Puerto Maldonado: entrance door to the Peruvian Amazon
On the banks of the confluence between the Madre de Dios River and the Tambopata River is the large gate of the central jungle, Puerto Maldonado. Founded in 1902 by First Commissioner Juan Villalta, Puerto Maldonado holds the title of Capital of Biodiversity of Peru.
It is also known for being the final destination of the “Ruta del Gringo” when the visitor arriving in Peru has just over two weeks on a journey that usually begins in Lima, passing through Ica- Paracas-Nazca-Colca-Arequipa- Puno-Cusco- and ends in Puerto Maldonado.
In the past, the economy of Puerto Maldonado consisted of exporting rubber, wood and oil. However, in recent years eco-tourism has positioned itself among one of the largest inflows of money in the region, together with the extraction of Amazonian Brazil nut (also known as Brazil nut).
It is one of the obligatory stops when you go sightseeing in the jungle, besides being the ideal place to disconnect from the chaos of civilization and surrender completely to the wonders of nature.
Ecotourism could help the Amazon reduce deforestation and manage climate change
Responsible ecotourism could help reduce deforestation and help protect one of every 10 species in the world.
Responsible tourism could be a successful way to involve local communities that currently depend on slash and burn agriculture by offering an alternative livelihood.
Ecotourism is little practiced in the Amazon, partly because of the expenses, but also due to the lack of information on places where implementation is possible.
When carried out in an ecologically correct manner, ecotourism is a low-impact environmental activity that contributes to the maintenance of natural species and habitats. It also promotes the value of culture and involves local communities.
Deforestation is by far the most dangerous threat to the Amazon, home to one in 10 known species on Earth.
Human settlements and agriculture drive people to cut and burn hectares of precious trees, causing the loss of habitat of hundreds of species and contributing to massive CO2 emissions.
The Amazon is a victim and a villain of climate change, and scientists warn that a peak of 2 degrees C in temperatures will severely damage the vast forests; and an increase of 4 degrees C would kill him effectively.
In many other countries, such as Madagascar, responsibly managed tourism sites are already producing good results and help reduce the rate of deforestation.
Reducing deforestation is also, according to scientists, one of the cheapest ways to combat climate change.
The remote location of many beautiful and interesting places in the Amazon, some of which are very difficult to access, together with the lack of transportation and communication, have prevented the development of tourism potential in this region to date.
Edwin Medina L.