Natural and Cultural Peruvian Heritage

The Peruvian Constitution of 1993 recognised the natural resources and ecosystem variety of its country as a heritage. In 1900, the National System of Natural Areas that are protected by the Peruvian Government (SINANPE) was created. This entity depends on the National Institute of Natural Resources (INRENA). They also created a map of protection and preservation of historical - cultural heritage and nature.

This map has 49 Natural Areas (10% of the country surface) that are preserved by the Government: 8 National Parks, 8 National Reservations, 6 National Sanctuaries, 3 Historical Sanctuaries, 4 National Forests, 6 Protection Forests, 1 Communal Reservation, 2 Hunting enclosed lands and 11 Reserved Zones.

National Parks are places where the wild flora and fauna are protected and preserved. Natural resources exploitation and human settlements are forbidden.

The National Parks are:

*Cutervo It is the oldest Peruvian National Park. It was created in 1961 and it‘s located in Cajamarca. There are lots of caves in this park like San Andres Cave, where the guacharo lives - a bird in danger of extinction.

*Tingo Maria It is located in Huanuco. Its principal attraction is the Cueva de las Lechuzas (Owl Cave) where the guacharos live.

*Manu It is located in Madre de Dios and Cuzco. It's the most representative area of the Amazon biodiversity. In 1977, UNESCO recognised it as a Reserve of Biosphere and in 1987, it was pronounced as Natural Heritage of Humanity.

*Huascaran It is located in Ancash. It was also pronounced as Natural Heritage of Humanity and recognised as Reserve of Biosphere Core. The highest snow-covered mountain is here (which name is also Huascaran and has 6 000 m.). This park is the habitat of the "Puya raimondi", the American panther or puma, the Jaguar, the Llama, the Guanaco, the Marsh Deer, the Peruvian Tapir, the Peruvian Piedtail, a hummingbird species, and many kinds of ducks, including the Southern Pochard.

*Cerros de Amotape (Amotape Hills) It is located in Piura and Tumbes. It has a lot of dry-climate forests and some on danger species like the American Crocodile.

*Abiseo River It is located in San Martin. UNESCO pronounced it as Natural and Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

*Yanachaga-Chemillen It is located in Pasco. It is a preservation zone of tropical forests that are at 4 800 m. The Palcazu river, Huancabamba river, Pozuzo river and their affluents flows through this National Park. Some native communities still live in here. There are also some archaeological fields from the Inca and Yanesha cultures.

*Bahuaja-Sonene It is located in Madre de Dios. It has the tropical forests of Puno, the Heath Pampas and a part from the Reservation Zone Tambopata-Candamo.

The National Reservations and Protection and Spreading Areas of wild fauna are:

*Pampa Galeras – Barbara D’Achille It is located in Ayacucho and it is the habitat of the vicuña.

*Junin It is located in Junin. One of its main purposes is to protect the ecosystem and biodiversity of Junin lake.

*Paracas It is located in Ica. Its main purpose is to preserve the sea ecosystem and protect the historical - cultural heritage.

*Lachay It is located in Lima. Its main purpose is to restore and protect the ecosystem of the Lomas de Lachay (Lachay hills).

*Pacaya-Samiria It is located in Loreto. Its main purpose is to preserve the ecosystems of the Omagua Region and to promote the indigenous towns.

*Salinas and Aguada Blanca They are located in Arequipa and Moquegua. Their main purpose is to preserve the flora, fauna and the landscapes formation.

*Calipuy It is located in La Libertad. Its main purpose is to protect the guanaco’s populations.

*Titicaca It is located in Puno. Its main purpose is to preserve the ecosystems and landscapes of the Titicaca lake.

The others units of protection and preservation of historical - cultural heritage and nature are the following:

National Sanctuaries

*Huayllay
*Calipuy
*Lagunas de Mejia (The Mejia lagoon)
*Ampay
*Manglares de Tumbes (The mangrove swamps of Tumbes)
*Tabacones Namballe

Historical Sanctuaries

*Chacramarca
*Pampas de Ayacucho (The Pampas of Ayacucho)
*Machu Picchu

National Forests

*Biabo Cordillera Azul (The Biabo Blue Mountain Range)
*Mariscal Cáceres
*Pastaza–Morona–Marañon
*Alexander von Humboldt

Protection Forests

*Aledaño Bocatoma del Canal Nuevo Imperial (Aledaño Intake of the New Imperial Canal)
*Puquio Santa Rosa (Santa Rosa spring of water)
*Pui–Pui
*San Matías–San Carlos
*Alto Mayo
*Pagaibamba

Communal Reservation

*Yanesha

Hunting enclosed lands

*Sunchubamba
*El Angolo

Reserved Zones

*Manu
*Laquipampa
*Apurimac
*Pantanos de Villa (The swamps of Villa)
*Tambopata–Candamo
*Batán Grande
*Algarrobal El Moro (El Moro carob tree groved)
*Tumbes
*Güeppí
*Chancaybaños
*Aymuru Lupaca

External links

* [http://www.inrena.gob.pe INRENA] Official Website es
* [http://www.peruecologico.com.pe/areaprotegida_cutervo.htm Cutervo National Park - Cajamarca]
* [http://www.peruecologico.com.pe/areaprotegida_tingomaria.htm Tingo Maria National Park - Huanuco]
* [http://www.peruecologico.com.pe/areaprotegida_manu.htm Manu National Park - Madre de Dios]
* [http://www.peruecologico.com.pe/areaprotegida_huascaran.htm Huascaran National Park - Ancash]
* [http://www.peruecologico.com.pe/areaprotegida_amotape.htm Cerros de Amotape National Park - San Martin]
* [http://www.peruecologico.com.pe/areaprotegida_abiseo.htm Rio Abiseo National Park - San Martin]
* [http://www.peruecologico.com.pe/areaprotegida_yanachaga.htm Yanachaga–Chemillen National Park - Pasco]
* [http://www.peruecologico.com.pe/areaprotegida_bahuaja.htm Bahuaja-Sonene National Park - Madre de Dios]