The Council of Ministers unanimously approved the creation of Loreto's sixth Regional Conservation Area (ACR, by its Spanish acronym): Aguas Calientes Maquia (Supreme Decree No. 007-2026-MINAM). With this recognition, Loreto leads as the region with the highest number of regional conservation areas in the country, protecting 98,161.84 hectares of invaluable natural and cultural wealth.
This achievement is the result of a long process of coordination and horizontal dialogue co-led by the Regional Government of Loreto, SERNANP, the Ministry of Culture, local populations, and civil society organizations.
The Heart of the Process: Prior Consultation and Community Validation
What truly makes the new Aguas Calientes Maquia ACR robust is its social legitimacy. The prior consultation process ensured that decisions were made by directly listening to those who have been the historical protectors of these forests.
Through this participatory space, the collective rights of more than 31,000 residents from seven native communities—Alfonso Ugarte, Nuevo Encanto de Suni, Nuevo Isla Baños, Nuevo Canchahuaya, Monte de los Olivos, Canelos, and Alto Perillo—were safeguarded, including the valuable identification and articulation of the Shipibo-Konibo indigenous people.
Conservation International (CI) Peru was able to join this great technical team in 2023, focusing on serving as a technical support bridge and providing the necessary tools for the co-design of the technical dossier alongside regional government specialists and community delegates. Seeing this joint effort culminate in a legal framework is a testament to the power of teamwork.
A Corridor of Life and Well-being
Located between the provinces of Ucayali and Requena, the new ACR (Regional Conservation Area) is a strategic piece for the region's climate resilience. By connecting directly with the Sierra del Divisor National Park, it consolidates a critical biological corridor that protects:
- Unique ecological systems:Aguajales (palm swamps), herbaceous swamps, and thermal water systems of geological origin (Mauritia flexuosa).
- Endangered species: A vital refuge for globally threatened fauna such as the spider monkey (Ateles belzebuth), the bald uakari (Cacajao calvus), and the giant river otter (Pteronura brasiliensis).
- Endemism: At least 11 plant species that only exist in the Loreto region.
A commitment to the future
The creation of Aguas Calientes Maquia demonstrates that effective conservation is born from the roots of the territory. Ensuring food security, water regulation, and the sustainable development of families in Loreto is a goal that now, more than ever, unites state institutions, civil society, and indigenous peoples.
Alongside local authorities and communities, SPDA, CEDIA, and Conservation International Peru supported this process thanks to the Andes Amazon Fund and the Bezos Earth Fund.