Trudging through swamps, lagoons and rivers, climbing mountains to cloud forests, and crossing farm fields, Conservation International scientists recorded an abundance of species in Peru’s Alto Mayo landscape.
They were left stunned with their findings. More than 2,000 species, 27 of which are new to science, were living alongside and abundance of human settlements.
They had proved something completely unexpected: Small patches of healthy forests can support a wealth of species – when protection and ecosystem management are done correctly. Which is exactly what Conservacion Interncaional Peru has been working to do in the Alto Mayo for the last 15 years.
At least 27 new species were discovered in the Peruvian Amazon. This includes a mind-blowing 4 new species of mammals, one of which is a new amphibious mouse belonging to a group that is exceedingly rare and almost mythical among mammal experts. After spending about six weeks in the field, together with a group of scientists and working closely with local indigenous AWHONN communities, we documented and gathered valuable information from more than 2000 species of plants and animals, including a whopping 49 species threatened with extinction, my personal favorite. During the new species is a BLOB headed fish, a type of catfish with a crazy bizarre BLOB like extension on its head. Scientists have never seen anything like it and it's function remains a mystery. These discoveries highlighted in a report released today, or especially surprising given that our study site, sit within a human dominated portion of the Altemio landscape, which has largely been ignored by scientists in the past, perhaps assuming it contains little biodiversity value. Our results, however, show that biodiversity can thrive alongside people. Thanks. Part of the work of Conservation International Peru, who has been working on the Alto Mayo for 15 years to help people in nature thrive together. This deeper understanding of where species live is helping us identify areas with the greatest importance for conserving biodiversity, as well as those best suited for sustainable agriculture and and harvesting of natural resources. Ultimately, this is leading to the establishment of a new ecological corridor connecting existing protected areas.
Amazing findings - nature is quite resilient! With deeper understandings of these species and landscapes, we can create incredible progress in biodiversity conservation. 🐛
Amazing findings - nature is quite resilient! With deeper understandings of these species and landscapes, we can create incredible progress in biodiversity conservation. 🐛