In Peru there are more than 70 protected natural areas administered by the State, which cover almost 17 % of the land territory and more than 7 % of the Peruvian sea.. In this context, every June 5, World Environment Day, is an opportunity to renew our commitment to care for the planet and take concrete action to conserve these essential spaces, which safeguard biodiversity and maintain the balance of our ecosystems.
Protected natural areas promote sustainable economic activities, such as ecotourism; they also contribute to air purification and temperature regulation. Protecting these areas may seem a complex task, however, Diego Arispe, Director of People and Community Relations, Diego Arispe, Director of People and Community Relations of Cementos Pacasmayoshows that we can all contribute in our daily lives and proposes four key actions to contribute to its conservation:
- Reuse and recycle responsibly: the accumulation of solid waste can affect rivers, soils and other ecosystems. Therefore, it is recommended that you separate your waste at home and reduce the use of plastics. A simple way to do this is also by reusing containers and avoiding unnecessary packaging, opting for sustainable options. Also, when visiting a protected natural area, bring your own reusable bottle, an ecological bag and try to generate as little waste as possible. Small changes in your routine can make a big difference for the planet.
- Learn about the natural ecosystems that exist in the country: you can't protect what you don't know. Therefore, getting information about the ecosystems near your community is the first step to value their importance. In northern Peru, for example, is the Virrilá Estuary, one of the most important wetlands on the coast of Peru, located in the province of Sechura, Piura. This vital space covers an area of 5,644 hectares and is home to more than 200 species of flora and fauna, most of which are migratory birds.
It should be noted that the Virrilá Estuary was declared in June 2021 as the fourteenth Ramsar site in Peru, a designation of international importance granted under the Ramsar Convention, an intergovernmental environmental treaty established by UNESCO.
- Participate in local conservation initiatives: apoyar proyectos ambientales en tu comunidad también es una forma de marcar la diferencia, aún más si involucras y promueves estas actividades a tu familia y amigos. Hace más de diez años, Cementos Pacasmayo, impulsa la protección del Estuario de Virrilá, promoviendo su conservación y preservación como parte de su estrategia de sostenibilidad. La compañía viene trabajando activamente de la mano con las comunidades aledañas y autoridades para la protección y recuperación de este ecosistema clave, hogar de cientos de especies de flora y fauna.
- Your purchases also build a sustainable future: responsible consumption is a powerful way to care for the environment. By choosing local, low environmental impact products made with sustainable practices, we contribute to building an economy that respects its environment and protects its resources. Every purchase decision has the potential to make a positive change. For example, you can use the EcoSaco of Cementos Pacasmayoa package that breaks down in the concrete mixer in a spinning top style. With its correct use, approximately 4.5 million bags of cement would not end up as waste per year.
"At Cementos Pacasmayo, we believe that sustainability is not just another objective within our strategy, but a way to promote the true growth of a business in order to build the future we dream of. For this reason, we renew our commitment to continue working on projects focused on the conservation and sustainable development of natural spaces."commented Arispe. It is important to remember that the protection of ecosystems is not only the responsibility of public or private organizations or companies, we can all be part of the change.
