Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve

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Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve

IUCN category not listed (possibly IV) -

Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve, Laguna Grande

Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve, Laguna Grande

location Northeast of Ecuador
surface 5949.5 km²
Geographical location 0 ° 17 ′  S , 75 ° 47 ′  W Coordinates: 0 ° 17 ′ 21 ″  S , 75 ° 47 ′ 20 ″  W
Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve (Ecuador)
Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve
Sea level from 180 m to 326 m ( ø 200 m)
Setup date July 26, 1979
particularities Division into eight indigenous territories

The Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve (Spanish: Reserva de Producción de Fauna Cuyabeno ) - which today is simultaneously divided into different indigenous territories (Territorios Indígenas) for five indigenous peoples of South American Indians - covers 594,950 hectares and is therefore more than twice the size of the state Luxembourg. The reserve is located in the Amazon - rainforest of northeastern provinces of Sucumbios and Orellana in Ecuador near the border triangle to Colombia (north) and Peru(east). The equator runs through the north of the reserve. The Yasuní National Park begins just a few kilometers south of the reserve border . The wildlife reserve includes the hydrographic basins of the three rivers Cuyabeno - after which the area is named -, Lagartococha and Aguarico . Together with Yasuní, the area is one of the most biodiverse places on earth.

The management plan of 2010 shows that in addition to the preservation of intact ecosystems (especially the Cuyabeno river basin and the Lagartochocha river basin including the respective freshwater lagoons) and biological diversity (with special consideration of the Amazon dolphin , the Amazon manatee , the giant otter and the jaguar ) the promotion of indigenous cultural diversity through the sustainable and participatory use of natural resources (above all through tourism) are equally important.

From the point of view of international nature conservation, Cuyabeno, together with the neighboring national parks Güeppí Sekime in Peru and La Paya in Colombia, is considered to be a transnational protected area complex totaling over 12,200 km². Cuyabeno corresponds most closely to the international protected area category IV ( biotope and species protection area , comparable to the German nature reserves ), but unlike the two national parks, it is not yet listed by the IUCN (2019).

history

Protected area Cuyabeno and surrounding area (as of 2019)

The reserve was established in 1979 in connection with the creation of a system of nature reserves in Ecuador based on an FAO study from 1976. Originally it comprised significantly less than half of the current area.

In the course of the " civilization " of the Amazon lowlands, the oil production and the resulting dramatic damage in the region west of the reserve - but also due to the new regulations of the nature reserve, which prevented the local population from escaping into undestroyed areas - there were conflicts with the affected ethnic groups . This finally led in 1991 - additionally supported by the tourism industry, which had been established in Cuyabeno since 1986 - to an eastward shift and expansion to the Peruvian border. The reserve was also dedicated to the protection and benefit of the indigenous indigenous groups .

Between 1992 and 2002, agreements were made with eight different local communities . The most important ad hoc measure was the definition of the 4,350 km² area "Cuyabeno-Imuya" in the north and east of the reserve, in which the commercial use of wood and mineral resources was prohibited. By 2008, most of the reserve (after a conflict-ridden process) was divided into appropriate sectors according to ethnic groups.

In 1994, the former part of the reserve in the west, which had already been significantly influenced, was designated as a state forest reserve, in which sustainable, environmentally friendly forestry should be allowed.

climate

Tropical rainforest in the dry season (early March)

The Ecuadorian Amazon is hot, humid and rainy. The temperature is between 22 ° C and 26 ° C (ø 24 ° C), the annual rainfall is 3000 to 4000 mm (ø 3300 mm) and the humidity is 85 to 95%. In contrast to the Amazon basin further east, the dry season in Cuyabeno begins in December and lasts until mid-March. During this time, the Laguna Grande usually dries up completely and the Cuyabeno River only carries water in the lower section. The rainy season lasts from April to November.

Landscapes, flora and fauna

Flood landscape in Cuyabeno
The formative macrolobium trees of the Laguna Grande

Except for the extreme west with low hills, the area is flat. The 14 temporary freshwater lagoons along the Cuyabeno River, formed by floods at the beginning of the rainy season from April to July, are unique in the Ecuadorian Amazon lowlands. Their water level fluctuates by up to 5 m each year. Together with the only white water river Río Aguarico and numerous narrow black water courses, Cuyabeno forms the largest wetland in the Ecuadorian Amazon. In addition, the area has a very high biodiversity in a large number of different habitats . It is also worth mentioning that Cuyabeno belongs to one of seven Pleistocene refuges in Amazonia, in which the rainforest with its typical inventory of species remained even during the last ice ages, while the other areas were transformed into a savannah landscape. The forest is one of the oldest permanent ecosystems on earth.

