With private reserves popping up all across the Central and Southern Americas, there is no doubt that it is having a positive effect on the future of the Earth's conservation. Using local law that permits any land owner to convert their land in to a protected reserve, the San Marcos community have teamed up to create the San Marcos Private Conservation Area, covering a modest 970 hectares of endangered cloud forest in Central Peru.
The report came from the American Bird Conservancy, who state the high-elevation habitat supports a wealth of rare and endangered bird species, such as Royal Cinclodes, White-Browed Tit-Spinetails, and Ash-Breasted Tit-Tyrants. Whilst recording the boundaries, and investigating the new reserve five new plant species, and two new frog species have already been discovered within the boundaries of the reserve, leading to the hope of future discoveries in time.
While the protected area is limited in extent, San Marcos PCA protects a key watershed that feeds the Andean community of San Marcos, the city of Huánuco and the 11,800 acre Tingo Maria National Park. Cloud forests like San Marcos are particularly important in maintaining water flows, according to the American Bird Conservancy (ABC). The San Marcos community, which owns the land that makes up the reserve, will manage the conservation area.
“Private Conservation Areas are an increasingly effective means of preserving lands in Peru and serve as strong examples of the solid conservation results that can be achieved when local communities, government agencies and private non-profit groups work together,”
- Daniel Lebbin, ABC Conservation Biologist
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