UJ #9 - Adventure in Peru
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INTERVIEW<br />
"THE AREA IN QUESTION<br />
IS PART OF THE FUTURE<br />
VILCABAMBA-AMBORO<br />
BIOLOGY CORRIDOR.<br />
IT IS LOCATED ON THE<br />
EASTERN FOOTHILLS OF<br />
THE URUBAMBA RANGE,<br />
IN THE AUSANGATE<br />
SECTOR"<br />
Left: The grey-breasted<br />
mounta<strong>in</strong> toucan (Andigena<br />
hypoglauca), one of the 680<br />
species of birds identified <strong>in</strong><br />
the zone.<br />
Right: View of the River<br />
Madre de Dios, Manu<br />
National Park.<br />
small section of a Pre-Inca road between the villages<br />
of Coporaque and Yanque. Thanks to this project, it<br />
is now possible to walk a segment of this road <strong>in</strong> two<br />
hours, and it l<strong>in</strong>ks two archaeological sites and their<br />
respective villages”.<br />
Now you are liv<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> Cusco. What new projects<br />
are you work<strong>in</strong>g on there?<br />
A short while ago I was work<strong>in</strong>g with the owner of a<br />
farm between Puno and Cusco, evaluat<strong>in</strong>g the possibility<br />
of <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g his property <strong>in</strong>to the tourist route.<br />
The farm is called Queque Norte and is <strong>in</strong> Kunurana<br />
alto, Puno, at 4,000 m.a.s.l. Five rooms <strong>in</strong> a beautiful<br />
country house; an excellent alternative for lunch on<br />
the route, and to stay the night, with a visit to the farm.<br />
The most impressive th<strong>in</strong>g is how they have achieved<br />
high dairy production at such an altitude. The owner<br />
is known as one of the best highland cattle ranchers<br />
<strong>in</strong> the world.<br />
Forty years have passed s<strong>in</strong>ce you organised<br />
the first expeditions to Manu National Park, and<br />
now you’re explor<strong>in</strong>g another little-known zone<br />
with great potential: Qu<strong>in</strong>cemil <strong>in</strong> the district of<br />
Camanti.<br />
Yes, my partner Alfredo Ferreyros G. and I are try<strong>in</strong>g<br />
to obta<strong>in</strong> a concession for conservation there. We<br />
have asked for about 50,000 hectares between 750<br />
and 4,000 m.a.s.l., <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g a wide range of ecosystems<br />
and diverse flora and fauna, probably among<br />
the highest on the planet, as well as be<strong>in</strong>g beautiful<br />
and easy to get to. The area <strong>in</strong> question is part of the<br />
future Vilcabamba-Amboro biology corridor. It is located<br />
on the eastern foothills of the Urubamba range,<br />
<strong>in</strong> the Ausangate sector, where the Andes fall most<br />
steeply towards the tropical forest.<br />
“We have carried out several studies to evaluate its<br />
potential. One, on adventure activities <strong>in</strong> the zone,<br />
which is perfect for raft<strong>in</strong>g, mounta<strong>in</strong> bik<strong>in</strong>g, rock<br />
climb<strong>in</strong>g, canyon<strong>in</strong>g and fish<strong>in</strong>g. Another on the tourism<br />
potential for those <strong>in</strong>terested <strong>in</strong> natural history.<br />
Another study, carried out by scientists, demonstrates<br />
the zone’s impressive diversity. For example, 360<br />
species of butterflies alone were identified <strong>in</strong> just two<br />
months, together with 680 species of birds and 199<br />
species of orchids. In this project we are aided by<br />
the Association for the Conservation of the Amazon<br />
Bas<strong>in</strong> (ACCA)”.