The ecological structure of the reserve is mainly determined by the course of the Río Aguarico. Its banks are lined for a few kilometers by palm-rich tropical white water riparian forests ( Várzea forest ), which are regularly flooded. There are also riparian forests along the black water rivers , which are regularly flooded ( Igapó forest ). Behind it stretches on both sides in large parts of wet grass and scrubland, which in turn merges into the never-flooded tropical lowland rainforest ( Terra Firme ).

Cuyabeno has an enormous biodiversity and wildlife population. In the rainforest there is a species-rich vegetation with plants such as B. various palm trees (such as the dominant Buriti palm on the Río Aguarico), bromeliads , ceibos , heliconias , macrolobium trees (as a formative species of blackwater lagoons), wild roses and orchids . The proven plants for the reserve include 1,400 different species. Of these, 473 are tree species alone. However, it is estimated that the number of plant species is 3–4,000.

Almost all species of the Amazon can be found among animals .

Territorios Indígenas

The Secoya have been able to preserve their traditions to this day (photo from the neighboring Peruvian Güeppí-Sekime National Park)
Making flat cakes from freshly ground cassava

Originally only the two related indigenous peoples of the Siona and Secoya lived in the Cuyabeno area , who lived their traditional life there until the early 1980s, largely unaffected. With the establishment of eight indigenous territories within the wild animal reserve - with an additional area for the Cofán , two areas for Kichwa from the area around the oil town of Lago Agrio , and two for “splinter groups” of the Shuar (who usually settle in southeast Ecuador ) and one for the Pookoya - no consideration was given to the original settlement areas. This led to longstanding conflicts between the ethnic groups. Today there are 11 indigenous village communities in Cuyabeno. (In addition, there are around 600 smallholders within and over 8,000 in the border area of ​​the reserve, whose activities have a negative impact on ecosystems.)

In principle, the indigenous territories should offer their inhabitants the opportunity to continue their traditional forms of subsistence . Since the 1990s, a number of ecotourism lodges have also been set up, from which the indigenous communities should also benefit.

management

The indigenous affairs and conflicts, the threat of external threats from illegal activities, the possible expansion of oil production and tourism make intensive and sustainable management of the wild animal reserve necessary. The establishment of the "prohibited zone" Imuya ("Zona intangible") and the guarantee of the state to preserve the reserve area both in terms of nature conservation and with regard to the care of the indigenous people and their cultural independence were the first important requirements. According to the UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Center , the indigenous principle of " Sumak kawsay " (Kichwa for "good life") anchored in the Ecuadorian constitution is to serve as the basis for the management plans.

Management categories of the Cuyabeno Fauna Production Reserve (2010)

  • research
  • Environmental education
  • Sustainable management of wildlife
  • Restoration of ecosystems
  • Preservation of cultural and ethnic values
  • Nature-oriented tourism

tourism

Cuyabeno River Lodge, the only lodge west of the road
Tourism by boat
Squirrel monkeys are quite common
"Giant jungle" : an unforgettable experience for every tourist

deals

For tourism, which has been established since 1986, the reserve is mainly accessible from the bridge "El Puente" over the Rio Cuyabeno on the E 10 highway north of the city of Tarapoa . From the park center there, around twenty lodges (2019) can be reached by motorized canoe across the Cuyabeno River, which are located on the Laguna Grande ( large lagoon ) and on the river. From the lodges guided hikes and canoe trips in the area are offered to observe animals and plants. The mostly three to five-day travel packages, which are almost identical everywhere, are mainly sold to foreign visitors via national and international travel agencies and the Internet. Only the visits to indigenous villages differ depending on the organizer: Since most of the lodges are located in the Siona territory, the villages of Puerto Bolívar and San Victoriano in particular are visited. Here, for example, the path from the manioc harvest to the completion of the traditional manioc flatbread is demonstrated. On other tours to the Secoyas and Cofánes, handicrafts (such as colored chains made from different seeds or wickerwork made from Chambira paslm fibers) are demonstrated.

development

In 1991 there were 14 to 20 Ecuadorian tour operators serving around 5,000 tourists annually. With the entry of one of the country's most important tourism companies (Metropolitan Touring with the floating "Flotel Orellana" on the Río Aguarico), Cuyabeno became increasingly popular, so that in 1998 almost 8,000 visitors were registered. The cessation of the Flotel led to a decrease in the number of visitors from 2001 to 2007 to around 5,000 per year. Since then, tourism has practically only taken place on the Cuyabeno River and the Laguna Grande. By 2011, the number of visitors rose to almost 11,000 in 2011. According to an organizer from 2019, the number of visitors is currently 12,000 annually.

