Paracas National Reserve
Region
Americas
Country
Peru
Flyway
Americas flyway
Initiative
WLI Americas
About
Name of organisation
Servicio Nacional de Áreas Naturales Protegidas-SERNANP (National Service of Natural Protected Areas-SERNANP)
Funding support
SERNANP
Number of staff
20
Number of visitors per year
300,000
Overall aims of the centre
Orientation, education and sensitisation of visitors and local actors working inside the Paracas National Reserve.
Description of the centre
The Paracas National Reserve is located in the Department of Ica, provinces of Pisco and Ica, districts of Paracas and Salas, respectively, between parallels 13°47‘.S. and 14°26’.S. and 76°30‘.W. and 76°00’.W., with an extension of 335,000 Ha and a straight line length of 72 Km. and a maximum straight line width of 53 Km. Ramsar site since 30 March 1992.
Habitat types: Coastal and marine desert ecosystem.
Ecologically it is part of the ecoregion of the Cold Sea and the Pacific Desert, constituting a representative sample of the coastal ecosystem of Peru, being one of the main centres of coastal upwelling of Peru and the world and those that provide abundant nutrients, which favour a high productivity and biodiversity. This situation is also favoured by the presence of two large bays (Paracas and Independencia), several inlets, the dynamic action of the Paracas winds, the presence of guano islands that are home to guano-producing species and the diversity of substrates.
All this favours the richness of benthic and pelagic diversity at the level of species, communities and ecosystems; the trophic basis being the high primary productivity due to the insolation and the nutrients provided by guano birds. The diversity of phytoplankton at the level of autotrophs and zooplankton and the commercial biomass of anchovy and sardine, primary consumers, form the base of the ecological pyramid and trophic chain of international relevance and make Paracas one of the richest seas in the world.
Work Areas
Main CEPA work area
Formal environmental education carried out in schools in the towns near the ANP, through talks, puppets, colouring workshops, origami, learning to observe birds and non-formal education that takes place in city parks, beaches inside the Reserve and outside the Protected Natural Area (Festival of migratory birds, puppets, workshops colouring our birds in the Reserve, origami, educational videos, etc.).
Top three successes
Workshops with puppets which are internalised by the expectant public (children, adults).
Successful volunteer programme with more than 25 years of experience.
Top three challenges
Conservation of nature.
Attitudinal changes in the different stakeholder groups with whom the Paracas National Reserve works.
Expertise
Interpretation techniques
Creating signage / site information; Using audio-visual tools;
Visitor centres
Managing / creating habitat; Building / maintaining structures
Participation
Engaging young people; Engaging the local community;
Education and communication
Early years education; Delivering adult education; Working with primary schools; Lobbying / running campaigns; Working with secondary schools; Developing resources / materials
General
Running effective administration; Fund-raising; Project planning.
Contact
Reserva Nacional de Paracas, Km. 27 carretera Puerto San Martin, Paracas, Pisco-Ica-Peru. Telephone: 956750765.
Website: Paracas Information
Facebook: Paracas National Reserve
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