National Sanctuary Of Mangrove Swamp In Tumbes

THE NORTHERN COAST OF TUMBES IS A UNIQUE ZONE IN PERU WHERE IT IS POSSIBLE TO FIND THIS ECOSYSTEM WHICH IS VERY COMPLEX AND ALSO IS THE HABITAT OF NUMEROUS PLANTS AND ANIMALS, AND WHICH FORM A NATURAL BARRIER AGAINST EROSION AND AN IMPORTANT SOURCE OF ECONOMICAL RESOURCES.

Data:
- It is located in Zamurilla Province (Tumbes).
- It was declared a Natural Sanctuary on March 2,1988.
- Surface area: 72 hectares.

A UNIQUE ECOSYSTEM
The swamp has developed where only a few plants are able to do: where the ocean and the fresh water meet. To grow and survive there requires a lot of tolerance to saline, tides and a lack of oxygen. The swamps are developed in the tropical zones around the world. In Peru, they only grow in Tumbes.
Some geographers and studies by the likes of Antonio Brack Egg y Walter Wust, have mentioned that the swamp in Tumbes was even bigger. It probably covered 28.000 hect·reas, which means, more than ten times than the current extension. The cutting of trees and the contamination of water would be the main reason for its reduction.

LAND PROTECTORS
The swamp is the main actor in this ecosystem. There are more than fifty countries in the world where these species grow. In Tumbes, the swamp is basically formed by the sweet swamp or the white one. (Laguncularia racemosa), the red swamp or Colorado (Rizophora mangle), the salty jeli or button swamp (Conocarpus erectus) and the prieto swamp (Avicennia tomemntosa).The  first one, is between 4 and 6 meters high and it is the most common. The most important feature of the swamp is its root, which is shown over the land to get oxygen from the air. The swamps have a very important protectional function on the land: Stabilize the sand and mud and thwart the tides actions. They also are a barrier against wind and waves creating the necessary conditions for the development of numerous animal species.

THE BIRDS
For many birds which migrate , the swamp is like a bus station. In the dense swamp forest, the birds find an ideal refuge to nest, look for their food and get away from the predators. In the National Sanctuary of Swamps in Tumbes, there have identified 120 bird species. One of them is the fishing eagle (Pandion haliaetus), el cushuri o sea crow (Phalacrocorax olivaceus), the blue heron (Hydranassa coerulea) and the big white heron (Egretta alba). Due to their beauty it is important to mention the white ibis (Eudocimus albus) and red (Ajaia Ajaja), which are fed with invertebrates found in the mud when there are low tides.

MAMMALS
Some mammal species have adapted to the peculiar conditions in the swamp. For instance, the racoon (Procyon cancrivorus), which is also known as a swamp bear. This animal may be thirty centimeters high and weighs about 15 kilograms. It eats crab, shrimp, fish and snails. In some places you can find the nutria altough it is in danger of extintion (Lutra longicauidis). And monkeys such as the mono coto in Tumbes (Alouatta palliata), also known as "mono aullador"

MARINE FAUNA
Numerous species of fish and mollusks live in the swamp or spend some part of their lives there. The mollusks or gastropods have been classified into 19 families and 32 species. Several have been appreciated as food. This is the case of the famous black shield (¡rea tuberculosa]. This lives buried in the mud. There are other very well known as the mussel (Modiolus guyanensis) and the oyster and ostiones (Ostrea chilensisy Ostrea guyanensis). They have registered 34 snail species, several of which are ready for human consumption.

Among the crustaceans, the most well known is the king prawn whose exploitation has created a big industry. The over exploitation of this resource, particularly in the 80s, was very dangerous for the swampís existence. Currently, exploitation is being done but under supervision giving good results. There has also been identified 105 fish species, such as the swordfish and sole. Some species occupy the area constantly, while others just go there to lay eggs or spend their youth there. That is why the swamp is also a very important area for the shipping industry.

TUMBES CROCODILE
Between the reptiles that inhabit the swamp, the most important is the American or tumbesino crocodile (Crocodylus acutus). For many years, it has been subject to indiscriminate hunting, because its skin is appreciated; for that reason, now it is considered a species in danger of extinction that can be seen only occasionally in some parts of the Tumbes river. Other reptiles that inhabit the zone are turtles (Chelonia mydas y Lepidochelys olivacea) and the marine snake (Pelamus platurus).

ACCESS
To get to the National Sanctuary it is recommendable to depart from the city of Tumbes. From the Pan-American Road to Zamurilla (20 Kilometers), continue to El Algarrobo (9 kilometers), where there is a control stop called INRENA. The most recommendable is visiting between April and November, when there is not so much rainfall. Observation of the wild life is allowed by tours and trips by boat. The average temperature is 25 C. Light clothes should be used, as well as, repellent and sun block.

Websites:
- INRENA http://www.inrena.gob.pe
- Others http://www.parkswatch.org

National Park Cerros De Amotape

THIS NATIONAL PARK IS PART OF AN IMPORTANT ECOLOGICAL CORRIDOR, FORMED BY THE TUMBES RESERVE AND THE FORBIDDEN HUNTING AREA, THE ANGOLO. TOGETHER, THESE THREE AREAS PROTECT THE ECOSYSTEM IN THE FOREST.

