Living in Peru : your everyday companion

The Mejia Lakes National Sanctuary and Irrigation Iberia, in Arequipa, receive enthusiastic support and technical assistance from the government of Holland.

This article examines natural resource conservation and environmental protection activities funded by the Dutch Embassy in Peru. Our interest is to educate people and institutions so that we can cooperate on improving the quality of life and the quality of place where we live.

The predominant methods of production and patterns of consumption are in no way sustainable. Every day the conflict between economic progress and environmental protection seems to grow more acute. We are destroying the natural environment, using it as if it were an inexhaustible resource, in spite of scientific evidence proving the irreparable damage we are causing. Spreading the word regarding the importance of the environment and the country's resources is a to humanize the processes of development and growth. As the processes of globalization continue, international concern over the environment, cultural diversity and civil society has grown steadily.

The main objective of Holland's policy of cooperation in development is to aid in the fight against poverty. To invest in people means to raise their productive capacities, to improve their ability to meet their basic needs and to help them play a more participatory role in political decision-making.

Starting this year, the Dutch Ministry of Development Cooperation has decided to reorient its assistance strategy, as well as the focus of its cooperation policies and activities. In the case of Peru, the cooperation program will concentrate on environmental protection over the next few years, while current projects and other commitments run their course. The central objective of the Embassy's environmental program is to promote the conservation and sustainable use of the country's natural resources. The specific objectives of the program will be directed toward forest conservation, support for the management of protected areas, the promotion of renewable energy, respect for the identity and territory of the indigenous communities and, finally, capacity-building for Peruvian institutions working on environmental issues.

In the Amazon—which constitutes 62% of Peruvian territory and which is home to 12% of the population—Dutch support has reached an area of 2, 578,653 hectares of Amazon rainforest.

The highlands—home to 30% of the country's population, 68% of whom live in extreme poverty—is an important source of water, energy and traditional crops.

Within the Embassy's program are four projects targeting participatory reforestation and mountain ecosystem conservation in the highlands.

On the coast, the program has projects in three ecosystems that aim to care forthe resources that can provide the population and which are important habitats for native species in danger of extinction: coastal zones, wetlands and dry forests.

The goal of all of these projects is to support the government and private sector efforts to conserve and manage the country's natural resources for the benefit of future generations.

Personally, I think that the protection of Peru's natural resources—like the issue of public participation in finding a solution to the country's problems--is a moral responsibility that we all share. And it is the responsibility of Peruvian institutions to take advantage of the resources that the people of Holland are offering. Steven E. Ramondt, Embajador

On both sides of the Pan-American Highway in Pampa de la Joya, dozens of sand dunes rise in the form of perfect half moons, shaped by the wind that blows from south to north. In the foothills toward the coast, small gullies and gently sloping hills appear that, under certain conditions, are covered with the unusual lomas plant.

A fascinating range of plants sways in the breeze, giving life to the hills with myriad colors and fragrances. The hills are also filled with birds, butterflies and other creatures.

Such vegetation appears only during certain years, when the humidity and mist combine to form their life-giving powers.

The Mejia Lakes National Sanctuary is located on the coast of the Arequipa department in southern Peru.

The area's wetlands are complex ecosystems that fulfill a variety of important biological functions. The Mejia lakes and wetlands are the only ones that exist along the more than 2,000 kilometers of mostly desert coastline between Pisco, 600 kms north of Arequipa, and Rio Huasco, 1,300 kms to the south, in Chile

Prodena-Arequipa, a non-profit organization dedicated to environmental protection, played a strong role in the protection of the area, which was declared a reserved zone in 1984. Today, it is a national sanctuary under the jurisdiction of the National Institute for Natural Resources (INRENA).

With economic support from the Dutch government, various programs are underway to protect the sanctuary's plant and animal biodiversity. There are civil engineering programs aimed at maintaining water levels, as well as technical assistance programs aimed at implementing tourist services, craft industries and sustainable agriculture.

The sanctuary comprises 7 well-defined habitats and is home to up to 193 bird species.

Beach
The common oystercatcher stands out with its black and white plumage, red beak and pink feet. It has a special fondness for "muy-muys," or baby shrimp. Slightly larger is the black oystercatcher, with black feathers, red beak and white feed. It is a solitary species that feeds on shellfish, mollusks and crustaceans. Lakes
The Mejia Lakes are windows of fresh water next to the sea that maintain their volume thanks to filtration. There are three distinct groups of lakes within Mejia (the northern group, the center group, and the southern group), each with different characteristics.

We take a rest next to a group of Chilean flamingos, with their long necks and large feet, who arrive at Mejia from lakes in the Andean highlands. The adults have pinkish-white coloring and red wings with black tips. Their beautiful coloring displayed during flight inspired General Jose de San Martin for the creation of the Peruvian flag.


Reeds
Herons and moorhens rest and reproduce among the reeds. It is common to see blue herons and younger birds in the process of molting. The totora or matara reed is a grass adapted to very wet soils that can grow up to three meters high.

Rushes
The rush, or tuto, is another plant that flourishes in wet environments, though it can also grow in dry spots. Small birds like the totorero and the many-colored rush-tyrant are common in this zone. It is also home to the plumbeous rail, a bird with a long, slightly curved beak that darts back and forth in search of food.

Grassland
Saltwater grasslands make up about 380 hectares of the sanctuary. Here it is common to encounter the ever-present chirote, or the Peruvian red guion, warbling happily, as well as the curious sand owl, the great royal owl and various birds of prey. The double-collared plover feeds in the puddles of the salty grass, emitting sharp cries when threatened by what is known as the loud-mouthed plover.

Riparian woodlands
Riparian woodlands are home to the small and elusive kingfisher. There are also many hummingbirds that flutter about in search of food. Within the sanctuary, the riparian woodland zone is the most biodiverse in terms of plant species.

Mouth of the river
Beautiful small white herons compete frantically with sea gulls, picking at the ground in search of food. Gray gulls, Peruvian gulls, Dominican gulls and terns enjoy a refreshing bath.

A Protected Spot

The Mejia Lakes are located along the Arequipa-Puno-Cuzco-Madre de Dios circuit, one of Peru's most frequently traveled tourism routes. Most of Peru's 84 habitat zones (of a world total of 105) are found within this region.

Currently, the lakes are protected and enjoy a constant stream of visits from children, young people and adults keen to discover the charms of this natural setting.

The Mejia Lakes National Sanctuary is a living example of how people and institutions, by joining forces, have been able to defend and protect the natural environment for generations to come.