Calabaza is also on the bird watching route.
known as “Satipo road”, in the Avireri-Vraem Biosphere Reserve.
© Gerson Ferrer | Yunkawasi
Participatory Conservation of the Tropical Andes in the Department of Junin - Peru
Thanks to the joint work between the Calabaza Village Center, the Regional Government of Junín, the Yunkawasi Civil Association and the Provincial Municipality of Satipo, the following activities are underway promoting avitourism as a sustainable economic alternative, in the heart of the cloud forests of Satipo.
These articulated efforts have allowed Calabaza to to promote their own sustainable development initiatives by forming an avitourism association. This seeks to strengthen the capacities of its members and promote the improvement of their tourism equipment and infrastructure.
In connection with these initiatives, in March a participatory study on the diversity of bird species and the identification of potential tourist routes in the town center.
A proposal for diversity
The Calabaza community is located in the proposed San Cristóbal de Pucutá - Menkori Regional Conservation Area (ACR), an initiative of the Natural Resources and Environmental Management Office of Junín.
Its purpose is to to conserve more than 60 thousand hectares of natural wealth and to promote a development model that benefits local communities, guarantees their quality of life and safeguard the responsible use of resources.
Conserving bird diversity is one of the main objectives of this upcoming protected area in Junín. The project is in the stage II of its establishment process, and has the technical and financial support of Asociación Civil Yunkawasi, Rainforest Trust, Andes Amazon Fund and the Conserva Aves initiative.
Pumpkin: home to numerous birds
In the Calabaza area alone, the following have been reported more than 100 different bird species, among them some endemic species that make Calabaza an important destination of high interest for avitourism worldwide.
Among the species unique to Peru, the Oxapampa antpitta (Grallaria centralis) and the Junín antpitta (Grallaria obscura), as well as the Junín tapaculo (Scytalopus gentryi) and the jalca tapaculo (Scytalopus frankeae).
For more than 10 years, the inhabitants of the Calabaza Settlement, also located within the Avireri-Vraem Biosphere Reserve, have been committed to birdwatching tourism as an alternative to birdwatching. source of sustainable development.
Currently, they have a lodge in the process of implementation, several restaurants to serve visitors and local guides who accompany birdwatchers who visit the area to identify the main species.
The inhabitants of the Calabaza Settlement Center participated in the study together with
to the technical team of the ACR San Cristóbal de Pucutá - Menkori proposal.
© Gerson Ferrer | Yunkawasi
Sustainability and next steps
The organized population of the Calabaza Settlement Center faces the following challenge participate and stand out at Global Big Day 2025, This is a world birding event that will take place on May 10.
As an ally of ACR San Cristóbal de Pucutá - Menkori's proposal, Calabaza aims at distinguish itself and position itself as a key destination for avitourism at a regional and national level.
“The idea is to continue promoting our town with this new bird inventory we have made, so we can reach more tourists and move forward.”, concluded Carlos De la Cruz, agent of the Calabaza settlement.
The local guides of the Calabaza Village with the team of the Regional Government of Junín,
Yunkawasi Civil Association and Provincial Municipality of Satipo.
© Gerson Ferrer | Yunkawasi
Press contact:
Gerson Ferrer : [email protected] : +51 945 690 022