Data:
- It is located in Tumbes Province, Contralmirante Villar (Tumbes) and

Sullana (Piura).
- The area was declared a National Park on July 22, 1975.
- Surface: 91.300 hectares.
- In 1977 UNESCO designated it a Biosphere Reserve to the territory formed by the National Park Cerros de Amotape, National Forest in Tumbes (today it is a reserved zone) and the forbidden hunting area The Angolo.

THE BIOSPHERE RESERVE IN THE NORTHWEST
UNESCO defines a biosphere reserve as: ìan area of land of ecosystems and coastlines where solutions are promoted to reconcile the biodiversity conservation with sustainable useî. These are not protected areas in a strict sense, although it is generally believed so. The Biosphere reserve in the Northwest is like a National Park due to its extension, a hunting reserve and a reserve zone. In the future, it is hoped that The National Sanctuary in Tumbes is also included. Not only has UNESCO recognized the ecological importance of this area, the Smithsonian Institution, in The United States, has identified it as a ìpriority zone for researching and conservationî, due to its great variety of plants, and, Bird Life International gives it a similar importance, in this case because of the great variety of bird species and endemic birds in the zone.

ECOSYSTEMS
The dry equatorial forest is a unique ecosystem in the World. It is located in the northern borders of Peru and the southern borders of Ecuador. Despite being a tropical area, the rainfall is always between December and May. The rest of the year is known as the ìdry seasonî and during that period a lot of trees lose their leaves. On one hand, the tropical forest in the Pacific is ever wetter. The fauna and flora is similar to the Amazonian. Even though it is viewed as a very common ecosystem in America because it spans from Tumbes to Central America; the Peruvian area is considered one of the most conserved.

THE ALGARROBO (CAROT TREE)
This tree is a relative of the green stick and huarango, it is an authentic natural prodigy, and is able to develop in areas where there is not so much water, almost desert, which are forbidden for most of the species. In addition, it is a great present for the inhabitants in the north of Peru due to its multiple uses. It wide top gives shadow, moderates the wind and stops the formation of dunes. Its wood is used as fuel and its leaves, rich in proteins and crabs, are used as forage. Its fruits are also used as food for human beings and animals. In fact, this tree is very indispensable. Its seeds are used for organic matter to produce alcohol, flour, rubber and food as algarrobo coffee, shampoos and mazamorras.

Another important vegetable in the zone is the borrachera (Ipomoea carnea), a tree that has a bell shaped form and beautiful pink or purple flowers. Its popular name is because its leaves and stem have a large amount of selenium; mineral that poisons animals which eat them.

FAUNA
The variety of ecosystems allows one to appreciate species that belong to the desert zones, the tropical forest and the highlands. Hundreds of species have been registered, such as reptiles, amphibians, mammals and birds. Some of them are the sajino (Tayassu tajacu), the white forehead squirrel (Sciurus stramineus), the gray deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and the red deer (Mazama americana). There also includes, reptiles such as the constrictor boa, la macanche (Botriechis schlegeli), the iguana (Iguana iguana) Tumbes crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) and the northwest nutria (Lutra longicaudis). Among the more well known birds are the Andean Condor (Vultur gryphus) and the ìforest condor " (Sarcoramphus papa).

FLORA
Inside the Cerros de Amotape National Park, are found species from two main ecosystems described above. They have registered 44 tree species, 47 species of shrubs, 61 land herb species, 12 creeping herbs, 6 parasites, 7 cactus arborescentes or columnars, 7 bromeliaeds y 12 epifitas, and amongst them, 4 varieties of orchids. Some tree species have a comercial value such as, the guayac·n (Tabebuia billbergii) and the huatalco (Loxopterygium huasango) which are considered by INRENA as a critical species in danger of extinction, due to the cutting of trees. In the images, you can see different types of ceibo, which is very common species in the north.

THE RESERVED AREA IN TUMBES
Before it was known as The National Forest in Tumbes, this area occupies part of the territories in Tumbes and Zamurilla which total 75.102 hectares. It was declared as a reserved zone in 1994; for that reason, it is waiting for a final classification. The predominant ecosystem in this natural protected area is the equatorial forest in the Pacific.

THE HUNTING AREA OF THE ANGOLO
The hunting areas are natural protected areas where the only sport allowed is hunting, but is regulated. It is also used to preserve the ecosystem of the dry forest. The fauna is represented by deer, a white forehead squirrel, the puma, the pacaso or iguana and several dozens of birds. This hunting area is located in Sullana and Talara (Piura) provinces and occupies a total area of 65.000 hectares. It was created on July 1, 1975. Peru has two hunting areas. The other one is Suchubamba, located in Cajamarca, which covers a total area of 59.735 hectares. There, as in The Angolo, you are allowed to hunt deer, stag and wolfs, and some small birds such as the partridge and the lovebirds.

ACCESS
To get to the Nacional Park Cerros de Amotape, you need to depart from Tumbes by the Zorritos-Bocapan road. It is recommended to travel between April and October, which is the dry season. From Tumbes it is possible to get to this reserved area from Matapalo and Cotrina. The hunting area of the Angolo has areas for camping. To get there it is recommended to depart from Sullana. It is also recommendable to visit this place during the dry season due to the access during the rainy season.

Websites:
- Reserva de Biosfera del Noroeste http://www.areasprotegidasperu.com/rbnoo/rbnoo.htm
- BirdLife International http://www.birdlife.org/
- Smithsonian Institution http://www.si.edu/

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