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Year by year, Silka wetland is expanding. “Before it was a small piece, a small piece of glass. But little by little it is increasing [sus dimensiones]“related to Trade Director of Biodiversity, Ministry of Environment, Mirbel PQ.

Ebi explains that the swamp “All places permanently inundated”. Although they are very different habitats, they share one characteristic: water is essential for their survival and growth.

These are the most important ecosystems for man and nature. “They provide different ecosystem services: they help regulate the climate, they are a source of resources like fishing, but also for ecotourism and other activities”Biologist and veterinarian David Montes Iturisaka, professor and researcher at the University of Science of the South, details.

For animals, they are food and shelter, breeding grounds, and in the case of migratory birds, resting places.

92 wetlands have been identified on the Peruvian coast alone, 25 of which are in Lima. Some of them are Pantanos de Villa in Chorillos; Albufera de Medio Mundo, in Vecuta; and El Paraíso Lagoon in Huacho.

According to the environment ministry, water level monitoring began in 2005, nearly two decades ago. However, until recently it was overlooked by the scientific community and authorities, and to date there is no official action on it. Safety and security.

The scientific paper “A New Artificial Wetland on the Central Coast of Peru” (2023), written by Montes with Héctor Aponte and Sonia Valle Rubio, notes that the Silca Marsh is 1.5 km long and 98 m wide as of March 2022. . Most of its water is less than 20 cm deep, about the size of a school ruler.

Over a 16-month period, the authors recorded the presence of 56 species of birds: 32 residents, which live at the site year-round; 23 Migratory species, species that come seasonally from another part of the world to meet their needs; and a wandering one, which rarely appears in a place because it is outside its usual range of distribution.

On a visit to the site in March, Trade Nine species are recognized.

“This wetland was born without intention. Nevertheless, it continues to grow.”Montes Iturrizaga says.

A wetland needs a source of water to survive. For this reason, explains Mirbel Epiqué, it is very common to find them near a river or sea.

But Silca is a rare phenomenon: it is fed by the district’s sewage, which, after being treated in oxidation ponds, flows to the coast through a canal.

“In many cases, a wetland is planned, but in this case it is not. This is a strange case, but this is how nature works: if you give it minimum conditions, it will recover. “It’s our way to help you.”Epiqué insists.

During its arrival, the newspaper saw red and dark water entering space through a canal. This is not the first time this has happened. Already in 2015, the Environmental Assessment and Enforcement Agency (OEFA) had warned of a similar phenomenon, which – noted on that occasion – “This is due to the death of microorganisms responsible for treating waste water. […] And where the red water comes from, indicates inadequate maintenance of the treatment plant.”.

Brian Cuba, head of the Silka Water Management Office, told him what happened. “It’s not static, it’s situational” And? “Depending on the maintenance work this can happen every six months”. Days later, the second visit TradeThe water was a normal color.

According to Cuba, “Expansion of the oxidation ponds is being planned so that the water treatment system can be increased.”

Trade He checked that the site was littered with waste – even in the center of the watershed – a large amount of waste: chocolate packaging, plates, containers and bottles, most of them plastic.

“The timescale of plastic degradation extends beyond our own lifetimes. Plastics ingested by seabirds from a plane shot down 60 years ago have been found nearly 10,000 km from where the bird was found.Highlights the book “The Age of Plastic” (2020) by Spanish researcher Alvaro Luna, a biomedical scientist.

Jocelyn Cardenas, Deputy Manager of Environmental Management and Health of Silca, municipality since last year “Carrying out cleaning and awareness work” In zone.

According to the official, Mayor Felix Chohuanca’s administration is preparing an ordinance that will be the first step to protect the wetland. “We’re already developing it. We plan on it taking three months at most to go to commission and be supported before council.He pointed out.

Experts and officials agree that the Silca Swamp has enormous potential, but there is still a lot to improve.