A new milestone for forest conservation has been reached in Peru with the construction of the first ranger patrol station in the Gran Simacache Conservation Concession, by our partner Neotropical Primate Conservation Peru (NPC) with the support of Conservation Allies.
The new ranger station is the first of four stations planned under the joint action plan developed by NPC, the Asociación de Agricultores para la Conservación de los Bosques Naturales del Simacache, and the community of Nuevo Chimbote. Together, these partners are strengthening the local capacity needed to protect one of the region’s last remaining strongholds of intact forest.
Covering almost 100,000 acres, Gran Simacache is an important refuge for biodiversity in the San Martín region. But its remote location and growing pressures—including land encroachment, illegal activities, and hunting—make effective protection increasingly challenging.
Reaching this remote area currently requires an arduous journey of 8 to 12 hours on foot, making effective monitoring and rapid response challenging. The new ranger station changes that, by providing a permanent presence within the forest. With the capacity to accommodate 10 people, the facility will soon be powered by solar energy and equipped with satellite internet, creating a vital operational hub in an otherwise isolated region.
The importance of this investment is already evident in the extraordinary wildlife found within the concession. Recent field visits revealed an abundance of animal tracks, highlighting the ecological significance of the forest. Particularly notable were signs of jaguars, tapirs, deer, and wild pigs—species that depend on large, intact habitats and serve as indicators of a healthy ecosystem.
By establishing a permanent presence on the ground, the new station will help safeguard these forests and the wildlife they support while strengthening community-led conservation efforts.