Manu Biosphere Reserve

In the Manu Biosphere Reserve (MBR), the core zone corresponds to Manu National Park with an extension of l.692.137,26 hectars. It has been set aside for protection and only anthropological and biological investigation that is limited to the observation of life and ecological processes in its natural ways is allowed. Here the biological station of Cocha Cashu, one of the most important investigation centers of tropical forests, is located. Although the entrance is limited to investigators, the area maintains a human population of approximately 1.000 Amazonian indigenous people that belong to different ethnic groups, and about 200 Quechua people in the area of Callanga. In this area there are also the indigenous people in isolation (without contact with the major society).

The Buffer Zone consists of private and communal land, concessions or of other use, that border Manu National Park. In this area conservation and resource management is practiced, trying to buffer any impact on the core zone in this way.

MBR was recognized in 1977 by the UNESCO en 1977 with an extension of approximately one million 800 thousand hectars. As local people have come to understand its great importance as a conservation and development model, today they apply for its expansion to more than 6 million hectars where the Amarakaeri Communal Reserve as a natural protected area of a more important direct use is included.