Area:                       322,500 hectares
Habitat Type:           Dense Tropical Forest
Location:                 Loreto Region, Peru
Base City:               Iquitos

The western Amazon rainforest, found in Peru, is thought to have the greatest diversity of life on Earth. Biologists refer to this area as the “green paradise” of the Amazon, which is home to exceptional national parks and reserves. One of these is the Area de Conservacion Regional Comunal de Tamshiyacu-Tahuayo (ACRCTT) that was founded in 1991 due to extensive knowledge of the area’s biodiversity, as well as local initiatives . A major incentive was to protect the range of the rare red uakari monkey, an orangutan-looking monkey with a bright red face.

The Tamshiyacu-Tahuayo reserve contains over 300,000 hectares of Amazonian rainforest and is located in the state of Loreto, north east Peru, a three hour boat ride from the city of Iquitos. The reserve is bordered by the upper Tamshiyacu River in the north and the Tahuayo River in the west giving the reserve its name. These rivers are inhabited by one of the most popular aquatic mammals, the large pink dolphins that are often curious enough to greet swimming or canoeing tourists

The Tahuayo reserve is thought to contain the greatest diversity of primates reported in any of Peru’s protected areas. The reason for the rich wildlife is due to the areas pre-human history. The reserve retained its forest during the last ice age when most of the Amazon became dry savannah. This enabled the area to act as a refuge for Amazonian wildlife. Subsequently, many species have been found here that exist nowhere else on earth. As testament to the reserves biodiversity, we have compiled a bird list of 540 species seen in the reserve. This includes several species that cannot be seen anywhere else.  The settlers around the Tahuayo reserve are known in Loreto as “Riberenos”. The Riberenos utilise agriculture, fishing, and harvesting of minor forest products, such as fruit and nuts, to make a living. They differ from most Indian groups in having a connection with the global market, and much of their produce is sold in Europe and North America. To visit the Tamshiyacu Tahuayo, you can stay at the Tahuayo Lodge, the only tourist lodge with access to the reserve. Ongoing scientific research supported by the Tahuayo Lodge is directed to conservation management of the reserve’s biodiversity, as well as the introduction of sustainable economic practices among the native indigenous communities.