Despite the challenges of not being able to enter conservation areas and regularly meet with the communities that we partner with due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve been able to adapt our conservation training programs to be delivered through online.

Recently, our sister organization in Bolivia, Conservación Amazónica – ACEAA, hosted a series of webinars on sustainable forest products. This included a webinar on açaí, a very important fruit that grows in the Amazon Rainforest. Families harvest these berries and sell them at local and regional markets as a key source of income. Because açaí cannot survive in a monoculture environment, that is, it can only grow in wild forests, local communities have the incentive of protecting their forests so that this valuable berry can thrive.

Additionally, from February 9 -11 Conservación Amazónica – ACEAA led a series of workshops on ways to improve how ecological data is used in Bolivia, in partnership with NatureServe and iDiv Biodiv Research. These virtual forums brought together nearly 90 experts from public and private organizations that specialize in the generation of biodiversity data and its applications to  conservation in the country as part of the TAO (Tropical Andes Observatory) Project. 

The groups aimed to find solutions for how biodiversity data is generated, integrated and delivered to decision makers in critical biodiversity points such as the tropical Andes so that they can be taken into consideration when policies are developed around conservation. Results and best practices developed in the workshop are now being compiled and will be distributed to partners in Peru, Ecuador, Spain and Germany for knowledge sharing and implementation in other areas. 

Putting science at technology to work for conservation is one of our three core approaches to protecting the Amazon, and our conservation hubs serve as important research centers for scientists from around the world to conduct studies in rainforest environments. But according to data from the UNESCO Institute of Statistics, less than 30% of the world’s researchers are women, and environmental conservation has historically been known as a male-dominated field. This #WomenInScience Day, we highlight some of the impressive scientists in our organization that are reinforcing this career path for future young researchers interested in conservation.  

 Ruthmery Pillco, originally from a small village outside of Cuzco, Peru, is the coordinator for the Andean spectacled bear research project at our Wayqecha Biological Station. She is a trilingual speaker of Spanish, English, and Quechua, and has extensive experience as a field biologist, having written an undergraduate thesis on woolly monkeys and working on a master’s one about Andean plants and climate change. When asked why she chose biology as a career, Ruthmery replied that, “From a very young age I have always been curious, and wondered why things are [the way they are] and how to solve problems,” and cites her greatest scientific accomplishment as the propagation of the Costa Rican Pleodendron, which is an extremely rare tree species considered a “living dinosaur”. Only 5 mature trees are known in the world, and the seeds that she was able to plant is helping prevent the species from becoming extinct.  Regarding her Andean spectacled bear research at Wayqecha, she most looks forward to learning more about the ecology of this species and how it will be affected by climate change, telling us that, “Peru and the planet have an incredible biodiversity of plants and animals, many of which are disappearing due to human activity. As people, we have a considerable responsibility to preserve this great legacy, nature, and as a researcher, I want to support this important commitment.”

Over at our sister organization Conservación Amazónica – ACEAA in Bolivia, we highlight researcher Lucero Hernani Lineros, who coordinated with the Amazon University of Pando to conduct research on primates at our Tahumanu Biological Station in Bolivia. Lucero cites this experience as the start of her passion for studying primates, though her inclination towards a career in science began in her childhood. With science, she says, “I was able to follow my curiosity and desire to promote to greater society the vision of unity between humans and nature.” When asked about what she thought was her biggest achievement, she highlights a research project she conducted over a span of two years studying the effect of anthrophony on the behavior and physiology of grey titi (Plecturocebus donacophylus),a project that will be shared in the International Congress of Primatology of IPS – SlaPrim in Ecuador next year.

Lucía Castro, the Science Projects Coordinator at Conservación Amazónica – ACCA in Peru, recalls that since she was little, she was drawn to nature as it piqued her curiosity. “Over time,” she says, “I wanted to work to protect it.” As a Science Projects Coordinator, Lucia is always in contact with researchers, working together to implement technology that assists conservation studies. She also helps with forest conservation initiatives, assuring the local populations in Cusco and Madre de Dios have sustainable livelihoods. When asked about what her goal was, Lucia replies, “My intention is to help make available the scientific information compiled by Conservación Amazónica – ACCA in the tropical Andes, so that together with researchers and scientists from around the world, we can seek solutions to the environmental problems of today and tomorrow.”

