Jessica P. Sarowitz Vice Chair, Diversity, Equity, Access, and Inclusion Board of Trustees | Field Museum
Jessica P. Sarowitz Vice Chair, Diversity, Equity, Access, and Inclusion Board of Trustees | Field Museum
The establishment of the Medio Putumayo-Algodón Regional Conservation Area in Peru marks a significant step in preserving a vast tract of the Amazon rainforest. This newly protected area, larger than New York City and Los Angeles combined, is home to a diverse array of wildlife, including endangered species such as pink river dolphins, giant armadillos, and woolly monkeys. The region's preservation is attributed to the efforts of local communities, researchers from institutions like the Field Museum, and support from various organizations.
Nigel Pitman, Mellon Senior Conservation Ecologist at the Field Museum’s Keller Science Action Center, highlighted the historical significance of this conservation effort: “There are still forests in the Amazon that are as wild as they were 1,000 years ago, and this is one of them.” He emphasized that protecting this area fulfills a long-held dream shared with Peruvian partners over two decades.
The Field Museum conducted a rapid inventory in 2016 to document the area's biodiversity. Jeremy Campbell, director of the Andes-Amazon Program at the Field Museum’s Keller Science Action Center, praised local communities for their role in maintaining the well-preserved state of the Putumayo River. He stated that these communities will continue to play a crucial role in determining how best to preserve these regions for future generations.
Gervinson Perdomo Chavez, former leader of the Puerto Franco Indigenous community, expressed hope that this designation would benefit local communities by allowing them to monitor their forests and prevent harmful activities like wood and gold extraction.
The RCA forms part of an interconnected network of protected areas across the Amazon. According to Campbell: “The Putumayo-Algodón RCA is part of a constellation of protected areas...a crucial component for assuring connectivity of forests, rivers, and habitat at the landscape level.”
Pitman also mentioned ongoing efforts by the Field Museum since 2003 under an initiative called the Great Indigenous Landscape. He noted that recent conservation actions have contributed significantly to maintaining ecological connectivity within this region.
The establishment was made possible through collaboration among several stakeholders including regional authorities in Loreto and organizations such as Instituto del Bien Común and Andes Amazon Fund. Other supporters include Wyss Foundation, Art into Acres, Re:wild, Bezos Earth Fund among others.
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