Manu was established as a National Park in 1973, designated a Biosphere Reserve in 1977, and inscribed as a World Heritage Site in 1987.
The park is located in the provinces of Manu and Paucartambo, in the departments of Madre de Dios and Cuzco respectively.
A core area of 15,328 sq, km is preserved in its natural state, an experimental one of 2,570 sq. km serves as a buffer zone set aside for research and ecotourism and a cultural zone of 914 sq. km provides an area of permanent human settlement where sustainable uses of land and forest are promoted.
Manu National Park houses a variety of plant and animal life, including monkeys, reptiles, birds and insects. As one of the largest, least touched reserves in the world, Manu offers its inhabitants ample room for sustained growth, but some species are still in danger due to human intrusion.
In the tropical humid forest the average annual temperature is 24 ° C and the rainfall is between 2,000 and 2,500 mm. Its ecology is extremely varied. The following species are regarded as the most important: cedar. mahogany, capirona, cetico, lupuma, quinilla. There are also numerous species of palms, grasses, shrubs and epiphytes.
Manu National Park
