New Amazon Protected Area Safeguards Iconic Species and Indigenous Stewardship in Peru

• Newly designated Medio Putumayo-Algodón Protected Area safeguards 283,000 hectares of Amazon rainforest—home to jaguars, giant river otters, harpy eagles, and more than 1,800 documented species.
• The area fills a critical gap in a nearly 2-million-hectare conservation corridor, supporting Peru’s progress toward global biodiversity and climate goals.
• Co-created with 16 Indigenous communities, the designation strengthens territorial rights and recognizes Indigenous leadership in stewarding the region’s forests, rivers, and wildlife.

LIMA, Peru (June 6, 2025) – Conservation International celebrates the creation of the Medio Putumayo-Algodón, a new protected area announced today by the Ministry of the Environment in Lima, Peru. The new designation protects 283,000 hectares (699,308 acres) of Amazonian rainforest—an area teeming with wildlife and home to 16 Indigenous communities.

Located at the intersection of the Napo, Amazon, and Putumayo rivers, the newly protected area lies in one of the most biologically important regions on Earth. Its forests provide critical habitat for jaguars, giant river otters, harpy eagles, black caimans, and more than 1,800 documented plant and animal species—including several new to science. The region’s mix of upland forests and swampy peatlands also secures some of Peru’s largest carbon stores, making it a crucial buffer against both biodiversity loss and climate change.

“Every hectare protected here means more space for jaguars to roam, more clean water for river otters, and more security for the Indigenous communities who depend on this forest,” said Luis Espinel, Vice President of Conservation International Peru. “This would not have been possible without the joint efforts of indigenous communities, government authorities, and civil organizations coming together to protect biodiversity.”

As part of the process, sixteen Indigenous communities received formal legal recognition—strengthening their territorial rights and supporting their long-term care of the forest and its resources, including fishing, fruit gathering, and traditional plant use.

“We hope that this RCA will bring benefits to our communities,” said Gervinson Perdomo Chavez, former chief of the native community of Puerto Franco. “This way we will also take care of our forest. We are going to watch over our forest so that foreign people do not enter our territory and prevent the illegal extraction of wood and gold that harms us a lot.”

The designation also connects three existing protected areas and forms part of a larger mosaic – spanning 1,824,517 hectares – that includes national parks, regional conservation areas, communal reserves, and conservation concessions. Peru has committed to protecting 30% of its natural ecosystems by 2030 in line with the global “30x30” pledge. The protection of Medio Putumayo-Algodón is expected to prevent more than 46,000 hectares of deforestation over the next 20 years, significantly advancing national and international conservation targets.

The initiative was carried out by the regional government of Loreto, Peru, the Environmental Protection Agency of Peru, and local Indigenous communities, and supported by Andes Amazon Fund (AAF), Art into Acres through Re:wild, Bezos Earth Fund, Conservation International, Conservation International Peru (CI Peru), the Instituto del Bien Común (IBC), and the Peruvian Society of Environmental Law (SPDA).

Key Facts:

• Protected Area legal name: Área de Conservación Regional Medio Putumayo Algodón
• Area: 283,000 hectares (699,308 acres)
• Geographic location: Loreto region, northern Peru, adjacent to the Colombian border
• Population: More than 4,900 people in 16 native communities belonging to 8 ethnic groups (Murui (Huitoto), Yagua, Ocaina, Kukama-Kukamiria, Secoya, Bora, Kichwa and Majuna)

Species Facts:

The presence of endangered species like the giant river otter (Pteronura brasiliensis) exemplifies this region's diverse and critical biodiversity. Several other vulnerable wildlife species include the Ocelot (Leopardus pardalis), giant armadillo (Priodontes maximus), giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla), woolly monkey (Lagothrix lagotricha), lowland tapir (Tapirus terrestris), and Goeldi’s monkey (Callimico goeldi) according to (CITES). 

###

ABOUT CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL: Conservation International protects nature for the benefit of humanity. Through science, policy, fieldwork and finance, we spotlight and secure the most important places in nature for the climate, for biodiversity and for people. With offices in 30 countries and projects in more than 100 countries, Conservation International partners with governments, companies, civil society, Indigenous peoples and local communities to help people and nature thrive together. Visit Conservation.org for more, and follow us on Conservation News, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, Instagram and YouTube.