List of national parks in Peru

The national parks in Peru, South America.

Natural heritage

The Constitution of Peru of 1993 recognized the natural resources and ecosystem variety of its country as a heritage Fact|date=April 2007. In 1900, the National System of Natural Areas that are protected by the Government (SINANPE) was created Fact|date=April 2007. This entity depends on the National Institute of Natural Resources (INRENA). Also created was a map of protection and preservation of historical-cultural heritage and nature.

This map has 49 natural areas (13% of the country surface) that are preserved by the Government: eight national parks, eight national reservations, six national sanctuaries, three historical sanctuaries, four national forests, six protection forests, one communal reservation, two hunting enclosed lands and eleven reserved zones.

Peru is considered to be among 17 of the most megadiverse countries in the world. [Conservation International, [http://www.conservation.org/xp/news/press_releases/2003/091603_andean_eng.xml "South America Banks on Regional Strategy to Safeguard Quarter of Earth's Biodiversity"] . Retrieved on June 29, 2007.] With over 1,700 species of birds, it has the world's second most diverse avian community, after Colombia. [ [http://www.press.uchicago.edu/Misc/Chicago/468283.html Lambertini, A Naturalist's Guide to the Tropics, excerpt ] ]

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

National parks

* Cutervo, created in 1961 and located in Cajamarca, is the oldest Peruvian National Park. It contains many caves, including the San Andres Cave is a home of the endangered "guacharo" (oilbird).
* Tingo Maria is located in Huanuco. Its principal attraction is the Cueva de las Lechuzas (Owl Cave), another "guacharo" habitat.
* Manu, located in the departments of Madre de Dios and Cuzco. It is most representative of Amazon biodiversity.Fact|date=January 2007 In 1977, UNESCO recognised it as a Reserve of Biosphere; and in 1987, it was pronounced a Natural Heritage of Humanity.
* Huascarán is located in Ancash. It was also pronounced a Natural Heritage of Humanity and recognized as Reserve of Biosphere. Peru's highest snow-covered mountain (6,768 m) is found here, also named Huascarán. This park is the habitat of the Puya Raimondi, the Cougar, the Jaguar, the Llama, the Guanaco, the Marsh Deer, the Peruvian tapir, the Peruvian Piedtail, a hummingbird species, and many kinds of ducks.
* Cerros de Amotape (Amotape Hills) is located in Piura and Tumbes. It has many dry-climate forests and endangered species such as the American crocodile.
* The Abiseo River Park, another Natural and Cultural Heritage of Humanity site, is located in San Martín.
* Yanachaga-Chemillen, a tropical forest preservation zone at 4,800 m, is located in Pasco. The Palcazu river, Huancabamba river, Pozuzo river and their affluents flows through the park. Some native communities still live in here. There are also archaeological fields from the Inca and Yanesha cultures.
* Bahuaja-Sonene is located in Madre de Dios. It contains Puno Department's tropical forests, the Heath Pampas and part of the Tambopata-Candamo Reservation Zone.

National reservations

* Pampa Galeras – Barbara D’Achille is located in Ayacucho. It is the habitat of the vicuña.
* Junin is located in Junin. One of its main purposes is to protect the ecosystem and biodiversity of Lake Junin.
* Paracas is located in Ica. Its main purpose is to preserve the sea ecosystem and protect the historical and cultural heritage of the area.
* Lachay is located in Lima. Its main purpose is to restore and protect the ecosystem of the Lomas de Lachay (Lachay Hills).
* Pacaya-Samiria 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 are located in Arequipa and Moquegua. Their main purpose is to preserve flora, fauna and landscape.
* Calipuy is located in La Libertad. Its main purpose is to protect guanaco populations.
* Titicaca is located in Puno. Its main purpose is to preserve Lake Titicaca's ecosystems and landscape.

National sanctuaries

* Huayllay
* Calipuy
* Lagunas de Mejia ("Mejia Lagoon")
* Ampay
* Manglares de Tumbes ("Mangroves of Tumbes")
* Manglares de Vice, found in the Sechura Province of Piura Region (the southernmost mangrove swamp system in the Pacific region; smaller than the Manglares de Tumbes National Sanctuary)
* Tabacones Namballe

Historical sanctuaries

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

National forests

* Biabo Cordillera Azul (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 (Water) Spring")
* Pui–Pui
* San Matías–San Carlos
* Alto Mayo
* Pagaibamba

Communal reservation

* Yanesha

Enclosed hunting lands

* Sunchubamba
* El Angolo

Reserved zones

* Manu
* Laquipampa
* Apurimac
* Pantanos de Villa (Villa Swamps)
* Tambopata–Candamo
* Batán Grande
* Algarrobal El Moro
* Tumbes
* Güeppí
* Chancaybaños
* Aymuru Lupaca
* Listo Sifaca

References