Chontabamba Huancabamba Regional Conservation Area Established in Peru

The Chontabamba Huancabamba Regional Conservation Area was established June 11th, 2026 in Pasco, Peru. In a process that spanned over a decade, the local government, community leaders, and allies have been working to formally protect these 33,938 acres (13,734 hectares) of cloud forests that supply water to communities downstream and provide essential wildlife habitat.

The rugged terrain of the new Regional Conservation Area (RCA) is home to the Andean bear, Andean cock-of-the-rock, and puma as well as over 100 species of birds, including some found only in this region of Peru. The cloud forests of the new RCA act as water factories, capturing fog that feeds into the headwaters of the Huancabamba, Chontabamba, and Huaylamayo Rivers.

Protecting Chontabamba Huancabamba as a Regional Conservation Area opens up environmentally responsible development opportunities for the province of Oxapampa, such as ecotourism, native honey production, and scientific research, ensuring that present and future generations can continue to benefit from these important ecosystems. 

Acknowledgements: 

The new Regional Conservation Area is the result of a collaborative effort between local governments, the Regional Government of Pasco, and various stakeholders committed to the future of the province of Oxapampa. They have worked in partnership with Instituto del Bien Común for over 12 years to make this a reality, with support from the Peruvian Society for Environmental Law (SPDA), Andes Amazon Fund (AAF) and Re:wild.