With the help of decree No. 003-2003-AG, published January 15, 2003, the original land base of the Apurímac Reserve Zone (ARZ) has been expanded. The original 709,347.06 ha ARZ now includes the following protected natural areas: Ashaninka Communal Reserve (184,468.38 ha), Machiguenga Communal Reserve (218,905.63 ha), and Otishi National Park (305,973.05 ha). The Ashaninka and Machiguenga Communal Reserves are located on the western and eastern sides of the Cordillera de Vilcabamba, respectively. Otishi National Park is located between the Ashaninka and Machiguenga Communal Reserves. Efforts by the Association for the Conservation of Cutivireni Heritage (ACPC)), The Center for Indigenous Amazonian Development (CEDIA) and Conservation International (CI) were instrumental in the expansion of the Apurímac Reserve Zone.
The Cordillera de Vilcabamba mountain range is located within the departments of Junín and Cusco. During the Tertiary period, it was separated from the Cordillera Central by the Ene River, and the Cordillera Oriental by the Urubamba River. Evaluations completed by Conservation International’s Rapid Biological Assessment Program (RAP) provided evidence that the topography, climate, soil conditions, and hydrologic features of the Cordillera de Vilcabamba create an environment with unusually high levels of biological diversity and endemism. The Cordillera de Vilcabamba watershed serves as a tributary to approximately 50 rivers, as well as the headwaters of four important waterways, the Apurimac, Ene, Tambo, and Urubamba.
The principal management objective of Otishi National Park is to protect the Cordillera de Vilcabamba. The ability to achieve this goal is complicated by the impacts that more than 40 communities, including Asháninka, Matsiguenga, Piro, Caquinte, Yine and various Colono populations, have on its lower elevation areas. Migration and further exploitation of natural resources within these areas are now prohibited.
The main objective in establishing communal reserves is to guarantee the conservation of biological diversity for the benefit of the local native Ashaninkan and Matsiguengan communities. However, neither the establishment of population centers nor the expansion of agricultural activities, fisheries, or the extraction of wood are prohibited within the new reserve. The naming of either the Ashaninkan or the Matsiguengan Communal Reserves does not imply existing or preferred property rights to the ashaninkan or matsiguengan communities. Yet, the state recognizes and protects the traditional right of communities living in the periphery of the cited natural protected areas to access natural resources for substance activities.
ParksWatch: January 2003