Map of the study area The Center for Conservation Education and Sustainability (CCES) of the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute at the National Zoo is designing and implementing a Biodiversity Monitoring and Assessment Plan (BMAP) for the PERU Liquefied Natural Gas (PERU-LNG) pipeline project. The largest development project in Peru involves constructing a 250-mile-long (403 kilometer) pipeline to transport natural gas from the eastern foothills of the Andes in Chiquintirca to Melchorita on the Pacific coast close to Pisco where an LNG plant has been built.
The pipeline, completed in early 2010, crosses several mountain ranges and 14 ecological landscapes. The BMAP involves both terrestrial and marine species and habitats of conservation concern. Scientists have developed research and monitoring protocols to address critical conservation challenges.
The BMAP is the first such a program for Peru and a unique opportunity for teams of national and international experts to study and understand the biological and conservation challenges of the region and make a positive contribution to biodiversity conservation and sustainability. The BMAP will help scientists, managers, and other decision-makers understand the effect of development and will apply adaptive management principles to protect and conserve species and habitats while contributing to sustainable development.
Over the next five years, the program will monitor selected species and habitats to evaluate the status in Peru and emerging trends.
The goals of the Biodiversity Monitoring and Assessment Plan include:
- Select species and habitats of conservation concern, taking into consideration criteria including if the species is rare, endangered, or threatened; international and national conservation status; and current regulations.
- Develop scientific questions that will define the data-collection for to guide the conservation strategies. The scientific questions drive the research and monitoring program.
- Develop and implement the specific research and monitoring protocols that will help researchers answer the scientific questions and address management recommendations.
- Work with national and international experts to train local researchers to implement the monitoring protocols, data management, analysis, and publication of results.
- Disseminate the results of the monitoring program to a wide range of audiences.
