Zal Chala Conservation Concession:

Preserving the Amazon’s Hidden Treasures

The Zal Chala Conservation Concession spans 56,424 hectares in Peru’s San Martín region, serving as a critical ecological corridor in the heart of the Amazon rainforest. Managed by True Forest, this vibrant biodiversity reserve is a beacon of hope for sustainable development, community empowerment, and environmental preservation.

Nestled in the cloud forests of the Amazon’s Low Andes, the concession bridges protected areas like the Rio Abiseo National Park, forming a vital habitat network for iconic and endangered species, including the jaguar, giant otter, and yellow-tailed woolly monkey. These unique cloud forests are critical for maintaining biodiversity, regulating regional hydrology, and providing essential ecological services, such as carbon sequestration. They represent a convergence of Amazonian and Andean ecosystems, creating a hotspot of endemic species and rich biodiversity.

Why Zal Chala Matters

The Amazon is Earth’s largest tropical forest, a sanctuary for millions of species, and a key ally in combating climate change.

Within the Amazon, the cloud forests of the Low Andes are among the most important and vulnerable ecosystems.

They act as natural «water towers,» capturing moisture from clouds and feeding rivers that sustain life across vast regions of the Amazon basin.

However, they are increasingly threatened by deforestation, climate change, and habitat fragmentation.

Preliminary studies of the Zal Chala Concession have identified 62 bird species, 11 mammal species, and a variety of plant species. These findings are based on a small sample size, and the concession likely harbors biodiversity levels comparable to those of Rio Abiseo National Park, given its similar ecological conditions and proximity.

Rio Abiseo National Park is renowned for its extraordinary biodiversity, including over 500 bird species and 200 mammal species, making it one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots.

Protecting Zal Chala is essential to ensure the survival of these interconnected ecosystems.

By working hand-in-hand with Rio Abiseo National Park, ACR Boshumi, and local communities, True Forest integrates scientific research, traditional knowledge, and innovative practices to achieve sustainable conservation goals.

The Zal Chala Concession’s dual focus on conservation and sustainable development offers:

  • Ecological Preservation: Safeguarding one of the Amazon’s most biodiverse regions, including its vital cloud forests.
  • Community Empowerment: Promoting sustainable livelihoods such as ecotourism, beekeeping, and agroforestry.
  • Climate Action: Serving as a global model for carbon storage and mitigation while protecting the hydrological balance of the Amazon basin.

Collaborative Approach

True Forest’s Leadership

True Forest envisions Zal Chala as a global model for conservation, leveraging:

  • Community-centered strategies to promote local ownership of conservation initiatives
  • Partnerships with stakeholders like Rio Abiseo National Park for biodiversity monitoring, habitat restoration, and research
  • Sustainable practices that balance environmental preservation with socio-economic progress