Previously known as Biabo Cordillera Azul Reserved Zone, this area has been re-designated to the highest protection category and renamed Cordillera Azul National Park. ‘, ‘On May 21, 2001 a new national park was established in the Andean rainforest in Peru. Previously known as Biabo Cordillera Azul Reserved Zone, this area has been re-designated to the highest protection category and renamed Cordillera Azul National Park. The reserved zone was expanded from 1,137,786 to 1,353,191 hectares in order to protect all the mountains in this area and to define natural boundaries. This new national park is the second largest in Peru, and protects the montane forests of the departments of San Martín, Ucayali and Loreto.
The goal of Cordillera Azul National Park is to protect the headwaters and basin of this region, as well as the unique group of species, biological communities, and geological formations contained in these montane and sub-montane forests. This mountain complex is comprised of a variety of habitats, including high-elevation swamps, acid rock flora and fauna communities, short spongy forests, eroded red stone mountains, slope and hill forests, isolated lakes and high-elevation streams. Cordillera Azul National Park will protect threatened ecosystems and fauna and flora populations. A biological inventory team of U.S. and Peruvian experts identified 28 new plant and animal species in the park. This included the discovery of a new salamander, two new poison arrow frogs and a new bird species. Overall, they recorded 1,600 plant species, found 71 mammal species (13 of which are endangered), 500 bird species and 82 amphibians and reptile species (Amazon Alliance, May 2001). The Cordillera Azul National Park also aims to support the integral and balanced management of natural resources of the adjacent areas.
ParksWatch had active and decisive participation in the creation of the new national park by leading the team who created the technical file, determined the boundaries of the park, and consulted with local communities. Other institutions that made up the team included the Field Museum of Chicago, the Peruvian Association for the Conservation of Nature, the Museum of Natural History at the University of San Marcos in Lima, and the Museum of Natural Sciences at Louisiana State University.
The creation of Cordillera Azul National Park would not have been possible without the support of the Peruvian Ministry of Agriculture and Peru’s National Institute of Natural Resources (INRENA). INRENA authorities helped in the delimitation process by authorizing the relocation of a forestry lot that was originally within the boundaries of the park. This lot is now within the limits of the surrounding reserved zone, but is outside the park. The use and management of this forestry lot, and others that border the eastern boundaries of the park, will be offered in a public bidding. Additionally, as stated in the Law for Protected Areas (passed in 1997), the administration of the newly created park will be handled by the private sector.
ParksWatch: June 2001
