Peru has some of the world's most spectacular national parks, protecting a range of different ecosystems including rain forests and cloud forests, remote beaches where sea turtles nest, dense jungles, and active volcanoes.

Understand

Peru's natural wealth and the diversity of its ecosystems constitute a heritage recognized in the 1993 Constitution, which obliges the State to promote their protection and conservation. Since 1990, the National System of Natural Areas Protected by the State (SINANPE), under the direction of the National Institute of Natural Resources (INRENA) and the General Directorate of Protected Natural Areas and Wildlife, has been responsible for this task. A map of Peru for the protection and conservation of nature and cultural heritage has been established. This map includes 49 Protected Natural Areas, consisting of 8 National Parks, 8 National Reserves, 6 National Sanctuaries, 3 Historical Sanctuaries, 4 National Forests, 6 Protection Forests, 1 Communal Reserve, 2 Hunting Reserves, and 11 Reserved Zones, covering approximately 10% of the country's surface area.

National parks

National parks are areas designated for the protection and preservation of wildlife and scenic beauty. In these areas, the exploitation of natural resources and human settlements are prohibited. The oldest national park in Peru is Cutervo, created in 1961 in the department of Cajamarca, known for its numerous caves such as San Andrés, home to the oilbird, a nocturnal bird in danger of extinction.

Other notable national parks include:

La Bella Durmiente, a small massif in Tingo María National Park, viewed from the town of Tingo María

• 1 Tingo María (Huánuco), famous for the Cave of the Owls, also inhabited by oilbirds.
• 2 Manu (Madre de Dios and Cusco), one of the most representative areas of Amazonian biodiversity, recognized as the Manu Biosphere Reserve and a Natural World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

One of the Llanganuco Lakes, inside the Huascarán National Park

• 3 Huascarán (Áncash), dominated by Mount Huascarán, the highest mountain in Peru, and home to the Puya Raimondi and various animal species.
• 4 Cerros de Amotape (Piura and Tumbes), characterized by its dry forests and endangered species such as the Tumbes crocodile.
• 5 Río Abiseo (San Martín), included in the UNESCO Natural and Cultural World Heritage.

Small valley inside the Parque Nacional Yanachaga Chemillen

• 6 Yanachaga-Chemillén (Pasco), which preserves tropical forests and has important archaeological sites.
• 7 Cutervo National Park (Madre de Dios and Puno), which includes tropical forests and the Heath Pampas.

National reserves

National reserves are areas designated for the protection and propagation of wildlife. Some of the most important include:

• 1 Pampa Galeras-Bárbara D’Achille (Ayacucho), dedicated to the vicuña.
• 2 Junín (Junín), which protects the ecosystem and biodiversity of Lake Junín.
• 3 Paracas (Ica), focused on the conservation of marine ecosystems and cultural heritage.
• 4 Lachay (Lima), intended for the restoration and protection of the Lachay hill ecosystem.
• 5 Pacaya-Samiria (Loreto), which conserves lowland forest ecosystems and promotes native populations.
• 6 Salinas y Aguada Blanca (Arequipa and Moquegua), for the conservation of flora, fauna, and landscape formations.
• 7 Calipuy (La Libertad), focused on the protection of guanacos.
• 8 Titicaca (Puno), dedicated to the conservation of the ecosystems and landscapes of Lake Titicaca.

Other conservation units

In addition to national parks and reserves, Peru has various protection units, including:

• National Sanctuaries such as Huayllay, Calipuy, Lagunas de Mejía, Ampay, Manglares de Tumbes, and Tabaconas Namballe.
• Historical Sanctuaries such as Chacramarca, Pampas de Ayacucho, and Machu Picchu.
• National Forests such as Biabo Cordillera Azul, Mariscal Cáceres, Pastaza-Morona-Marañón, and Alexander von Humboldt.
• Protection Forests such as Aledaño Bocatoma del Canal Nuevo Imperial, Puquío Santa Rosa, Pui-Pui, San Matías-San Carlos, Alto Mayo, and Pagaibamba.
• Communal Reserves such as Yanesha.
• Hunting Reserves such as Sunchubamba and El Angolo.
• Reserved Zones such as Manu, Laquipampa, Apurímac, Pantanos de Villa, Tambopata-Candamo, Batán Grande, Algarrobal El Moro, Tumbes, Güeppi, Chancaybaños, and Aymaru Lupaca.

These various units of protection, conservation, and research reflect Peru's extraordinary biological richness and cultural heritage, making the country one of the world's privileged natural regions.

See also

• National parks
• Canadian national parks
• Chilean national parks