Conservation Area Protects Rare and Endemic Species in Peru

Andes Amazon Fund is excited to announce the creation of the Codo del Pozuzo Regional Conservation Area on July 22 in Huánuco, Peru. The area protects 25,831 acres (10,453 hectares) of cloud forests and humid montane forests spanning an altitudinal range of 4,500 – 8,000 feet above sea level and conserving a rich array of flora and fauna. The new protected area also conserves the source of water for surrounding communities in the province of Puerto Inca.

Protecting a Vital Conservation Corridor

Codo del Pozuzo is now the second regional conservation area in the department of Huánuco, joining Carpish, which was also established with Andes Amazon Fund support in 2020. The cloud forests and humid montane forests of Codo del Pozuzo were among the 46 prioritized ecosystems for conservation and among the 133 labeled as “prioritized fragile zones for conservation” by Peru’s National System of Protected Natural Areas. The elevational ranges protected in this area provide for high species turnover. Like in a house of several floors, each floor protects a unique set of species.

The creation of this regional conservation area comes at a pivotal time for the province of Puerto Inca as it suffers one of the highest deforestation rates in Peru. In addition, Codo del Pozuzo adds to an important conservation corridor and serves as a critical barrier for the vulnerable Indigenous people living in isolation in bordering territories.

The area houses the headwaters of the Sungaroyacu and Chorropampa Rivers, which play a vital hydrological role for the region’s ecosystem and supplies water to the 5,000 inhabitants of Codo del Pozuzo and its 9 neighboring communities. The water is used for drinking and to maintain sustainable crops and medicinal plants.

“We are very proud of this great achievement, which has been possible thanks to the sustained effort of the municipal and regional authorities of Huánuco and the valuable support of civil society. The creation and management of this area will also contribute to the sustainable development of Huánuco, allowing for the continual use of natural resources important to the well-being of the local population.”

Juan Alvarado Cornelio, Governor of Huánuco

Flora and Fauna

The Codo del Pozuzo Regional Conservation Area represents an important refuge for the abundant flora and fauna found in its forests. Its ecosystems are home to more than 120 plant species, 46 species of mammals, 43 species of birds, 11 species of reptiles and 8 species of amphibians. Threatened species include the Andean bear (Tremarctos ornatus), the Colombian red howler monkey (Alouatta seniculus), and the jaguar (Panthera onca). Other notable species include the smallest deer in the world, the Northern pudu (Pudu mephistopheles) and the Neotropical otter (Lontra longicaudis). The area also houses the rare and critically endangered Horned Curassao (Pauxi unicornis), a keystone species with a limited range and distinct horn on its forehead. Others include the South American tapir (Tapirus terrestres), the white-lipped peccary (Tayassu pecari), and emblematic species like the Andean cock-of-the-rock (Rupicola peruvianus), Peru’s national bird.

Acknowledgments

The creation of the Codo del Pozuzo Regional Conservation area was made possible thanks to a collaboration between the Regional Government of Huánuco, the inhabitants of Codo del Pozuzo and AAF grantee, Instituto del Bien Común (IBC). Additional support was provided by the National Service of Protected Areas of Peru and its United Nations Development Program through its Amazonía Resiliente Project. Communications support was provided by SPDA.

Read more here (in Spanish).