Peru Creates New Regional Conservation Area: Lomas de Lima

Local women organized the Amancaes Hills Ecotourism Circuit. PHOTO: Carlos Soria.

ELAW’s law and science teams worked for years with attorney Carlos Soria to protect the unique green spaces surrounding Lima, Peru. The lomas are a fragile ecosystem known as fog oases that are home to threatened and endemic species within the vast, arid Sechura Desert Ecosystem.

On December 7, 2019 the Ministry of the Environment of Peru took a big step to protect the lomas. It created a new Regional Conservation Area: Lomas de Lima. The Lomas de Lima protected area is comprised of 5 zones: Lomas de Amancaes, Lomas de Ancón, Lomas de Carabayllo 1 and 2, and Lomas de Villa María. The decree defines 13,475 hectares in all, with the objectives of protecting biodiversity and cultural heritage, and mitigating climate change.

“It is an important step in the conservation and sustainable management of these areas. I thank ELAW for supporting this process. There are new tasks ahead in which I am sure we will continue to collaborate in support of Protectores Ambientales de la Flor y Lomas de Amancaes (PAFLA) activists,” says Carlos.

Congratulations to PAFLA, Carlos, and all who contributed to this victory!


ELAW collaborates with environmental defenders around the world. Over the past year, we’ve partnered on more than 480 projects like this one, with grassroots advocates in 63 countries.

Ismene amancaes. PHOTO: Manolo Robles via Wikimedia Commons.

As we approach 2020, I hope you will consider supporting ELAW’s fight for environmental and climate justice. Your gift will help us collaborate with partners to:

  • Keep coal in the ground and transition to renewable energy;
  • End the wasteful use and disposal of plastic and hold polluters accountable; and
  • Win victories for wildlife, wild places and the communities that depend on them.

Thank you, and best wishes from all of us at ELAW!

Karen Guillory
Outreach Coordinator
Environmental Law Alliance Worldwide

For more information, please see:

Publican decreto que crea el área de conservación regional sobre las lomas de Lima (12/7/2019)

Saving Lima’s Lomas de Amancaes (3/5/18)