Proyects
of Mundo Azul
.
The
National Reserve of Paracas
Mundo
Azuls work in the National Reserve of Paracas
© Stefan Austermühle
Scientific
knowledge on biodiversity and ecology of the
Peruvian Sea is still poor and the submarine
habitats are unexplored. Even in the National
Reserve of Paracas, which was declared to be
a protected area 25 years ago, the marine part
of the reserve has never been closely studied.
Species diversity in the area is not yet investigated
intensively and the diversity and extension
of underwater habitats is completely unknown.
Resulting from this lack of knowledge the marine
part of the reserve, covering 65 percent of
the its surface is left out completely from
protective regulations and is object to intensive
and poorly controlled use by fisheries and maricultural
activities. This creates the strange situation
of a National Reserve being object to unsustainable
depredation without any protective measures
in the biggest part of its area.
©
Heinz Plenge
Representatives
of the fishing industry and the local fishermen
are arguing that in order to set up protective
regulations it would be necessary to know exactly
about species distribution and extension of
submarine habitats, well knowing that this information
is not available. This argument is used in order
to continue their destructive business as usual.
In Paracas one encounters the pervert situation
that environmentalists have to prove the necessity
for protective measurements in an area declared
to be protected.
According
to Peruvian law (especially the Supreme Decree
01/94 PE: Regulations under the General Fisheries'
Law and Ministerial Resolution No. 232-94-PE:
Lineaments for the preparation of Environmental
Impact Studies and Environmental Compliance
and Management Programs for Aquicultural Activities)
puts the burden of proof to the user of the
area. The reality in the National Reserve of
Paracas is the contrary.
©
Heinz Plenge
Study
on habitat and species diversity in selected
areas of the National Reserve of Paracas
In
order to support the protection of the marine
part of the reserve Mundo Azul has carried out
the first investigation on the extension of
sublittoral habitats in selected areas in the
National Reserve of Paracas in April and May
2000. The study was part of the program "Parks
in Peril" of the environmental organization
"The Nature Conservancy". This program
is executed and coordinated in Peru by the Peruvian
environmental organization "ProNaturaleza".
©
Heinz Plenge
The
goals of the study were:
.
To
investigate and demonstrate the diversity of
sublittoral habitats in the National Reserve
of Paracas.
.
To
collect information on the distribution of the
habitats in the areas of the study
.
To
collect information on species diversity and
distribution within different habitats.
During
the study Mundo Azuls researchers created a
three dimensional system of habitats defining
28 different habitats and microhabitats in the
investigated areas of Hueco de Zorra / Playa
Mendieta and Isla Zárate / Zaratillo. During
the study several species of fish, mollusks
and crustaceans were registered for the first
time in the area of the reserve. Additionally
data on the three dimensional distribution of
several fish species within the defined habitats
were collected.
Study
on diversity of crustaceans and mollusks in
the area Ensenada Hueco de Zorra / Playa Mendieta
and size of economical important populations.
In
order to learn more about the diversity of marine
species in Paracas and to create the basis for
a sustainable management of local fisheries
in the study of the area Mundo Azul researchers
will investigate in the following month's the
diversity of mollusks and crustaceans in the
area Ensenada Hueco de Zorra / Playa Mendieta.
The study is part of the program "Parks
in Peril" of the environmental organization
"The Nature Conservancy", executed
and coordinated in Peru by "ProNaturaleza".
©
Heinz Plenge
The
goals of the study are:
.
Collect
information on the diversity of mollusks and
crustaceans as well as their distribution in
different habitats of the studied area.
.
Collect
information on the population size and distribution
of economical important species in the studied
area.
Analysis
of touristical infrastructures and environmental
impact of tourism in the area Pisco / Paracas
In
order to analyze existing touristical infrastructures
and propose measurements to lower the environmental
impact of tourism as well as to suggest measurements
in order to lift the quality of the provided
services and ensure the sustainable development
of the tourism industry, Mundo Azul researchers
will analyze touristical infrastructures and
services in the are Pisco / Paracas.
©
Heinz Plenge
The
goals of the study are:
.
Collect
basic data of the existing touristical infrastructure
in the area
.
Collect
basic data on the level of satisfaction of visitors
.
Collect
basic data on the environmental impact of the
existing tourism industry and identify critical
and negative developments
.
Suggest
measurements in order to improve the quality
of provided services
.
Suggest
measurements in order to insure the sustainable
development of tourism in the area
The
study is part of the program "Parks in
Peril" of the environmental organization
"The Nature Conservancy", executed
and coordinated in Peru by "ProNaturaleza.
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