The importance of protecting Oxapampa

To strengthen the conservation areas of Oxapampa is essential to ensure the quality of life of the population

                     defosteración en Pasco

Institutions near the Oxapampa Asháninka Yanesha Biosphere Reserve are calling for strategies to address the accelerated deforestation, which poses a risk to fundamental ecosystem services crucial for the well-being of the people of Oxapampa.

The importance of conservation areas for the well-being of the residents of Oxapampa was one of the highlighted topics during the discussion 'Oxapampa: Nature and Us,' held in Oxapampa as part of the Selvámonos Festival. The event recently brought together residents of Oxapampa and national and foreign tourists.

The panel was composed of representatives from key institutions involved in the management of the Oxapampa Asháninka Yánesha Biosphere Reserve, including DIRCETUR – Oxapampa Zonal Office, the Network of Conservation Area Initiatives of Oxapampa (RIACO), the Directorate of Yanachaga Chemillén National Park, and the Directorate of the Yanesha Communal Reserve within the Oxapampa Asháninka Yánesha Biosphere Reserve (BIOAY).

The panelists agreed on the urgency of conserving the ecosystem services provided by existing conservation areas in the province. These services play a fundamental role in our quality of life by offering valuable benefits such as the generation of clean air and water, as well as water regulation. They also emphasized that activities like agriculture and livestock farming depend on the provision of these services. On another note, participants expressed concern about the excessive loss of forests currently occurring in the province of Oxapampa and called for the adoption of strategies to promote proper forest management.

The event was sponsored by the 'Amazonía Resiliente' Project, which aims to strengthen conservation areas in partnership with Regional Governments, Municipalities, and private initiatives contributing to increased ecological connectivity and the quality of ecosystem services in the Pasco and Huánuco regions.

Extracted from: IBC Perú blogger.