Monday, 12 July 2010 08:02

Colombia, Ecuador and Peru joined by three national parks located in the middle basin of the river border to face a team from deforestation, illegal hunting and preserve a large tract of biodiversity on the continent. International relations between Colombia and Ecuador, cracked in the political, go for a long time from the environmental viewpoint. The two countries, to which most Peru, decided to conclude a deal unprecedented: joining three national parks in the middle basin of the Putumayo River.

"One for each nation to create a corridor of two million hectares and face as a team tri, deforestation and wildlife trafficking.

Protected areas involved in this strategy, called 'Three Frontiers' are Cuyabeno (Ecuador), Güeppí (Peru) and the Park La Paya, Colombia, where there are Indian reservations murui, Ingano and Kofán. The natives have been key to preservation. Not so with settlers who have come to deforest and kill animals.

Grazing, extensive agriculture and overexploitation of ornamental fish and turtles have grown without any effective checks have applied. Most of the fine timber species have been removed. Only in 2009 were cleared 1580 hectares of forest in the three parks, according to the Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT).

In La Paya lives the largest population of black American caiman, a reptile logo that is now threatened by the trade of his skin. This is one of the most diverse regions of the Amazon (see box), but that very location and the presence of illegal armed groups have complicated the monitoring of its 422 000 hectares.

By agreement 'Three Frontiers', driven by National Parks and World Wildlife Fund (WWF), a houseboat monitor river. Emilio Rodriguez, WWF and project coordinator, explains that the integration also seeks political and technical arrangements for the management of the area and reduce attacks that resists the place, similar in all three countries.

"Also, to unify the research and monitoring of wildlife, and show the importance of the region from development projects such as oil drilling and the Initiative for Infrastructure Integration (IIRSA), which would link the Atlantic with the Pacific and whose perpetrators must analyze the impact of road and port plans on the ecological value of this border, "explained the expert.

Amazon wildlife preserves

Paya Park takes its name from the wetland Apay protects 3,000 hectares. There are areas of marsh, springs and forests, which deteriorated the colonization of Putumayo. Protects many species of palms, giant anteaters, jaguars, tamarins, manatees, tapirs and two species of freshwater dolphins. Also, more than fifty birds, including macaws and hawks.