According to a survey from 1998, the vast majority of tourists are primarily interested in "indigenous tours" and the "wild atmosphere", so the responsible ministry decided to spend the majority of the income on the protection and administration of the reserve (staff, guards, Patrol equipment) instead of investing in infrastructure measures (especially the park center).

In 2012, the Ministry of the Environment recommended an expansion of tourism (inclusion of further rivers and previously closed lagoons) in order to connect the indigenous communities that were previously little or not involved and to increase the income necessary to protect the area.

Per

Without the tourism industry it would be questionable whether the reserve area would have doubled. The good state of preservation of the area is also associated with tourism. On aerial photos from 1990, 2000 and 2008 it can be clearly seen that there have been only very minor changes in the vegetation in the reserve, while there has been drastic deforestation, especially to the west of it (see also the map shown) .

Undoubtedly, Cuyabeno tourism is the primary source of income for thousands of people, with annual revenues of many millions of dollars. This also applies to many members of the local ethnic groups. According to a study, three indigenous local groups obtained 80 to 100% of their income from tourism. In addition, they believe that tourism has helped them revitalize their cultures . However, ethnologists view this critically.

Contra

The exhaust fumes from motor boats endanger the sensitive ecosystems
The indigenous settlements can only be reached by motorboat. The increasing contact with tourists and functionaries changes the culture: for example the football field, meeting house and election advertising in the Siona village of San Victoriano

Although tourism, as a counterbalance to the oil industry, offers both job alternatives and is conducive to the protection of nature and indigenous ways of life, there are a number of "side effects" that have the potential to reverse the benefits in the long term:

  • The expansion of tourism endangers biological diversity (due to the presence of more and more people and, as a result, increasing light, sound and pollutant emissions from lodges and motor canoes) and individual species. Motorboat traffic, for example, increases the breathing frequency of the Amazon dolphins, so that there has been a slight decrease in the population since 1994.
  • The goal of providing the indigenous groups with a source of income is only inadequately achieved:
    • Almost all lodges are run by outside companies, so that the income opportunities for the indigenous people are limited to various services (boat drivers, lodge employees) and special contracts with the organizers. Such contracts oblige the communities, for example, to refrain from hunting and gathering in certain areas or to demonstrate cultural characteristics that are interesting for tourists. In return, depending on the contractual partner, they receive either money or goods and services such as food and school uniforms, free transport by ship or plane or free educational offers.
    • So far, only the easily accessible villages in western Cuyabeno have benefited from tourism.
    • Tourism has a number of effects on cultural change : The originally prevailing social equality of group members is disappearing, as often only a few people in a community benefit from tourism. There is a gap between “poor” and “rich”. The way of life of the service providers is changing: the subsistence economy from hunting and collecting is losing (albeit slowly) in importance, the desire for consumer goods and modern technologies is growing (not only among those involved) and requires more money, while the former "moneyless" economic independence decreases equally. The contact with the tourists and the contractual requirements for nature conservation promote an environmental awareness according to the western way of thinking, which can lead to conflicts about traditional values . All of this promotes acculturation of the indigenous people.
    • The return to different traditions , rated by the locals as "cultural revitalization", is viewed critically by ethnologists, because on the one hand only certain - touristically interesting - customs are revived and on the other hand because the marketing robs the customs of their original meaning and removes them from the cultural Context tears, so that more of a folklore can be observed here .
    • Both the use of indigenous cultural elements and the use of internal combustion engines on canoes, for power generation and drinking water supply - among other aspects - do not meet the criteria of ecotourism , which the Ecuadorian organizers are promoting in unison.
  • Ultimately, the tourist routes increase the risk of moving settlers.

