1. General information
Location and description of the intervention
City or FUA
Lima (FUA)
Region
Latin America and the Caribbean
Native title of the NBS intervention
Proyecto EbA Lomas - Área de Conservación Regional Lomas de Lima
Short description of the intervention
Lomas are endemic seasonal ecosystems found in Peru and Chile. They provide a variety of benefits such as soil stabilisation, air purification, recreational spaces, water retention, and are habitats for endemic and threatened species (Ref 7). They are of great ecosystem value to the city of Lima, as green areas have been reduced in the urban area, occupying up to 24% of urban green ecosystems. These ecosystems are threatened by unplanned urban growth, traffic, pollution and lack of government regulation. Given this context, Eab Lomas is a project that focuses on the conservation, management and rehabilitation of the ecosystems found in the Lomas of Lima (Ref 1, 2, 3, 4, 5). It focused on 4 lines of action: conservation of Lomas' ecosystems; implementation of territorial planning; economic diversification focused on the conservation and recovery of vegetation through low-impact recreational activities; and management of water resources (Ref 1, 2, 3, 4).
Implementation area characterization
Timeline of intervention
Start date of the intervention (planning process)
2016
Start date of intervention (implementation process)
2019
End date of the intervention
2021
Present stage of the intervention
Objectives of the intervention
Goals of the intervention
The main goal of the project is to protect, conserve and sustainably manage Lomas ecosystems in the province of Lima (Ref 2, 7).

Specific goals:
- To ensure ecosystem conservation and land use/ occupation control (Ref 1)
- To contribute to the integrated management and protection of Lomas ecosystems in the Province of Lima (Ref 3)
- To reduce the risks of the degradation of Lomas ecosystems in the Province of Lima (Ref 7)
- To strengthen the capacity of local governments, the Metropolitan Municipality of Lima and SERNANP to plan and manage in a participatory manner the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of fragile Lomas ecosystems (Ref 7)
- To create jobs and livelihoods through the sustainable management of natural resources, ecosystem services, food production, tourism, chemicals and waste management (Ref 3)
- To strengthen local knowledge on climate variability and change, as well as the inclusion of women and youth in training and income-generating activities (Ref 2)
Climate change adaptation: What activities are implemented to realize the conservation goals and targets?
Habitats and biodiversity conservation: What types of conservation goals are / were defined for the NBS intervention?
What types of restoration goals are / were defined for the NBS intervention?
Implementation activities and NBS focus
Implementation activities
The project included the following activities:
Detailed characterisation of 14 Lomas (Ref 3)
Technical and resource accompaniment and support (Ref 3)
Delimitation and establishment of protected areas (Ref 3)
Elaboration and approval of the Lomas Conservation Strategy and its Action Plan (Ref 3)
Support local governments in the elaboration of management policies, including land use, zoning and planning, with conservation and ecosystem services criteria (Ref 3)
Evaluate and strengthen public-private partnerships (Ref 3, 4)
Design and implement the Restoration Plan for Degraded Lomas Areas (Ref 3)
Identify low-impact sustainable practices for agriculture and pastoralism and train local farmers/pastoralists and mining concession holders in sustainable and low-impact practices (Ref 3, 4)
Design and implementation of Investment Plan for tourism infrastructure (Ref 3)
Elaboration of Monitoring Plan and establishment of monitoring sites for conservation and sustainable use of ecosystems (Ref 3, 4)
Development and implementation of the communication strategy (paper and virtual) and the citizen mobilisation campaign with a gender and youth focus (Ref 3)
NBS domain and interventions
Ecological domain(s) where the NBS intervention(s) is/are implemented
Parks and urban forests
Large urban parks or forests
Green corridors and green belts
Please specify other amenities offered by the NBS
Ecotourism circuit
Services
Expected ecosystem services delivered
Provisioning services
Water (surface and ground water for drinking and non-drinking purposes)
Habitat and supporting services
Habitats for species
Cultural services
Tourism
Recreation
Intellectual interactions (scientific and / or educational)
Scale
Spatial scale
Meso-scale: Regional, metropolitan and urban level
Beneficiaries
Demographics in implementation area
42,000 people in Metropolitan Lima benefited by the restoration and sustainable management of the lomas ecosystem. Direct beneficiaries:
- 5 civil society ecotourism and hill defence associations, and a total of 85 associates.