Finally, Judith Westveer is our Science Director at Conservación Amazónica – ACCA and currently lives in Madre de Dios, Peru, which is a long way from her home in the Netherlands. Judith helps drive conservation forward by developing the science vision for our three conservation hubs in Peru, and wants to make sure that the Andean Amazon ecosystem is studied so that it can be better protected. Judith was drawn to pursuing a career in science because in addition to being naturally talented in math and biology in school, she believes that “nature is infinitely interesting, especially how all the plants and animals live together and depend on each other.” This, in part, led her to the field of conservation. She tells us, “I witnessed with my own eyes how nature is being destroyed on a large scale. The subjects I studied during my bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD were in sensitive areas that may no longer exist. I feel called to counteract this destruction, by the intrinsic value of nature.” Additionally, Judith feels her greatest scientific accomplishment is not her various publications on wetland restoration during her Ph.D, but the presentations and conversations she had with local communities, provincial working groups, and the Dutch government based on her scientific results. With this, “they understand how the results of my research could lead to action, and thus rivers and streams are now better managed and protected.”

Scientists like these incredible women take on important initiatives to protect forest, research critical conservation topics, and advance our knowledge of the Amazon. We are grateful for all the incredible work they do!

Marcapata Ccollana, an indigenous community of Quechua origin in Cuzco, Peru has just been established as an agrobiodiversity zone with the help of our sister organization, Conservación Amazónica – ACCA. More than 55,800 acres of vast agricultural genetic diversity and ancestral lands are officially protected, which preserves various types of endemic Andean root vegetables.

Located in the Quispicanchi province in Cusco, Marcapata Ccollana’s altitudinal gradient ranges from 9,100 ft -17,000 ft (2,800 m – 5,200 m) above sea level. These conditions favor the growth of more than 99 varieties of potatoes, 25 of corn, 56 types of unique root vegetables, and multiple varieties of quinoa, tarwi bean and kiwicha seed, which  are essential for the food security of 200 local families, especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Additionally, that Marcapata Ccollana is also “an important force of cultural diversity” is evidenced in the Quechuan “ayllu,” the communal structure that shapes the natural resource management of the area. This is in combination with other ancestral practices known to conserve agrobiodiversity, such as the Chuki, T’aya, and Wachu crop-rotation systems.

The recognition of Marcapata Ccollana as an agrobiodiversity zone was a community-driven effort with the support of our sister organization Conservación Amazónica – ACCA, the Peruvian National Protected Areas Service (SERNANP), the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), and the Regional Government of Cusco.

Creating a Mosaic of Protected Areas 

The Marcapata Ccollana Agrobiodiversity Zone is connected to the Ccollasuyo Agrobiodiversity Zone, established in November 2020, and to the Ausangate Regional Conservation Area, established with our support in 2019. This mosaic of conservation areas allows us to safeguard biological diversity and the quality of ecosystem services for the well-being and sustainable development of indigenous Andean communities such as the Phinaya, Sallani, Ccollasuyo and Marcapata Ccollana. In a context of climate crisis, this action increases the resilience of these ancestral lands.

The Southwest Amazon Drone Center located in the Peruvian Amazon, launched in 2017, focuses on training local landowners, indigenous communities, students, and officials in Peru to actively monitor and report illegal deforestation in the western Amazon as well as providing drone overflights for the local government upon request. 

This center allows for local community members to obtain training, certifications, and access to high-tech drones that can be used as remote sensing tools to monitor deforestation in tropical forests in a safe, fast, and scientific way. Last year, we trained and certified 89 individuals in using drones and smartphone apps to detect illegal activities in remote areas of their forests, and report them using drone imagery as legally-admissible evidence for law enforcement to be able to take action and prosecute offenders. Sixteen of the new users were women, and their numbers continue to increase as we focus on their inclusion in this type of training. 

