In a landmark achievement for conservation and community sovereignty, the Government of Peru has officially established the Reserva Comunal Bajo Putumayo Yaguas – a new protected area spanning 1,606 square kilometers in the country’s Amazon lowlands.
Bajo Putumayo Yaguas Becomes Peru’s Newest Protected Area
This milestone caps more than seven years of collaboration between Indigenous communities, the Peruvian State, and conservation allies including FZS Peru. Located in the Loreto region near the Colombian border, the reserve protects some of the world’s richest biodiversity while supporting local governance and livelihoods.
“This is a proud moment for our team and for our long-standing community and government partners,” says Claus Garcia, FZS Peru Coordinator. “It shows what’s possible when conservation grows from long-term trust and shared commitment.”
At the heart of this success are 13 Indigenous communities – including the Bora, Kichwa, Murui-Muinanɨ, Yagua, Ocaina, and Ticuna peoples – who will co-manage the reserve through a formal governance structure known as an Ejecutor de Contrato de Administración (ECA). This model supports territorial sovereignty, strengthens youth and women’s participation, and ensures that conservation aligns with cultural values and local priorities.
The process included years of consultation, legal coordination, and capacity-building, culminating in the signing of the Acta de Consulta Previa in March 2025 – a national benchmark for Indigenous-led conservation.
This achievement is the result of more than seven years of joint work between 13 native communities, the Sernanp Official, and strategic allies such as the Instituto del Bien Común, Conservation International Peru, the Field Museum of Chicago, the Andes Amazon Fund, the Rain Forest Trust, Anecap Peru, DRIS, CARE Peru, and FZS Peru through the International Climatie Initiative (IKI) which is implemented by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) in close cooperation with the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV) and the Federal Foreign Office (AA).
Bajo Putumayo Yaguas safeguards five ecosystems and two major ecoregions: the Solimões–Japurá humid forests and the Amazon River floodplains. These forests are home to:
- 65% of all freshwater fish species found in Peru
- 32% of the country’s mammals
- A total of 4,554 plant and animal species, including at least 70 threatened species
This diversity doesn’t only benefit wildlife. More than 70% of the local population relies on nature for food, water, and income. The new reserve supports sustainable economic alternatives such as community tourism, regulated fishing, and the management of key non-timber products like aguaje and taricaya.
Located in a geopolitically sensitive area along the Peru–Colombia border, the reserve closes a key conservation gap and contributes to a larger biocultural corridor in the Putumayo region. It enhances protections against illegal logging, mining, and wildlife trafficking, while reinforcing Peru’s global commitments to biodiversity, Indigenous rights, and climate action.
“With Bajo Putumayo Yaguas, we’re not only protecting forest – we’re investing in people, culture, and future generations,” says Claus Garcia.
With Bajo Putumayo Yaguas, we’re not only protecting forest – we’re investing in people, culture, and future generations.
With the creation of Bajo Putumayo Yaguas, FZS-supported protected areas in Peru now total 12,490 square kilometers – the result of long-standing partnerships with Indigenous communities, national authorities, and conservation allies.
This milestone reflects our continued focus on collaborative, science-based conservation. As pressures on the Amazon intensify, such initiatives help secure biodiversity, support community leadership, and build the foundation for long-term ecological and social resilience.