- 610 people providing sustainable and better quality tourism services.
- 50 families benefiting from sustainable agriculture and livestock farming (Ref 3).
Socio-economic profile of the area
Communities vulnerable to environmental hazards or climate change impacts
Unknown
Non-government actors
Public sector institution (e.g. school or hospital)
Non-governmental organisation (NGO) / Civil society / Churches
Private sector/Corporate/Business
Researchers, university
Citizens or community groups
Other
Specify primary beneficiaries
Community groups: Red de Lomas del Perú, Lomeras y Lomeros en Acción, Ecotourism organisations, and farmer communities (Ref 8), families living in the Lomas, pig farmers (Ref 3).
Measures for inclusion of marginalised groups
The intervention has actively promoted women's local participation. Seventy per cent of the total membership of the Lomas del Paraíso Association, as well as about 70 per cent of the total beneficiaries of the economic activities of this intervention, are women. The activities in which they are involved are mainly associated with tara nursery, tuber filling, seed management and neighbourhood leadership. EbA Lomas has also involved young people in the activities associated with the nursery and administration. About 30% of the participants are between 19 and 29 years old, and have been involved in volunteer work in the nurseries, neighbourhood leadership, management of the ecotourism circuit and environmental aspects of the measures (Ref 2)
Governance
Please specify other non-government actors involved
Political International Organisation
Please specify the roles of the specific government and non-government actor groups involved in the initiative
United Nations Development Programme: Implementing organisation (2, 3, 5, 7), Co-financing entity (9)
Asociación Circuito Ecoturístico Lomas de Paraíso, Municipalidad Metropolitana de Lima: Co-implementig organisations (3)
The Green European Foundation: Funding organisation (3, 4)
Peruvian Ministry of the Environment: Strategic partner (1, 3, 4, 5)
Servicio Nacional de Áreas Naturales Protegidas por el Estado: organisation attached to the Peruvian Ministry of the Environment (3, 5), Co-financing entity (9)
Groups of ecotourism and Lomas protection associations (3)
District Governments (3)
Regional Government of Metropolitan Lima (3)
Directorate of Education of Metropolitan Lima and the Ministry of Education: research activities (8)
Key actors - initiating organization
Key actors - Other stakeholders involved (besides initiating actors)
Local government/municipality
Public sector institution
Non-government organisation/civil society
Citizens or community group
Researchers/university
Private sector/corporate actor/company
Level of citizen and community engagement
Policy drivers
NBS intervention implemented in response to a Regional Directive/Strategy
Unknown
NBS intervention implemented in response to a national regulations/strategy/plan
Unknown
NBS intervention implemented in response to a local regulation/strategy/plan
Yes
Please specify the "local regulation/strategy/plan"
Metropolitan Urban Development Plan (Plan 2040) and the Lima Climate Change Plan (Ref 1)
Conservation Strategy for Lomas de Lima (Metropolitan Environmental Agenda 2015-17 includes strategic action 2.2.4 which establishes the need for Lima's Municipality to work in Lomas) (Ref 3)
Mandatory or voluntary intervention
Voluntary (spontaneous)
Enablers & Barriers
Please provide details (e.g, name of the plan or strategy) for the selected policies or initiatives.
Lima’s NBS interventions build on an array of strategies and policies that have been designed to face Lima's societal challenges in an integrated way. Most of these initiatives come under the umbrella of the Lima Ecological Infrastructure Plan (PEAIE) proposed in 2014; though not yet approved. Its approach is currently being integrated into the new Metropolitan Urban Development Plan (Plan 2040) and the Lima Climate Change Plan, focused on implementing the goals defined in the Paris Agreement. The Plan is supported by an “Ecosystem” strategy which integrates NBS to conserve the largest natural areas in metropolitan Lima and improve its resilience in the face of increasing temperatures, heat waves and water scarcity (Ref 1). In some cases, youth organisations promoted local projects to involve the population in the care and appreciation of the Lomas. Advocacy was carried out by the population itself and the interest in articulating themselves arose (Ref 8). The programme was based on the Lomas de Lima Metropolitan Programme, developed between 2011 and 2014, which brought together associations, environmental groups, specialists, students and laid the foundation stone for the articulated management of the Lomas with the first proposal for the Regional Conservation Area in 2014 (Ref 7).
