View of Quebrada Cerro Blanco
My name is Elliott Lang, I am from South Devon in the UK and I am currently studying Ba. Geography at the University of West England in Bristol. I’m volunteering with EcoSwell at Lobitos, Peru for 5 months as an NGO management intern. With my time here at EcoSwell, I’m hoping to learn more about the logistics of running an NGO and increase my knowledge of the ongoing projects I am involved in such as Surfonomics and Lobitos Verde (Green Lobitos) and hopefully, have a positive impact on Lobitos. Lobitos is a perfect place for me to work as surfing is one of my passions in life and “las Olas estan buenazas en Lobitos!” (the surf is sick in Lobitos!). Allowing me to pursue my passion for sustainability and surfing in the same place!
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On Friday 19th October Daria Fortin (another EcoSwell volunteer for the Reforestation/Conservation project), Diego Almendrades (an EcoSwell Director 
Hive account@diego-ecoswell) and I set off at sunrise on a trek to Cerro Blanco, a “Quebrada" (dry valley) area a couple of kilometers south of the main Lobitos residential area. As we walked along the dusty road I had a sense of how present the oil industry was with oil pipes stretching nearly across the whole landscape, but as we followed the pipes further into Cerro Blanco I began to see the diverse range of species that inhabited the landscape. As we walked we stopped at different species of native trees to identify them in the wild and collect seeds we could germinate back at the EcoSwell house. We collected seeds from species such as Sapote, Palo Negro, Vichayo, Realengo, and Faique trees which we hopefully can then propagate through EcoSwell’s reforestation projects.
Sapote tree and fruit (seeds inside) – Colicodendron scabridum
Oil pipelines across the natural landscape and vegetation
However, within the native trees lie various invasive species such as the saltcedar (Tamarix sp.) that affects the salinity of the soil making it harder for other plants to grow. Also present was the Luffa or “jabonilla”, which is native but still invasive to other species in the dry forest. It spreads during the rains and distributes itself across the landscape like huge spiders webs covering the other plants in its path, an occurrence that is seemingly being made worse due to climate change.
Invasive species – Tamarix
Invasive species – Luffa or “jabonilla”
We continued down the track of the Quebrada valley that ends in a sort of a dry delta towards the beach, where we discovered a pretty good surf spot in the far left of the bay against a white cliff, hence the name “Cerro Blanco”. The cliff is white because of seabirds’ droppings (“guano”), who use this spot to gather between migratory trips. The beach was untouched apart from the presence of new development just behind the dunes. Fence posts and stacked blocks at the ready to build new hostels and other accommodation. These could be a potential threat to the natural structure of the beach and the surf if the buildings are erected without considering the impact on wind flows and sand deposits on the beach. This is something that has already happened in the main surf point in Lobitos and is a good reason to avoid making the same mistakes again. The Cerro Blanco "quebrada" undoubtedly plays a critical role in the natural sanding process of this particular beach and surf spot.
Cerro Blanco beach, surf and sand dunes
Potential new development
We walked back into the dry Forest where we heard and saw the Cortarrama Peruano (Peruvian Plantcutter Phytotoma raimondii), a rare endemic and endangered bird that EcoSwell is trying to conserve by recovering its habitat, as well as the Collared Antshrike (Thamnophilus bernardi), the Coastal Miner (Geositta peruviana) and a variable hawk (Geranoaetus polyosoma). We also saw also goat and Sechuran fox (Lycalopex sechurae) droppings, which act as natural propagation and germination of native seeds, very beneficial for the local ecosystem. But, we then saw piles of dumped solid waste and evidence of logging of the Algarrobo tree, one of the trees that the Cortarrama and the whole dry forest depend on for survival, for it is the dominant tree. Sadly, it is also the most sought by loggers (selective logging) to use or sell as fuelwood or turn into charcoal.
Informally dumped solid waste
Logging of algarrobo (Prosopis pallida), the dominant tree of the dry forest
Peruvian Plantcutters, female (left) and male (right) (Photo taken by Anthony Rizzi)
From one trek I was amazed by all the different parts that make up Cerro Blanco; the different types of trees, the many animals that inhabit the landscape, and the untouched beach with a good surf spot. But also saddened by the threats that face this beautiful landscape, such as leaking oil wells, deforestation and possible unplanned development in the area. EcoSwell’s aim is to get Cerro Blanco formally declared as “district interest” for conservation by the local municipality, so that conservation management projects and policy can be introduced for its preservation in collaboration with local authorities, population, and private companies.
Written by Elliott Lang
All photos taken by Daria Fortin, Diego Almendrades (Hive account@diego-ecoswell) and Elliott Lang unless otherwise noted
@EcoSwell is a for-impact, sustainable development organization based in Lobitos, Peru. Since 2014, we have been working everyday to help coastal communities thrive in unison with nature. If you would like to learn more, please visit our Facebook, website, and follow us on SteemIt!
