From the Andes to the Pacific

Biodiversity Monitoring and Assessment Program (BMAP)

Scientists from the Center for Conservation and Sustainability (CCS) established the Biodiversity Monitoring and Assessment Program (BMAP). The program serves to evaluate and conduct long-term monitoring of key biodiversity indicator species. CCS has been implementing a BMAP in Peru, in collaboration with PERU LNG, for almost two decades. The company transports, stores, and exports liquefied natural gas. The program provides long-term ecological data to understand the structure, dynamics, and recovery of ecosystems across Andean and marine environments. BMAPs help identify strategies for conserving biodiversity in landscapes affected by human activity.

This science-based approach has helped the development of national environmental policies. For instance, BMAP data contributed to the development of technical guidelines for a decision-making protocol now used in environmental impact studies. Approved in 2023 by the Peruvian National Service of Environmental Certification for Sustainable Investments (SENACE), this protocol provides a framework for avoiding, minimizing, restoring, and compensating for the environmental impacts of development projects, promoting better management of biodiversity and the ecosystem services it provides.

BMAP in Andean Ecosystems

The Andean mountains are known for their complex geography and climate, including steep slopes and unstable geology. Andean ecosystems transition from high-altitude wetlands to arid grasslands, deeply dissected by inter-Andean valleys, and barren deserts.

PERU LNG operates a pipeline that begins in the eastern Andes of Ayacucho in south-central Peru and extends to the Pacific coast, 170 kilometers (106 miles) south of Lima. Although the pipeline mostly avoids key habitats, it still passes through forests, shrublands, grasslands, and deserts that support a variety of plant and animal species.

The Peruvian BMAP includes studies in bofedales, unique high-altitude wetlands that occur above 4,000 meters (13,000 feet). This ecosystem is adapted to the Andes' harsh climate, enduring intense solar radiation, extreme daily temperature fluctuations, strong winds, and prolonged dry seasons in some regions. During these dry seasons, bofedales provide essential water, food, shelter, and nesting sites for wildlife and livestock.

Across Peru’s arid coasts and highland grasslands, the BMAP team is comparing the species composition and coverage of vegetation in restored and control sites across key regions. Decade-long surveys show that high Andean wetlands, once thought to be uniform, are more diverse than previously believed. A recent study led by CCS researcher Reynaldo Linares revealed that these ecosystems host a variety of distinct plant communities, each responding differently to environmental change. This finding highlights the importance of designing conservation and restoration strategies that are tailored to the specific conditions of each site, especially as climate and land-use pressures increase.

BMAP in Marine Ecosystems

Since 2010, the PERU LNG marine terminal on Peru’s central coast — at the end of a 408 km (254 miles) pipeline crossing the Andes—has served as a long-term site for CCS-led biodiversity monitoring and conservation research. This BMAP focuses on understanding marine ecosystems, promoting sustainable resource use, and applying science to guide effective management. The site is also part of MarineGEO’s Central Coast–Peru station, a Smithsonian-led global network dedicated to advancing knowledge and protection of marine biodiversity.

The BMAP has documented how an 800-meter-long (2625 feet) breakwater became a nesting site for seabirds. Even during construction, seabirds took over specific parts of the structure. One of the most notable is the threatened Humboldt penguin (Spheniscus humboldti), which found shelter in the crevices created by the natural rock formation of the breakwater. The calm waters on the inland side of the breakwater and the abundant fish have created a perfect environment for this colony to flourish.

Over the past decade, the Humboldt penguin population at the breakwater has grown remarkably from just 60 individuals to around 1,800. These penguins now feed and reproduce successfully, with nesting activity occurring twice a year. In 2025, researchers recorded 220 active nests, a modest but meaningful increase from 214 in 2024. This increase is particularly encouraging following a global decrease in nesting numbers attributed to avian flu and the El Niño climate phenomenon. The continued presence of nesting pairs signals a positive trajectory for the colony’s recovery and long-term stability.

This thriving colony of Humboldt penguins — one of the country’s largest — has become a symbol of successful conservation efforts. Classified as Vulnerable by the IUCN, this species is closely monitored by our research team.

Using drones, nest surveys, and data loggers to monitor penguin movements and habitat use, the BMAP team gathers long-term ecological data that directly supports Peru’s national conservation efforts. The team performs an annual census of molting seabirds, along with regular visits to breakwater areas to count penguin nests, measure eggs, and locate nesting sites.

Our research has strengthened Peru’s conservation plan for Humboldt penguins and marine otters, demonstrating how targeted science leads to stronger protections. Safeguarding marine life starts with evidence, and this effort is delivering measurable impact.