Barriers
- Inadequacies in knowledge, skills, and political will among local authorities and technical teams in managing the Lomas ecosystem sustainably (Ref 1, 7)
- Complexities in coordinating approaches that involve various levels of government and stakeholders in a conceptual, strategic, and operational manner (Ref 7)
- Illegal land market (Ref 7)
- Bureaucratic and administrative processes on the part of the local education management unit (UGEL) (Ref 7)
- Constraints in human and financial resource management (Ref 7)
- High turnover of key staff within local governments (Ref 3)
- The declaration of national emergency and quarantine by COVID-19 continues to affect the progress of the project (Ref 3)
- Lengthy administrative processes related to the review, evaluation and approval of the different processes concerning the project, at the different levels of governance (Ref 3)
- Low capacity for knowledge transfer among lomeros and with other institutions
Financing
Please specify total cost (EUR)
1,811,179.64
What is/was the Cost/Budget (EUR) of the NBS or green infrastructure elements?
Unknown
Non-financial contribution
Unknown
Co-finance for NBS
Yes
Co-governance arrangement
Entrepreneurship opportunities
Yes
What entrepreneurship opportunities have arisen from the NBS project?
What types of actors are leading the entrepreneurship activities linked to the NBS project?
Business models
Which of the involved actors was motivated by this model?
Impacts, benefits
Description of environmental benefits
- Increased green space area: "Approximately 800 ha are no longer used for mining as they are converted to PCA" (Ref 3)
- Improved resilience against landslides: "For the local case Paraíso/EbA Lomas, it is expected that the reforestation of the hilly ecosystem will contribute to reducing the risk of natural disasters such as landslides and rock falls." (Ref 2)
- Increased number of protection areas: "The RCA SLL (Regional Conservation Area Sistema Lomas de Lima) was created and approved in December 2019. The Master Plan was finalised in March 2021 and, after comments on the final version, is still awaiting approval at the MLM level. A recognised PCA is in place. From the third quarter of 2020, the project successfully provided technical support to the mining company UNACEM, owner of land in the hills of Pachacamac, so that 788 hectares of these hills can be recognised as a private conservation area (PCA)." (Ref 3)
- Restoration of derelict areas: "Approximately 800 ha are no longer used for mining as they are converted to PCA" (Ref 3)
- Increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems: "3.45 out of 100 ha reforested per project" (Ref 3). "The native plant material available at that time was not sufficient even after the target was changed. The objective of the project shifts towards the creation of the necessary supply through the implementation of seed nurseries." (Ref 3)
- Increased number of species present: "3.45 ha reforested. Additional key achievements for the restoration plan: 4 nurseries implemented to provide material for reforestation" (Ref 3)
Environmental impact indicators
Total area of habitat restored (in ha)
3.54 ha
Total area of protected or secured natural areas (in ha)
13,475
Description of economic benefits
- Increase of green jobs: "29.7% overall increase of employment as a result of tourism activities." (Ref 3)

- More sustainable tourism: "The 6 civil society organisations (CSOs) have undertaken small projects to support the improvement of tourist routes (2 Trabaja Peru projects for economic reactivation that have been leveraged from the 2 micro-capitals of the AbE Lomas Project and that complement the work that was initiated from these projects)." (Ref 3)

- Generation of other type of work opportunities (e.g. voluntary, work for rehabilitation): "140 volunteers and service providers" (Ref 3)
Economic impact indicators
Number of jobs created (e.g. park maintenance, landscaping, ecotourism)
29.7% increase of employement
Number of businesses attracted by the NBS (number)
6 social organisations (82 people)
Other indicators
33% annual increase in visitors before the pandemic
Social and cultural impact indicators
Number of community events, gatherings, or volunteer activities organized in green spaces
18 events
Number of environmental education programs, workshops, outreach activities (eg. in schools, community centers, public spaces)
93 schools impacted
Other indicators
245 direct beneficieries, 6 organisations
Description of social and cultural benefits
- Increased sustainability of agriculture practices: "55 pig farmers were trained in environmentally friendly production practices in Mangomarca." (Ref 3)
