Peruvian government protects habitat

The government of Peru has announced it is to make a number of sites in the country protected areas in a bid to try and tackle falling bird numbers.

According to environmental website Monga Bay, the government will now make some 33 Peruvian sites protected areas, which are home to millions of birds including several endangered species.

The sites - which cover a total area of some 350,000 acres - are "guano" areas and are used as nesting areas by birds including the endangered Humboldt Penguin and the Peruvian Diving-petrel.

Guano, which is a mixture of the excrement of birds and other animals such as seals, is a highly exportable product for Peru.

Commenting on the decision, Dr Patricia Majluf said: "One hundred years from now, we may look back at this as a 'sea change' in the political role of the environment in South America. The key will be the extent to which this decision gets fully developed, implemented and enforced."

Written by Kimberley Homer.

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