13/01/2017
With the issues of climate change, biodiversity loss and the concern over the planet’s environmental security, efforts to restore the planet’s ecosystems have never been more crucial.
The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) has just released their 88th issue of their Technical Series, “Resorting Life on Earth: Private-sector Experiences in Land Reclamation and Ecosystem Recovery”, which profiles a series of case studies from all over the world, serving as a source of inspiration and encouragement for the positive environmental changes that can be achieved if there is vision, awareness and a will to succeed.
Appealing to the private sector in the economic, social and environmental dimensions of sustainable development and the business sector, the case study participants are recognised for “playing their part in tackling the challenges posed by the depletion of the natural wealth around them and for the time and effort they have expended to share their experiences,” according to CBD’s Executive Secretary, Braulio Ferreira de Souza Dias.
As many of our blog readers will know, Inkaterra’s primary mission is to support and protect the flora, fauna and biodiversity within Peru. Working with the Inkaterra Asociación, Inkaterra has been able to conserve ten hectares of pastureland in the Andean Cloud Forest, which houses Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel. Our team’s efforts to restore this land and transform it into one of the most biodiversity-rich environments to be found in a hotel within the boundaries of a city has led to Inkaterra and its team being included as one of the CBD’s case studies in this year’s series (page 69).
When describing Inkaterra’s work in the Andean cloud forest, the case study says, “Flora and fauna inventories set a benchmark against which to measure future impacts. Inkaterra currently conserves an area containing 214 recorded bird species, 111 butterfly species and 372 native orchid species (the largest in situ native orchid collection, according to the American Orchid Society)”.
The case study details Inkaterra’s strategy and approach to sustainable tourism, the logic behind Inkaterra Founder, José Koechlin’s intervention for the cloud forest and the various initiatives underway to preserve and restore the areas surrounding Machu Picchu.
To read more about ecosystem restoration and Inkaterra’s work in Peru, click here to view the online version.
