Peru’s Biodiversity: Economic Potential and Conservation
Current Importance
The national economy relies on biodiversity for approximately 60% of its production, including agriculture, fisheries, livestock, and forestry. Biodiversity is crucial for local populations’ self-sufficiency, surpassing export income from related products (fishing, hunting, medicinal plants, crafts, etc.).
Biodiversity as a Strategic Resource
Global biodiversity is increasingly vital in genetic resources, new chemical compounds, and cosmetics. Genetic resources of cultivated and wild plants require consideration of:
- Peru as a major repository of plant genetic resources, both domesticated and wild, with global potential. The challenge is ensuring benefits for local communities.
- Historical exploitation by industrialized countries, often illegally. Current germplasm loss occurs through unrestricted exchange.
- Noble species repository known to locals, leading to scientific discovery of new compounds, particularly in pharmaceuticals. Tropical species offer vast potential for medicines.
Urgent Decisions
Peru faces a critical challenge to utilize biodiversity resources for development. Urgent decisions are needed to avoid falling behind industrialized nations, preventing technological and economic disadvantages. Prioritize sustainable biodiversity use through national biotechnology capacity and resource management for local and national benefit.
Specific priorities include using biodiversity as an alternative to ecosystem destruction, developing scientific and technological capacity, establishing policies and strategies, and prioritizing local community benefits.
Biodiversity for Sustainable Development
- Aquaculture using native species (Amazonian fish, shrimp, seaweed) for food and ornamental purposes. Breeding aquatic species for hides, skins, and meat.
- Breeding terrestrial species (primates, birds, insects) for national and international markets. Technology transfer to local enterprises is needed.
- Permanent forest management areas are crucial for international markets, avoiding trade bans on timber from unmanaged forests.
- Biodiversity potential for pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and chemicals is underexplored, weakening Peru’s position.
- Native crop potential is wasted, despite numerous exotic plants with various uses.
Develop Endogenous Scientific and Technological Capacity
- Improve and develop biotechnology for pharmaceuticals, industrial products, and new compound analysis.
- Domestic private enterprise participation is vital. Incentives and funds are needed to compete globally.
- National policies and strategies are essential for future science and technology development.
- Biodiversity resource inventory is urgent for a comprehensive overview and priority selection.
In situ preservation must include protected areas and traditional use systems, especially by indigenous communities. Ex situ conservation requires specialized centers.
- Rescue, modernize, and develop management systems. Research centers hold valuable information for resource users and private companies. Prioritize traditional management systems, particularly those of Aboriginal peoples.