Conatura-Perú :    Integrating Conservation of Biodiversity and needs of  Indigenous Communities of Peru
Integrando la conservación con las necesidades de comunidades indígenas en el Peru.

♦Publication: "Manual de gestion Ambiental de la vicuña"

is available on our publications page.  (El manual esta disponible en nuestra pagina "publications")

Conatura's mission is to conserve wildlife and natural resources by conducting research while also providing technical and logistic support to indigenous and local communities to assist them in conserving their natural heritage.

Our experience has shown that conservation is a complex challenge.  Science offers an important tool for answering specific questions about wildlife, plants, and their interactions with people.  However, we believe that science is one tool out of many.  Conservation can best be served through a combination of compassion, integrity, leadership, education, perseverance and inspiration.

News and Updates

●First Conference, Peruvian Society of Mammalogy, November 2-5 2008 in Cusco, Peru.  Symposium planned on camelid conservation and management.
See webpage: http://www.szfperu.org/congreso/  for details.

● May 16, 17.  Conatura is named member of the Guanaco Conservation Plan working group in Peru.

●May 4, 2006 Conatura participates in Salinas Aguada Blanca Reserve
Management Plan working group
Arequipa, Peru.

 ●March 2006 Conatura elected as coordinator for ecotourism committee in the Salinas Aguada Blanca National Reserve

● March 2006 Community-based Ecotourism
Project for Salinas Aguada Blanca Reserve
financed by UNDP Small Grants Program.

 ●News and Updates (cont'd)

•Conatura
included in United Nations Development Peru Program book "Successful Community-based Experiences in Peru".

•Supreme Decree 008-AG-2004 signed February 23, 2004. This decree changes organizational capabilities of Andean communities with respect to vicuña commercialization. Major impacts include not recognizing current vicuña management committees and not recognizing their national society, the Sociedad Nacional de la Vicuña.

•April 26,2004.  National Vicuna Society and its associated communities hold a nationwide protest against Supreme Decree 008-AG-2004.

•April 14, 2004, Arequipa.  The National Vicuña Society and regional representatives from Arequipa, Cusco, and Puno hold a press conference to express their dissatisfaction with Supreme Decree 008.

 •November 2003, Arequipa , Peru
Conatura elected coordinator
of vicuña participatory
management committee for the Salinas Aguada National
Reserve.

•May 2004:  U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service conducts a two-year evaluation of vicuña management in Peru to determine if export eligibility criteria outlined in the May 30, 2000 Special Rule are being adhered to.  Opinions from stakeholders and qualified persons can have an important impact on the outcome of the report.