The importance of defining wetlands in Peru: The case of the Poza La Arenilla coastal wetland

Abstract

Historically, coastal wetland protection in Peru has been marked by regulatory gaps that undermine ecological integrity. The Poza La Arenilla coastal wetland (Callao) supports more than 100 bird species and 95 macrobenthic species; however, its current regulatory status derives from an administrative classification which categorizes the site as an artificial coastal infrastructure. In this policy brief, we examine this regulatory controversy in the light of Ramsar Convention guidelines, through a review of the legal frameworks and literature related to its physical characteristics, with the aim of substantiating the case for its official recognition. Our analysis confirms that the site fulfills the ecological, tidal and bathymetric (< 3 m) criteria of a functional wetland, and we conclude that it is technically feasible to harmonize sectoral criteria, in order to incorporate this ecosystem into current environmental conservation mechanisms, thereby mitigating the urban pressures on its biodiversity.