Young Scientists Discover Amazonian Biodiversity

How can we spark children’s interest in conserving the Amazon rainforest? One way is to bring them closer to nature through experiences that combine learning, exploration, and active participation. During August, A Rocha Peru organized three environmental education workshops with the science club in the Monte Carmelo Native Community, giving primary school students the opportunity to learn more about their natural surroundings.

The first activity, held on August 13, brought together 18 students from fourth, fifth, and sixth grade for a visit to the school’s botanical garden. Accompanied by teachers Absalón Vargas Pereira and Leonor Loaiza Seri, traditional knowledge holder Máximo Kategari, and volunteer Jacobo Lasheras, the students learned about medicinal plants and their importance. They also helped clean the garden and renew the signs identifying the different plant species.

On August 19, 16 students participated in a botanical specimen collection workshop, gathering plant samples within the school grounds. This activity is part of an ongoing learning process that will continue with a workshop on pressing and mounting medicinal plants, with the aim of creating a botanical collection for the school.

Two days later, on August 21, another 16 students took part in a maintenance and planting session in the school garden. During the activity, they prepared the soil, removed weeds, and planted crops such as coriander, cucumber, spinach, watermelon, and melon, strengthening their knowledge through hands-on experience.

Meanwhile, at School No. 501458 in Igoriteshiari, 15 students took an important step in organizing their science club. Through an election, they chose the name “Protectores de la naturaleza” and formed their leadership committee, made up of fifth- and sixth-grade students.

Beyond the knowledge gained, these activities provide opportunities for children and young people to take an active role in caring for their environment. Through science, teamwork, and the exchange of knowledge, A Rocha Peru continues to foster an interest in biodiversity and Amazonian forest conservation, starting in the classroom.

Wildlife Photography and Mist-Netting Workshop

Observing wildlife in its natural habitat can raise many questions. How can we capture an image without disturbing animals? How do we record useful information to learn more about birds? The A Rocha Peru team and the Kamaykuna Network explored these questions in two workshops combining theory and practice, one on wildlife photography and the other on mist netting, held on July 21 and 22.

The photography workshop was led by Jacobo Lasheras, a photographer, graphic designer and Visual Media Coordinator. In an initial online session, participants learned about photographic techniques and composition, as well as responsible equipment use. They also discussed ethics in nature photography and good practices for approaching wildlife carefully. After all, taking a good photograph is not just about finding the best angle; it also means respecting the living creatures we want to photograph.

The team then put this learning into practice during a field session in El Cañoncillo, Pacasmayo. There, participants observed nature from a new perspective and applied what they had learned in the theoretical session.

The second workshop focused on using mist nets and data sheets for bird monitoring. Dr. Luis Pollack Velásquez, a specialist in biodiversity and ornithology, shared his knowledge alongside the Urban Birds Programme at the National University of Trujillo. Participants learned how to set up nets correctly, follow good monitoring practices and complete data sheets to record their findings. This workshop also combined theory with a practical session in El Cañoncillo.

Both experiences allowed the team to learn together and approach biodiversity with greater care and responsibility. A Rocha Peru thanks Jacobo Lasheras, Dr. Luis Pollack Velásquez and the Urban Birds Programme at the National University of Trujillo for sharing their knowledge and supporting the team’s learning.

A Rocha Peru and the Kamaykuna Network Join Forces for the Beaches of Huanchaco and Huanchaquito

When we visit a beach, we usually notice the waves, the sand and everything that makes the place special. But what about the tiny pieces of waste we can barely see? On May 16, members of A Rocha Peru and the Kamaykuna Network gathered on the beaches of Huanchaco and Huanchaquito in Trujillo to focus on this problem through a microplastics search and cleanup campaign.

Early in the morning, participants collected waste and identified small plastic particles called “nurdles” in the sand. Finding them requires a careful eye, as they are not always easy to distinguish when mixed with other debris. Yet they are also part of the pollution reaching our beaches.

The activity offered an opportunity to observe the problem firsthand and discuss its possible effects on marine ecosystems and biodiversity. Seeing these fragments in the sand helps us understand that plastic pollution can remain in the environment even after more visible waste has been removed. That is why the cleanup and microplastic survey complemented one another during the campaign.

The day also raised a question that concerns us all: what can we do to prevent more plastic from ending up in the sea? Reducing the waste we produce, disposing of it properly and helping care for natural spaces are ways to begin. Sharing this experience also helps others recognise a problem that often goes unnoticed.

For A Rocha Peru and the Kamaykuna Network, gathering in Huanchaco and Huanchaquito was a way to combine action with learning. The campaign provided time to clean both beaches while also seeing the sand in a new light. It is important to remember that protecting the ocean also begins by paying attention to what we can barely see. If you’d like to learn more about this topic, you can find additional information on the Great Nurdle Hunt website. 

Kamaykuna Network in Action

What makes a dry forest special, and why should we protect it? These were some of the questions that guided the environmental education session held by Kamaykuna Network volunteers at Mariano Santos Mateos School on August 19. Through presentations and conversations with teenage students, the team introduced young people to the dry forests of La Libertad, with particular attention to El Cañoncillo.

During the visit, students learned that dry forests are home to a wide variety of species and play an important role in our environment. The conversation encouraged them to look beyond the landscape, they also discussed the ecosystem services these forests provide and why their conservation concerns us all.

The volunteers also addressed the threats facing these forests and their relationship with phenomena such as El Niño. This was an opportunity to connect what students learned with questions about their surroundings and the changes they may observe. Learning about a nearby ecosystem helps explain why it deserves attention and care.

After the presentations, students had a chance to speak. Their questions and ideas led to a discussion about how each person can help protect nature in everyday life. Rather than simply receiving information, the young students took part in the conversation and shared their views on caring for their environment.

For the Kamaykuna Network, bringing these topics into classrooms is a way to continue creating opportunities for learning and reflection. Every visit offers a chance to spark curiosity about local ecosystems and encourage more young people to take part in conservation. Sometimes the first step in caring for a place is getting to know it better and starting a conversation about it.