Peru's first fully marine natural protected area now has its Master Plan, an essential management document mandatory for all natural protected areas in Peru. Achieving this milestone has involved great efforts that began a year ago in April 2023, and has had a broad and enriching participatory process.
In total, more than 20 workshops have been held along the Peruvian coast, in Paracas, San Andres, Ica, Paita, Matarani and Lima. This has provided a platform for the participation of approximately 50 representatives of various interest groups, especially artisanal fishermen whose livelihoods depend on the sustainable management of these marine ecosystems.
The strategies and actions of the master plan include both terrestrial and marine conservation activities. In addition, collaboration between public institutions involved in the sea such as the Peruvian Navy, the Ministry of Production, and the Peruvian Marine Institute (IMARPE), among others, was crucial to strengthen the management of the Nasca Ridge National Reserve (RNDN for its spanish acronym).
The RNDN aims to protect seamounts and the oceanic pelagic ecosystem. Its Master Plan, with a 20-year vision, focuses on reducing mortality caused by human activity in species such as cetaceans, sea turtles, seabirds, sharks, and endangered rays. It also seeks to generate multidisciplinary scientific knowledge about seamounts and associated migratory species, as well as to establish the basis for effective governance based on the interaction between land and sea.
Conservation International Peru has accompanied the process, helping with the compilation and systematization of the information from the workshops, working closely with the protected area's leadership to ensure the voices and interests of all stakeholders are reflected in this Master Plan, and thus contribute to its comprehensive and sustainable management in the future.
The Nasca Ridge National Reserve
The Nasca Ridge is a chain of submarine mountains that are part of the Nasca, Salas and Gomez Ridge, chains of submarine mountains of volcanic origin with more than 4000 km of extension that cross almost the entire South Pacific. Unlike other underwater mountain ranges in the world, this one is located at great depths and are unique, biodiverse and fragile ecosystems that have been little explored worldwide. This national reserve represents an opportunity to investigate, learn about the biodiversity and living conditions present in our seabed, ensuring the safe transit of important migratory species that pass through its waters.