Peruvian park rangers and community leaders honored for Amazon protection
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In Peru, the National Service of Natural Protected Areas (Sernanp) recognized Abner Guevara Papa, Richar Antonio Demetrio, and Teófilo Torres Tuesta for their dedication to protecting the Amazon rainforest.
Abner Guevara Papa, a park ranger at Tambopata National Reserve since 2005, received the “Illustrious Park Ranger” award for his work patrolling against illegal mining and logging. He also trains new rangers in surveillance techniques, including drone use, and shares his extensive knowledge of the reserve.
Richar Antonio Demetrio, an Indigenous park ranger from the Asháninka Communal Reserve since 2015, earned the “Outstanding Park Ranger” award. He combines forest fire prevention and control with research, monitoring over 300 colonies of stingless native bees across approximately 40,000 hectares of forest, and mentoring more than 20 Indigenous youth in conservation practices. Teófilo Torres Tuesta, head of Yaguas National Park, received the “Artífice of Conservation” award after dedicating over 25 years to Amazonian conservation.
Born in a Murui community along the Putumayo River, he helped establish protected areas and promoted sustainable practices like taricaya turtle management and rosewood harvesting with local communities. The Carlos Ponce del Prado award, named for a conservation pioneer, also honored two young conservationists and posthumously recognized Fernando Rubio del Valle for his contributions to the Cordillera Azul National Park.
