedrela, distributed in 17 departments, with 4.4% (10,171.03 km2) of the area protected by PAs mainly under the category of protection forests. Another 11.65% (21,345.16 km2) of distribution covers areas highly prone to degradation, distributed mainly in the departments Ucayali, Loreto, and Madre de Dios, and needs immediate attention for its protection and restoration. We believe that the study will contribute significantly to conserve Cedrela and other endangered species, as well as to promote the sustainable use and management of timber species as a whole.

The spectacled, or Andean, bear (Tremarctos ornatus) is classified as vulnerable by the IUCN due to climate change and human-induced habitat fragmentation. There is an urgent need for the conservation of spectacled bear at real time. However, the lack of knowledge about the distribution of this species is considered as one of the major limitations for decision-making and sustainable conservation. In this study, 92 geo-referenced records of the spectacled bear, 12 environmental variables and the MaxEnt entropy modelling have been used for predictive modelling for the current and future (2050 and 2070) potential distribution of the spectacled bear in Amazonas, northeastern Peru. The areas of “high”, “moderate” and “low” potential habitat under current conditions cover 1.99% (836.22 km2), 14.46% (6081.88 km2) and 20.73% (8718.98 km2) of the Amazon, respectively. “High” potential habitat will increase under all climate change scenarios, while “moderate” and “low” potential habitat, as well as total habitat, will decrease over the time. The “moderate”, “low” and total potential habitat are distributed mainly in Yunga montane forest, combined grasslands/rangelands and secondary vegetation and Yunga altimontane (rain) forest, while “high” potential habitat is also concentrated in the Jalca. The overall outcome showed that the most of the important habitats of the spectacled bear are not part of the protected natural areas of Amazonas, under current as well as under future scenarios.