The first formal biodiversity survey of the Tambopata river basin in south eastern Peru was carried out

thirty years ago by an expedition organized by the Smithsonian Institution. About the same amount of time has elapsed since the initial efforts were made at the political level in Peru by Max Gunther, to create a protected area around the first ecotourism lodge in Peru, the Explorers Inn on the Tambopata river. This year has been witness to new developments and recurrent news of old problems in the Tambopata and the whole of the Madre de Dios region in Peru. These call for urgent attention on the part of conservationists worldwide and of the citizens of Peru. The most visible of these is the so called "Southern Interoceanic roadway". The transcontinental paved highway will cross through the middle of Madre de Dios on its way from Brazil to the Pacific coast and is expected to contribute significantly to the social and economic development of the region. However, not much is known about the impact of such a road on natural areas currently under protection. It is fundamental that a serious technical discussion take place on the environmental costs and those of measures to protect what has been already achieved in this region through the creation of natural reserves. Ongoing problems that affect biodiversity in Madre de Dios and that also deserve our attention include the potential expansion of oil and gas exploratory activities to areas presently under protection, the impact of informal gold mining on watersheds, the expansion of the agricultural activities through the new road and the illegal extraction of forest products. It is within this framework that IDEA-PUCP is organizing an international symposium about the Madre de Dios region and the apparent conflicts that exist between the call for the conservation of biodiversity in the area and of regional development plans. The main expectation is that such a forum, hopefully distant from political positions and special interest groups, will help inform the public and create a consensus of what to do in order to assure the social development of Madre de Dios and also preserve the natural legacy of Perus last effective frontier for future generations. Objectives Create a technical discussion forum for the biological, social and economic issues of the Madre de Dios region. Present information to the general public and to political authorities, from the perspective of local and international researchers, about the biological potential of Madre de Dios, its ecological fragility and about the experience in other continents in trying to accommodate social expectations with the protection of biodiversity

Programm Photographic exhibition "Biodiversity, conservation and regional development in Madre de Dios" Exhibition hall, Larco Mar shopping mall, Lima 3 to 27 November Free entrance

Symposium Cultural Center of the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru, Lima

7 and 8 November Admittance only to pre-registered attendants

Workshop and celebration of the anniversary of the Explorers Inn Explorers Inn, Tambopata, Madre de Dios 9 to 12 November Only for invited guests

1. Sustainable use of biodiversity. A rational use of ecotourism

David Pearson, Arizona State University, USA

2. The southern interoceanic roadway and its implications on the

proposed biodiversity corridor Vilcabamba -Ambor. Gustavo Surez de Freitas, Consultant and former Intendent of Natural Protected Areas of INRENA, Peru

3. Social and agricultural challenges in the Buffer Zone of the BahuajaSonene/Tambopata Antonio Chvez, Accin Agraria, Peru

4. Towards industrial valorization of plant genetic resources from

Natural Protected Areas: Biodiversity and Bioeconomy Carlos Malpica, Consultant, CONCYTEC, Peru

5. Insect biodiversity
Gerardo Lamas, Javier Prado Natural History Museum, San Marcos University, Lima, Peru

6. Forest productivity and carbon cycling in the Amazon- The global

RAINFOR initiative Oliver Phillips, University of Leeds, UK

7. Amphibian communities on the cutting edge? Assessing the impact

of anthropogenic disturbance on multi-species systems in tropical forests. Raffael Ernst, University of Wrzburg, Germany and Forest Commission, Guyana

8. On the importance of scientific collections for biodiversity research

Andreas Schlter, Natural History Museum, Stuttgart, Germany

9. The value of ecoturism and the role of volunteers in supporting

research and conservation in Tambopata. Christopher Kirkby, The Tambopata Research Society (TReeS), Peru/UK

10. Biological and cultural diversity: towards a dialog as intercultural

praxis Mara Chavarra, University of St. Thomas, USA/Peru