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The yaqu
pacha project Sacha Pacha [Jungle World]
is
carried out in Ecuador; mainly in the Cuyabeno Reserve
(Reserva de Produccion Faunistica de Cuyabeno) which is one of the areas
of highest biodiversity on our earth. It is home of two species of River
Dolphins, the Amazon Manatee and the Giant Otter. |
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The latter being
one of the most endangered aquatic mammal species worldwide.
Oil is exploited at
the western borders of the Reserve, and the waste water is dumped into
the tributaries of the Reserve's main river.
Furthermore, pipeline accidents
are quite frequent, and oil slicks contribute to the contamination of the
rivers. Prior to this project, no evaluation of this contamination existed,
which is inevitable to bring about control measures.
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German
and Ecuadorian biologists of yaqu pacha are investigating
the abundance of the Pink River Dolphin, the Manatee,
and the Giant Otter, and
the factors that threaten these species. A monitoring programme on the
water quality of the rivers
provided first evidence
that some of the rivers are contaminated by waste water of the Oil Industry.
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Furthermore, our biologists
established educational work at schools and communities.
The awareness and help of the local people will prevent the oil industries
to go further into the nature reserve.
Another important factor
is to provide the indigeneous people with alternative sources of income,
e. g. controlled Eco-Tourism and long term use of biological resources
of the rain forest. |
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