A previous UIAA Mountain Protection Award winner, namely for its initiative “Self-Managed Climbing Parks” in 2020-21, the organisation Asociación 7a escalada embarks on a new journey with its project “Guardians of the Valley”. Started in 2024 and envisioned to end in 2026, the project takes place in the mountain valleys of Ch’aqqo Wayllasqa and Kuntur Sayana, of the Andean region of Pitumarca, Peru. These areas offer high-quality sport climbing sectors nestled within fragile mountain ecosystems that are home to vulnerable species such as the the Andean cat (Leopardus jacobita), classified as endangered, and the Andean deer or taruca (Hippocamelus antisensis), classified as vulnerable, according to the IUCN Red List. Through a strategy that combines conservation, community-based wildlife monitoring, and environmental education, the project seeks to protect these habitats while strengthening positive interactions between climbers, visitors, and local residents.

The project Guardians of the Valley is guided by the vision that climbing and mountain sports should not pose a threat to nature but become a meaningful opportunity to protect biodiversity and preserve the cultural landscapes of the Peruvian Andes. In a context where outdoor sports are growing rapidly, the association believes it is possible to create a model in which respect for nature and mutual learning between visitors and local communities lead to active environmental stewardship.

After successfully having placed camera traps together with the Andean Cat Alliance in the Ch’aggo Wayllasqa valley and having trained youth in wildlife monitoring, the next phase of the project will expand into the Kuntur Sayana valley, continuing its participatory monitoring approach and commitment to biodiversity protection.

In parallel, the project is developing a network of environmental and interpretive signage along trails, climbing areas, and shelters. These materials aim to raise awareness among climbers and outdoor enthusiasts, encouraging responsible behaviour and a deeper understanding of the ecological and cultural value of the area.

The main goals of the project are:

• To monitor local wildlife using trap cameras installed with the participation of trained local youth, generating crucial data to support the protection of key species and ecosystems.
• To strengthen collaborative alliances between communities, technical experts, and institutions, promoting shared governance that respects traditional land uses (like alpaca herding and small-scale farming) while ensuring responsible access for climbers and visitors.
• To educate and raise awareness among outdoor sports enthusiasts, through interpretive signage placed along trails, climbing crags, and shelters. These materials communicate the ecological and cultural value of the region and promote sustainable and respectful behaviour in the mountains.

With an integrated approach, Guardians of the Valley envisions every climbing route, every trail, and every mountain shelter as a space for learning and responsibility. The association wants climbers not only to reach summits but to understand and protect the lands they explore. The vision remains: to climb, to coexist, to conserve.

Led by Asociación 7a escalada, in alliance with the organization Uma Rumi, the local farming community, and other technical partners, the Guardians of the Valley project shows that climbing can be more than a sport – it can be a gateway to environmental respect, education, and active stewardship. Through community participation, citizen science, and visitor education, the project offers a replicable model of conservation in high-biodiversity mountain settings.