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Although throughout the world jungles
have existed for hundreds of millions of years, it is only within the last 100
years that they have been on the decline. It has been estimated that during the
course of the last century we have managed to destroy half of the world's
rainforest and, based on current forecasts, we look set to destroy the rest
within the next 25 years unless we dramatically do something to stop this
destruction.
Over the last 20 years the practice
of eco-tourism has developed throughout Peru. If the money that it generates is
used responsibly and pumped back into local economies and conservation projects
this form of managed tourism may well prove to be one of the few counter-destructive
economic forces available in preserving the jungle. As more people visit the
jungle and learn about its flora and fauna more people will become involved in
the race to save them. Local people and governments will also see that the long
term value of the rainforest may be worth more if the rainforest remains
intact.
Peru currently has roughly 5 percent
of its territory protected by a system of around 50 national parks, reserves,
sanctuaries and other designated areas, a process which has developed extremely
well since it was begun in the 1960s. Two of these protected areas, the Manu
Biosphere Reserve and the Tambopata-Candamo Reserved Zone, can be found in
Peru's southern jungle while the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve can be found in
the northern jungle and accessed from Iquitos.
The Southern Jungle
Manu
Biosphere Reserve
No other
park in the world can equal Manu for species richness. Over 1000 birds have been
identified, 15000 plants and 13 species of monkey as well as millions of
insects. In Manu there are healthy populations of jaguar, tapir, black caiman
and the giant otter. These animals have not been subjected to widespread hunting
as they have in many other jungle areas and are therefore less fearful of
humans, increasing the possibility of actually catching a glimpse of them.
Access to the Manu Biosphere Reserve is from Cusco, travelling with one of the recognized
Manu Agencies.
Tambopata
Candamo Reserved Zone
A
number of jungle lodges in the Tambopata Candamo Reserved Zone offer an
excellent alternative for those travellers who don't have the time or money to
visit Manu. This giant reserved zone contains some of the richest rainforest in
the world and includes the entire watershed of the Rio Tambopata which is
currently at the forefront of tropical rainforest conservation. Access is from
Puerto Maldonado ( half an hours' flight from Cusco)
The Northern Jungle
Iquitos
Iquitos
is the northern gateway to the Peruvian Amazon basin. Most tour operators offer
trips of at least 2 days, a blend of jungle lodge, camping, and jungle trekking.
The protected Pacaya - Samiria National Reserve is located 120km by river from
Iquitos and is not usually visited by organized tours although some local
tourist agencies can help you with making travel arrangements. Notable wildlife
found in the Reserve includes the paiche fish which, weighing as much as
300kg and measuring up to 3m long, is the world's largest freshwater fish. Pink
dolphin, giant river turtles, the manatee, black caiman, giant otters, black
spider monkeys, common wooly monkeys and many species of Amazon birds can also
be observed. One of the most popular jungle lodges is the ExploNapo lodge run by
Explorama Tours. Close to the lodge is the famous canopy trail, a system of
suspended walkways more than 30m from the jungle floor, allowing a unique
viewing experience in the tropical jungle.
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