Hazards

Oil pipeline on the E10, a few kilometers from the reserve border
The enormous biodiversity of the area is extremely worthy of protection

The greatest dangers for the protected area come from the primary and secondary consequences of oil production:

Accidents such as the relatively frequent leaks in the pipelines are primarily primarily accidents. If the oil gets into a body of water that flows into the Cuyabeno area - as happened in 2009 - there is a threat of an oil spill with considerable ecological consequences . As you can see on the map above, three mining concession areas still protrude into the reserve area. This implies the idea that the possibility of oil extraction within the protected area has not yet been completely given up.

The areas that were infrastructurally developed in the course of the oil activities and then populated according to plan have led to a drastic increase in population density since the 1970s - especially in the west, but also in the north and south-west of the reserve borders. Secondary consequences are therefore illegal attacks on the protected area such as logging, hunting, clearing, trade in animals and plants, the establishment of agricultural monocultures and settlement activities by the numerous new residents. These changes are reducing the populations of wild animals and plants.

In addition to the aforementioned negative influences from petroleum, settlement and tourism, global warming in connection with deforestation is also mentioned, which very likely increases the duration of the dry season and can thus lead to droughts.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b protectedplanet.net WCMC , accessed on February 11, 2019.
  2. ↑ a b c d e Global ICCA Database TERRITORIOS A'I COFAN, SIEKÓYA PI, SIONA SHUAR1 Y KICHWA ZONA BAJA DE LA RESERVA DE PRODUCCIÓN FAUNÍSTICA CUYABENO, ECUADOR, pdf version , accessed on February 11, 2019.
  3. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Ministerio del Ambiente: `` Plan de Manejo de la Reserva de Producción de Fauna Cuyabeno '', Quito, Ecuador 2012, pdf version , p. 11 –14 (current situation, categories, detailed descriptions), 15–16 (maps), 17 (fauna), 20–23 (tourism), 27 (strategy).
  4. ↑ a b Las lagunas de Cuyabeno, mantos de la biodiversidad, iucn.org , September 5, 2017, accessed on February 11, 2019.
  5. ↑ http://www.birdlist.org/downloads/parks/estrategia_conservacion_areas_silvestres_sobresalientes_ecuador.pdf
  6. ↑ a b c d Barbara Nenning: Nature tourism in Ecuador with special consideration of volcano tourism '. Diploma thesis, University of Vienna, 2009, pdf version , p. 62.
  7. ↑ a b c d e Heather Zeppel: `` Indigenous Ecotourism: Sustainable Development and Management '', Cabi, Oxfordshire (Great Britain) and Cambridge (USA) 2006, ISBN 978-1-84593-124-7 , pp. 72-74 .
  8. ↑ a b c Judith Denkinger: Demographic studies on the Amazon dolphin (Inia geoffrensis) in the Cuyabeno reserve, in Ecuador. Doctoral thesis at Bielefeld University, 2001, pdf version , accessed on February 17, 2019. pp. 3, 12-14.
  9. ↑ dennstedt.files.wordpress.com , accessed on February 17, 2019.
  10. ↑ a b c d e Cristina Casavecchia: Estudio de Caso Ecuador: RESERVA DE PRODUCCIÓN DE FAUNA CUYABENO, 2014, pdf version , IUCN, Quito (Ecuador), accessed on February 17, 2019.
  11. ↑ viatourism 527 , paragraph 9, 8/2015.
  12. ↑ a b c d e Toben E. Galvin: '' THE ECONOMICS OF NATURE TOURISM IN ECUADOR'S CUYABENO WILDLIFE RESERVE: A CONTINGENT VALUATION ANALYSIS OF WILLINGNESS TO PAY '', University of Florida, Gainesville (USA) 2000, pdf version , p 9, 12, 14-15.
  13. ↑ guide.travel2south.com , accessed March 10, 2019
  14. ↑ Judith Denkinger: '' Demographic studies of the Amazon river dolphin (Inia geoffrensis) in the Cuyabeno Reserve, Ecuador : Abstract, Bielefeld University, 2001, accessed on February 17, 2019.
  15. ↑ Yörn Kreib, Angela Ulbrich: '' Ridge walk ecotourism: strategies against the tourist sell-out of culture and nature '', Focus, 1997, p. 24.
  16. ↑ Maria Susana Cipolletti: '' Voices of the past, voices of the present: the West Tukano Amazoniens 1637-1993 '', (Ethnological Studies, Vol. 32) LIT Verlag Münster, 1997, ISBN 3-8258-3425-5 . P. 160.
  17. ↑ WWF information on oil production in natural regions , 2014, pp. 25, 27.
  18. ↑ oas.org , p. 19, accessed on February 17, 2019.

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