Mystery of the Jungle: Solved! A New Conservation Concession in Peru Seeks to Capture Carbon by Protecting a Vital Palm Ecosystem.

The new Conservation Concession, Misterio de la Selva, whose name means “Mystery of the Jungle,” created on September 28, 2020, will protect 11,827 acres of forest along the banks of the Ucayali River in the state of Loreto in Peru.

The area is considered a fragile ecosystem and is largely made up of swamps that host the aguaje palm (Mauritia flexuosa), whose fruit is one of the most consumed by the Amazon population. In addition to supporting the development and preservation of vulnerable or endangered species, the aguaje palm swamps also provide important ecosystem services. For example, these swamps have been found to have the largest carbon storing capacity among the Amazonian terrestrial ecosystems.

The general objective of Misterio de la Selva is to conserve biodiversity and promote sustainable management of natural resources and improve the quality of life of the surrounding community. In its more specific goals is the conservation of flora and fauna like the Aguaje palm, the Bald uakari monkey (Cacajao calvus ucayalii) and the Wattled curassow (Crax globulosa).

A further aim is to strengthen the organizational capacities and the involvement of the surrounding community in conservation activities in the area.

Andes Amazon Fund would like to congratulate our grantee Amazónicos por la Amazonía (AMPA), for working together for four years with the Association of the Guardians of the Forest (Asociación de los Guardianes del bosque) to create the Misterio de la Selva conservation concession, solving one mystery of how protecting species, helping the climate, and benefiting local communities can all be achieved together.