Manu National Park
Manu National Park is officially recognized by UNESCO as a world heritage site. In 1977 they designated Manu as a World Biosphere Reserve because it contains the best existing example of biodiversity in protected areas of rain forest, as well as endemic areas of cloud forest. The majority of forests in the world have been altered by humans. Fortunately, Manu has remained intact and untouched by civilization.
Manu contains 10% of the world’s vascular plant species, including several species of figs and palms, as well as countless species of medicinal plants that scientists are currently cataloguing. A single hectare of forest in Manu can have up to 220 species of trees, while a hectare of temperate forest in Europe or North America may only have 20 tree species. The Manu National Park may be the most biological diverse and protected park on the planet.
The Manu National Park is divided into three zones: The Cultural (buffer) zone, the Reserved Zone, and the Intangible Zone.
The Cultural Zone covers high mountains, cloud forest and low jungle. It houses small villages, settlers and native communities working in productive activities such as agriculture and small-scale lumbering, both of which are controlled by the Ministry of Agriculture and Park Authorities. One of the purposes of this controlled area is act as a buffer zone to the Reserved and Intangible Zones.
The Reserved Zone runs along both sides of the Manu River, covering a vast extension of primary forest dedicated for only two activities: tourism and research. Since it is accesible only by river, its relatively easy to protect from unauthorized visitors and poachers. Scientists consider this area a living laboratory because of the mega-diversity in flora and fauna.
The Intangible Zone is the biggest area of the three and covers an extension of 1′800, 000 hectares of pristine forest. No human activity is permitted in the area except scientific research at the Biological Station of Cocha Cashu where peruvian and international scientists have been conducting projects on flora and fauna for the last 25 years. There are several ethnic groups such as Matshiguenkas/Kugapacoris, Yoras/Yaminahuas, Mashco Piros, Amahuacas and others. Some of these groups haven’t had any contact with the outside culture.
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