A Coup For Conservation: A Larger Reserve With A New Name, Stronger Legal Protection And "Pilot" Status

by RCF President David Meyer

May 21, 2007 was a banner day for RCF and "our" reserve.  Since 1992, RCF has worked to help protect the 800,000-acre communal reserve, the Reserva Comunal Tamshiyacu Tahuayo, which lies in the Department of Loreto, Peru.  Because it was a regional protected area, rather than a national one, we have long been concerned about its level of legal security.  The Department (state) of Loreto recognized the legal status of the reserve, but did not have an administrative system for protected areas (such as a state park system in the United States).  The absence of such a system made the reserve politically and legally vulnerable.  More than five years ago, RCF and WCS (Wildlife Conservation Society), with the assistance of the Field Museum in Chicago, first sought to increase protection for the RCTT by either including it within the national system or by establishing a regional system.  Against considerable odds and through the collaborative efforts of numerous American and Peruvian organizations, we have made great progress.                                     

On May 21, 2007 the Department of Loreto officially established an administrative system for protected areas and established the ACRCTT (formerly RCTT) as the first protected area in the system (SICREL).  They also declared the ACRCTT as the "PILOT" program for all future protected areas in Loreto.  The size of the reserve was increased to more than one million acres and the boundaries were also modified to incorporate much of the Tahuayo River.  This river previously formed part of the border of the RCTT, but the border has now been shifted to include both sides of the river.  Peruvian water laws allow open access for commercial fishing unless both sides of the river are within a protected area.  The increase in size and the inclusion of the river banks within the reserve will give the communities, government and RCF much greater authority to protect important ecosystems.

The RCTT (Reserva Comunal Tamshiyacu Tahuayo) is now known as ACRCTT (Area de Conservacion Regional Comunal Tamshiyacu Tahuayo).  Establishment of the new system is a major step forward for conservation in Peru.  We must make the pilot program work and find international funds to support for long-term conservation in Peru.  RCF will play a central role in proving that community-based conservation, assisted by the government and NGOs, can sustain tropical ecosystems for future generations.  The long-term status of many million acres of Peruvian rainforest will be affected by how well we meet our obligations.