Biological monitoring programs provide data and information for decision making and to ensure the resources protection. However, in tropical ecosystems that are home to most of the planet’s biodiversity these programs need to be improved in design and implementation. As part of the Environmental Management Plan "Environmental Impact Assessment for the 2D-3D Seismic Program and drilling of 22 exploratory wells in Kinteroni, Mapi and Mashira – Block 57" (Peru), we develop a Biological Monitoring Plan to keep track of potential biological changes (temporal and spatial scale) caused by the project activities to identify the need for corrective actions or to define new measures for unforeseen impacts. Temporarily, the activities of the monitoring plan depend on the stages of the project (construction, operation and closure), meanwhile they correspond spatially to factors that may cause effects on the flora and fauna. Block 57 is located in the Amazon rain forest of southern Peru; this is an ecosystem with limited information. Seeking a scheme to support exploration activities, It has been designed a systematic biological monitoring program, based on a gradient of disturbance caused by the clarification of an area. This design is intended to identify the variables that are most sensitive to the effect of exploration activities in forests with similar features and comparable seasons. The design is being implemented in exploratory platforms of Block 57 located in the buffer zones of the Ashaninka and Machiguenga Communal Reserves and Otishi National Park, covering the three stages of the drilling process, and evaluating spatially flora and arthropods to smaller scale (≤ 150 m from the edge of the deforested area) and birds, small mammals and reptiles at the mesoscale (≤ 600 m from the edge of the deforested area), in the area around the cleared area. The information generated, besides determining the parameters used to assess the level of impacts on local wildlife generated during the drilling, helps to evaluate the effectiveness of appropriate sampling methodologies and optimizes logistics; looking forward to replicate this design in other tropical ecosystems.

Tropical forests are megadiverse ecosystems with a high degree of complexity. Inside them, may be recognized areas where the important resources are concentrated for populations of wild fauna inhabiting them. Those areas called BSA (biological sensitive areas) attract a great quantity and diversity of species, and include among others, the salt and clay licks, baths/watering holes, feeders and nesting zones.During the activities of seismic 3D, are established mitigation measures such as offset displacements applied near the BSAs; and although these management practices are divulged, currently there is scarce information regarding the efficiency of these; as well as the effects of the seismic on the wild fauna population. The necessity of extending the knowledge there is on these aspects is the basis of the importance of this work.The study consisted in the follow up through the use of trap cameras of a population of Leopardus pardalis (ocelot) using as biological indicators: abundance and spacial distribution of the specie, and also the monitoring of the frequency of use of five SBAs (two salt or clay licks, two roads and a watering hole), which were selected according to their size, frequency of use and distance from the seismic lines. The studied area had a scope of approximately 35,8 Km 2 , inside the zone of 3D seismic acquisition (210 Km 2 ); in this zone was distributed a grid with 23 stations with trap cameras (separated with a distance between 900 -1300 m), as well as 5 stations in the BSAs selected. The trap cameras were located at a height between 25-45cm, operating 24 hours and being reviewed in average every 10 days. The study period include the phases: before (control), during (phases of topography, drilling and registry), and after the seismic activity (abandonment).The data obtained applies to the minimization of impacts on the biodiversity in 3D seismic explorations, serving as support to improve environmental practices of the sector as well as the main aspects to be taken into consideration for success. The resulting information also contributes to the knowledge of the biological diversity of one of the most remote zones and with high exploration and production of hydrocarbons activities.