Ecobreves – PERU:: Campaigning for 35 New Protected Areas

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LIMA, May 19 2002 (IPS) - The Biomar consortium, made up of 10 environmental organizations from Peru and abroad, is attempting to convince the Peruvian government to declare 25 islands and 10 areas of the country on the Pacific coast wildlife refuges. The sites, located along the 2,500 km of the Peruvian seaboard and inhabited by birds and marine mammals, should form part of the National System of Protected Areas, say the groups.

Many of the areas are rocky promontories that serve as home – at least part of the year – to sea lions, penguins, pelicans, peregrine falcons, a variety of turtle species, and other flora and fauna that are vulnerable to or threatened with extinction due to the lack of governmental controls over human activities.

“These species must be protected because they are important to the ecosystem of the Peruvian sea. They are part of our biologically diverse wealth,” said Patricia Majluf, coordinator of the Biomar consortium and representative of the Wildlife Conservation Society in Peru.