I love Peru! Ocean shoreline, snowy mountains, damp cloudforests, and tropical rainforests are only a few of the habitats and ecosystems found in Peru.

The physical diversity of Peru is spectacular. But many of the ecosystems are also very fragile. Harmful human activities play a role in deforestation, endangering animals, air and water pollution. Thankfully there are many Peruvians who are working toward conservation to protect the forests and animals. People who work toward protecting the environment are called conservationists.

Peruvians love their country’s beauty. We met many, many people who are protecting Peru’s ecosystems through a number of projects.

While we were in Lago Pomacochas, we were lucky enough to spot the marvelous spatula-tailed hummingbird – one of the most unusual hummingbirds on Earth. And Lago Pomacochas is the only place on Earth where the bird lives.

Local people realized that protecting the hummingbird’s habitat, by not cutting more forest than they need to, allows the marvelous spatula-tailed hummingbird to live freely and safely. Through respecting the hummingbird’s needs and realizing that they are unique animals, people of Lago Pomacochas are truly making a difference.

We chose to go to the Pacaya-Samiria Reserve, because it is some of the most pristine rainforest in the world. Inside the park there are over 50 dedicated rangers that ensure that the park stays protected. The rangers’ job is to conserve the rainforest and teach people why it’s important to protect it. Some of the rangers we met had been living at ranger stations for over 3 months!

The rangers feel connected to the Pacaya-Samiria Reserve. The work is hard and lonely, and they don’t get paid much money. But the rangers know that without them, the park might be harmed by illegal loggers, fishing, and poaching. Sure, the rangers could find jobs that pay better and allowed them to be with their families more often, but they choose to work toward conservation.

The rangers develop programs that collect endangered and threatened turtle eggs to watch over them before they hatch. The eggs are safe from poachers who take eggs from nests to sell for food. Because they are rare, turtle eggs are very expensive in markets. The poachers can make a lot of money selling the eggs.

There are similar programs run by small communities and volunteers for the arapaima fish, giant river otters. Conservation always begins with education. The rangers work with people of small villages to teach them the importance of their ecosystem. Rangers also work with villagers to teach them about tourism, which can make communities like Viente de Enero the same amount of money that poaching animals, turtle eggs, or fish. Communities also develop sustainable programs for cutting trees for building canoes and homes. Villagers also learn about ways to grow food without harming the rainforest.

The people of the small villages have an incredible amount of knowledge about the rainforest that is centuries old. They know the habits, sounds, and tracks of animals incredibly well. They know thousands of medicinal plants and herbs. Rangers tell the villagers that tourists are interested in learning the secrets of the rainforest. The rangers also explain that without the animals and the pristine rainforest, tourists are not going to come.

Environmental conservation is something people have to decide to do. People can’t be forced to care for the environment. Once a person learns about a habitat, animal, or ecosystem, they appreciate the beauty and natural relationships. By uncovering a habitat’s secrets, people create a special relationship with the area. That makes protecting it an easy decision to make.

Can you see envidence of conservation programs in your neighborhood? If so, how could you help? If there are no programs, what is something you could do to help start one? I bet you know enough about your habitat and ecosystem to teach someone an interesting fact. Just think, by teaching someone to appreciate their ecosystem you’re protecting the environment.