By providing these services, we empower people to protect their forests by giving them the tools needed increase legal responses to illegal activities. Presenting evidence, such as drone photos and videos of unlawful deforestation or mining, can be used to prosecute offenders which then deters future illegal activities. Moreover, the use of drone technology is important due to the vastness and remoteness of the Amazon Rainforest — it is a challenge to patrol by foot and stop incidents of illegal deforestation. Face-to-face encounters with those conducting illegal deforestation for financial gain can also be extremely dangerous, and potentially deadly. With technology, Amazon Conservation is changing that.

This story is part of a series commemorating our 20th anniversary protecting the Amazon. We’re celebrating this milestone with a look back at our 20 biggest conservation wins over the past 20 years. Click here to support trainings that help local community members in the Amazon protect their forests.

“Paddington Beetle” Phytotelmatrichis osopaddington

At Amazon Conservation’s biological stations around Peru, biodiversity extends beyond just mammals and birds. More than 1,000 new species of beetles were believed to be discovered around these areas in a major study conducted a few years ago by lifelong beetle researcher and expert Dr. Caroline Chaboo, along with around with 40 beetle experts from around the world.

The first to be described in that study was discovered at our Villa Carmen Biological Station, located in the Andean foothills. Named Paddington (Phytotelmatrichis osopaddington), in reference to the Spectacled bear from the movie and children’s books, Dr. Chaboo had hoped the new beetle will raise awareness about biodiversity and conservation in Peru. Additionally, she has published a series of scientific papers titled “Beetles of Peru”– an extensive project spanning ten years–which identified more than 10,000 different types of beetles. Read Part 1 of her studies here: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/285619523_Beetles_Col.

Peru is home to many beetle species

Recently, researchers Michael Caterino and Alexey Tishechkin published a detailed beetle study with 49 new species, including 26 new species from Peru, many coming from Dr. Chaboo’s specimens, titled “Recognition and revision of the Phelister blairi group”. One specimen, Phelister chabooae, is even named after her!

This story is part of a series commemorating our 20th anniversary protecting the Amazon. We’re celebrating this milestone with a look back at 20 significant conservation wins over the past 20 years. Click here to support the protection of these areas that provide spaces for important research like this that helps us learn more about the Amazon.

Thanks to the incredible biodiversity in the Andean Amazon, scientists conducting research at our biological stations have discovered multiple new species. In this 20 for 20 story, we’re highlighting some of our favorite frog discoveries over the years.

An Amazon Conservation-funded research team discovered the 7,000th amphibian species in the world at our Wayqecha Cloud Forest Research Station . The new glass frog, described as Centrolene sabini, was particularly intriguing for researchers due to its high sensitivity to the chytrid fungus. The team was led by Wayqecha’s then-research coordinator Alessandro Catenazzi, who has extensive background studying frog populations around the area, documenting the decline in frog diversity and populations. 

Additionally, the Andean region’s smallest known frog was discovered at our Wayqecha Cloud Forest Research Station. Smaller than a dime, the Noble’s pygmy frog (Noblella pygmae) surprised herpetologists studying at Wayqecha because it contradicts the informal rule that high altitude vertebrates tend to be larger than low altitude vertebrates.  Noble’s pygmy frog is among the smallest vertebrates ever found at this altitude, and one of the smallest amphibian species in the world.

The last highlight of today includes a new frog discovered at Los Amigos Biological Station. This species, Pristimantis divnae, belongs to the family Strabomantidae and lives in the leaf-litter and understory in terra firme forest at the base of Peru’s southern Andes. The species is characterized by a contrasting pattern of yellow and black with brown patches.

This story is part of a series commemorating our 20th anniversary protecting the Amazon. We’re celebrating this milestone with a look back at our 20 biggest conservation wins over the past 20 years. Click here to fund important research at our biological stations in and around the Amazon.