Amazon forests of Loreto, Peru harbour the greatest mammalian diversity on Earth. These often pristine forests are one of the last remaining true wilderness areas left. However, these vast expanses of forest will only remain intact if conservation programmes are implemented. The DICE projects in Loreto Peru are working with a number of conservation groups, universities and government agencies to increase wildlife research and biodiversity conservation in the region; including the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), Programa Pacaya-Samiria (WWF), the Universidad Nacional de la Amazonia Peruana (UNAP), Rainforest Conservation Fund (RCF), Associacion para la Conservacion de la Amazonia Peruana (ACA), INRENA - Peru, IVITA, IIAP, among others.
Wildlife conservation is a fundamental part of conservation actions. But, wildlife conservation must be set up so it concurs with the socio-economic and political reality of the region. This includes setting up community-based wildlife management programmes.
In Loreto there are many isolated communities with little government assistance. In these situations community-based wildlife management has the best chance of success. Local people are truly interested in managing wildlife as a way to secure land use rights and continue their hunting practices. In the vast Amazonian forests of Loreto many animal populations are still large enough to support sustainable levels of hunting. Community-based wildlife management programmes allow people to set up unhunted fully protected areas that concur with both sustainable use strategies and protected area strategies. The DICE projects in Loreto are helping some 10 communities set up and maintain community-based wildlife management.
Managing wildlife requires field research. Currently, there are a number of DICE research projects that will help develop successful community-based wildlife management programmes. One project is looking at ways that salt licks can be incorporated into community-based management. Research is being done on the ecology of salt licks and the use of salt licks by hunters. Another project is studying the diversity of mammals in Loreto and how changes in diversity of mammals can help us better understand sustainable use and help communities set up management plans. In addition, these studies of biodiversity can give insights into why this region has such an exceptionally high mammalian diversity. Vulnerable flagship species are an important part of the projects and include research on the lowland tapir, giant river otter, Amazon manatee, and the primates. In addition, research on the population ecology of the most commonly hunted species can help find solutions to overhunting. This research is focuses on the population ecology of collared and white-lipped peccaries, red and grey brocket deer, paca, agouti and other smaller rodents.
http://www.kent.ac.uk/anthropology/dice/dicestaff/reb_research.html |
