New Velo de la Novia Regional Conservation Area Safeguards Yungas and Endangered Species in Ucayali, Peru

Andes Amazon Fund celebrates the establishment of the Velo de la Novia Regional Conservation Area (RCA) in Ucayali, Peru, which spans 35,583 acres (14,399.75 hectares) of Peruvian yungas (cloud forest) and humid tropical forest. Velo de la Novia, which translates to “Bride’s Veil,” gets its name from the 275-foot-tall waterfall that crashes onto a smooth rock face within the conservation area. This is the third Regional Conservation Area to be established in the department of Ucayali. The new RCA is home to the endangered military macaw, the vulnerable jaguar, and the rainbow boa among other notable species.

The newly established Regional Conservation Area, declared by supreme decree on June 19, 2025, strengthens connectivity in the north-central Peruvian Amazon, forming a conservation mosaic alongside protected natural areas such as Cordillera Azul National Park, Cordillera Escalera RCA, Codo del Pozuzo RCA, Kakataibo Indigenous Reserve, and Alto Shambillo Local Forest across the Peruvian departments of San Martín, Loreto, Huánuco and Ucayali. Velo de la Novia partially overlaps with the Aguaytia – San Alejandro Key Biodiversity Area. 

Per Margarita Medina Müller, Peru Projects Manager at Andes Amazon Fund: “Velo de la Novia contributes to the connectivity between protected areas that have been supported by Andes Amazon Fund, including Kataibo Indigenous Reserve to the north and south and the Codo del Pozuzo Regional Conservation Area, farther to the South, helping strengthen a conservation corridor for this region. The new RCA also protects important water sources for nearby communities, while the waterfall is a perfect destination for ecotourism.”

The establishment of the Velo de la Novia RCA ensures the conservation of yungas and humid tropical forests native to the Ucayali department, as well as water sources that benefit the local population and the town of Aguaytía, home to almost 30,000 inhabitants. With the stunning waterfall, the RCA’s designation will also be an opportunity to further develop well-managed ecotourism in the area, promoting a conservation model based on the sustainable enjoyment of nature.

The new RCA is home to multiple important species, some of which are endemic only to this Andes-Amazon transition region of northern Peru. Cristy Díaz, project manager for Nature and Culture International, explains that “The biological value of the area is indisputable.” Velo de la Novia’s forests are home to flora species such as the huayruro (Ormosia coccinea), the Andean palm tree (Ceroxylon echinulatum) and the Spanish cedar (Cedrela odorata). In terms of fauna the area is home to three species included in the National Conservation Plan for Endangered Primates of Peru: the Colombian red howler (Alouatta seniculus), the red woolly monkey (Lagothrix lagotricha poeppigii), and the Peruvian spider monkey (Ateles chamek). Endemic amphibians in the area include the red-bellied frog (Ameerega rubriventris) and the reticulated harlequin frog (Atelopus reticulatus).

With the establishment of the Velo de la Novia RCA, Ucayali is strengthening its commitment to the conservation of its Amazonian biodiversity, ensuring the protection of its ecosystems, strengthening their connectivity and promoting a sustainable future for future generations.

Acknowledgements:

This achievement was made possible by the Regional Government of Ucayali and Peru’s National Service of Natural Protected Areas with the technical support of Nature and Culture International and the financial support of the Andes Amazon Fund via the Wyss Foundation and the Jacobs Futura Foundation. Other supporters include Conservation International, Re:wild, the Bezos Earth Fund and Amazon Sustainable Landscapes program via the United Nations Development Program.