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Foreword
It is difficult to forget the view from the airplane where we first saw the emblematic “Sleeping
Beauty” during our first visit to Tingo María National Park in 2011. Once on the ground we
had the luck to visit the “Cueva of the Lechuzas” and observe oilbirds; a nocturnal species
that detect fruit in the forest using echolocation. In addition to these curious inhabitants Tingo
Maria National Park also protects important montane forest ecosystem that contains a large
biodiversity of species, produces water, stores carbon, and supports the livelihoods of many
villagers. Therefore, we congratulate with enthusiasm the Natural Protected Areas National
Service (SERNANP) on the 50th Anniversary of the creation of Tingo Maria National Park.
Today, this protected area is the cornerstone for the better management of the natural resources
in a landscape that is dominated by agriculture, forests and the Huallaga River. The Huanuco
region is growing in importance due to the recent development of the Chaglla Hydroelectric
Plant, therefore, the collaboration between SERNANP and Odebrecht in Tingo Maria National
Park is a important element for the sustainability of this important piece of infrastructure. This
alliance is also important as critical support in the long-term management of the area in a context
of continued expansion of illegal activities in the Park. At the same time, it´s a good example of
an efficient public and private alliance to improve regional sustainability.
We wish to congratulate the authors for their work on the book Tingo Maria National Park,
50 Years. We hope that this publication not only helps to record the value and importance
of the Park, but also makes it possible to motivate present and future generations to play
an active part in the conservation of the biological heritage of the region.
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Tingo María National Park, 50 years
Graham Watkins y Emmanuel Boulet
Unit of Environmental Safeguards
Inter-American Development Bank