The Issue:

Machu Picchu Historic Sanctuary faces significant conservation challenges that threaten its remarkable biodiversity, including the highly threatened spectacled bear. Wildfires, habitat loss from human encroachment near the park boundary, and increasing tourism are major threats to the area's unique ecosystems. As a premier tourist destination attracting over 1.5 million visitors annually, Machu Picchu experiences heavy pressure from high visitation levels. This level of tourism activity, if not carefully managed, risks disturbing wildlife and degrading the natural ecosystems that Machu Picchu aims to protect. Additionally, the needs of local Indigenous communities who rely on the protected area and the tourism sector for their livelihoods must also be balanced with the preservation of biodiversity. 

 Grant Award Use:

Funding from the Adventure Travel Conservation Fund will directly support the GPS collaring fieldwork, allowing SBC to purchase essential equipment and help cover transportation and logistical costs. The grant will also fund the development and delivery of training workshops for local communities and tourism operators. By empowering communities with information about local biodiversity and building capacity for bear-aware tourism practices, this project will create a positive ripple effect - protecting a highly vulnerable species, preserving Machu Picchu's biodiversity, and fostering alternative economic opportunities for Indigenous communities. Ultimately, it demonstrates how conservation and responsible tourism can go hand-in-hand in safeguarding irreplaceable landscapes like Machu Picchu.

 What Would a Successful Project Result In?

The final success of this 12-month project will be local communities and tourism operators empowered with training and conservation knowledge about spectacled bears and biodiversity in Machu Picchu, alongside SBC’s ongoing field program collecting vital data from GPS collars deployed on spectacled bears.