- Increased sense of place identity, memory and belonging: "The beneficiary population has acquired knowledge and has become aware of the fragility and importance of the Lomas ecosystem, and this has given them a sense of identification with the area." (Ref 2)
- Education: Increased support for education and scientific research: "93 schools involved in fog oasis conservation activities in Lima by 2021" (Ref 3)
Evidence for use of assessment
Presence of an assessment, evaluation and/or monitoring process
Yes
Actors involved in the assessment, monitoring or evaluation of NBS impacts
Presence of indicators used in reporting
Yes
Presence of monitoring/evaluation reports
Yes
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
Name of any specific impact assessment tools
Unknown
Use of GIS in mapping impacts
Yes
Cost-benefit analysis
Yes
Justice
Description of locals satisfaction with the project
Most of the feedback found is positive in terms of strengthening information about the ecosystems of the Lomas, the conservation efforts that are being carried out, the possibilities to receive training, do research and use technology to improve water management, and lastly, the possibilities of association between the different communities and interested institutions. However, there are aspects in the progress reports that mention that although the communities are willing to collaborate, they are reluctant to adopt traditional conservation models (Ref 7, 8)
Trade-offs & Negative impacts
Measures to prevent gentrification or displacement
High-quality & Transformative NBS
Multiple impacts delivery (climate, biodiversity, just community)
Yes
Goal setting and impacts delivery
Yes, from the planning phase the project aimed to address issues in these three key priority areas and it also delivered benefits across these three areas.
Reaching original project goals
Long-term perspective
Unknown: No information about the project's long-term sustainability.
Cost-effective solutions
Yes
Equitable impacts
Application of lessons learned
Perception of Environmental Change
Yes
NBS Supports ecological or environmental anxiety
Unknown
References
1.
Naumann, S.; Burgos Cuevas N.; Davies, C.; Bradley, S.; Mahmoud, I. H.; Arlati, A. (2023). Harnessing the power of collaboration for nature-based solutions . Accessed on August 1, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];
2.
Mori-Clement, Y.; Zapata, F. (2023). Las Soluciones basadas en la Naturaleza y sus beneficios socioeconómicos para el Perú. Accessed on August 1, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];
3.
Fernández-Baca, E. (2021). Informe del cierre del proyecto - Conservación, Gestión y Rehabilitación de los Ecosistemas Frágiles de Lomas en Lima - Eba Lomas . UNDP Peru, Accessed on August 1, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];
4.
UNDP Peru (n.d.). EbA Lomas. Accessed on August 1, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];
5.
UNDP Peru (2024). Conservación, gestión y rehabilitación de ecosistémas frágiles de lomas en Lima, promover mejores condiciones para la conservación de estos ecosistemas que albergan diversas especies de importancia global, y reducir los riesgos de degradación. Accessed on August 1, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];
6.
Peruvian Government (n.d.). Proyecto EbA Lomas concluye actividades contribuyendo a la conservación de 20 mil hectáreas de lomas de Lima. Accessed on August 2, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];
7.
Clima de Cambios PUPC (2020). Lomas costeras: un paraíso por proteger. Accessed on August 2, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];
8.
López Sotomayor, G. (2022). Detrás de la neblina Lecciones aprendidas en las lomas de Lima. UNDP Peru, Accessed on August 2, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];
9.
UNDP (2022). TERMINOS DE REFERENCIA (TdR) PNUD/IC-474-2021 – Evaluación Final del Proyecto Conservación, gestión y rehabilitación de los ecosistemas frágiles de Lomas en Lima - EbA Lomas. Accessed on August 5, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];
10.
Abanto Quino, D. (2022). Valoración Económica de Las Lomas de Lima. Accessed on August 5, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];
Comments and notes
Public Images
Image
Flowers and plants in a Loma of Lima
Flowers and plants in a Loma of Lima
UNDP - https://www.undp.org/es/peru/noticias/conservar-las-lomas-un-ecosistema-unico-y-vital-en-lima
Image
Picture of a Loma of Lima
Picture of a Loma of Lima
Peruvian Government - https://www.gob.pe/institucion/sernanp/noticias/570001-proyecto-eba-lomas-concluye-actividades-contribuyendo-a-la-conservacion-de-20-mil-hectareas-de-lomas-de-lima