The Peruvian Amazon is one of the world’s most valuable natural regions, yet in recent decades it has faced rapid deforestation. The main causes are deforestation due to the expansion of agricultural land, illegal logging, and, historically, coca cultivation. Many tree species now survive in only a few locations, and some may disappear from the wild entirely within a few years.
In a project led by MENDELU, experts from its Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology are focusing on the ten most endangered tree species. “Six of these ten most endangered species are classified as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The goal is not only to locate and map them, but also to collect seeds, propagate them in forest nurseries, and subsequently return the young trees to the wild,” explained Lenka Ehrenbergerová, who is involved in the project. Already in the first year, the research team succeeded in establishing a forest nursery for growing seedlings of critically endangered trees. Two more will follow. The lack of high-quality reproductive material is one of the main obstacles to their return to their native forests.
“Another significant achievement is the discovery of the first specimens of the critically endangered Elaeagia ambigua, about which very little is known and which is among the most endangered tree species in the Peruvian Amazon. Every newly discovered tree represents a valuable source of seeds and also provides new insights into the distribution of this species,” emphasized a researcher from the Department of Forest Botany, Dendrology and Geobiocoenology, adding: “Working with local people is an equally important part of the project. After all, the protection of tropical forests cannot be ensured without those who live near them. During the first year, MENDELU therefore established cooperation with both local communities and indigenous communities. Together, they are preparing forest restoration efforts, establishing nurseries, and organizing educational activities focused on the importance of native tree species.” The project focuses primarily on species that are at risk of disappearing entirely from the wild. Scientists therefore first map their distribution, assess their threat level, and then develop a plan for their long-term conservation. The project also includes updating data for the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and strengthening the protection of these trees in the wild.
The project is also based on collaboration with local institutions. Students and staff from partner universities—the Universidad Nacional Agraria de la Selva (UNAS) and the Universidad Nacional Intercultural de la Amazonía (UNIA)—as well as employees of Tingo María National Park are involved in fieldwork, helping to map endangered species, collect seeds, and grow and plant seedlings.
Three MENDELU students also traveled to Peru this year to gather data on site for their final bachelor’s theses. Two of the theses focus on inventorying endangered tree species, and one on their propagation in forest tree nurseries.
The three-year project, funded by the Franklinia Foundation, is another in a series of MENDELU’s international conservation activities. The university has long been dedicated to the conservation of endangered tree species, for example on the Yemeni island of Socotra, in Cambodia, and in Ethiopia. It is now also applying its expertise to the conservation of the unique biodiversity of the Peruvian Amazon.
The project aimed at saving the most endangered tree species of the Peruvian Amazon is funded by the Swiss Franklinia Foundation.