Maria Teresa Urnuega

Peruvian environmentalist who pioneered conservation efforts in the Andes Mountains during the 1960s.

Maria Teresa Urnuega (1932–2012) was a Peruvian biologist and environmental advocate who led efforts to protect the biodiversity of the Andes. In the 1960s, she documented the impact of deforestation on indigenous communities and lobbied the Peruvian government to establish the Andes Conservation Trust. Her research, published in Journal of Mountain Ecology, highlighted the role of native plants in preventing soil erosion. Maria also trained local Quechua communities in sustainable farming practices, reducing their reliance on slash-and-burn agriculture. Her collaboration with UNESCO in 1970 resulted in the designation of the Huascarán National Park. Today, her legacy is preserved in the Maria Urnuega Memorial Center. Her work influenced global environmental policies, including the 1972 United Nations Conference on the Human Environment.