2025-05-20 | Cultural Heritage
Manú National Park – Natural Heritage
Inscription: 11th Session of the World Heritage Committee. Paris, December 7, 1987.
The Manú National Park is located between the Madre de Dios and Cusco regions, a meeting point of the Tropical Andes and the Amazon Basin in southwestern Peru. It is one of the most important natural reserves in the Amazon region, covering more than 1,000,000 hectares with significant biological diversity ranging from 150 to 4,100 meters above sea level.
Thousands of varieties of plants, bird species, mammals, amphibians, insects, and rare species coexist here; for this reason, Manú has become a place of research and study for scientists from around the world.
It is an extensive hydrographic basin, geographically and economically isolated, difficult to access and thus relatively untouched by human impact. Fed by numerous mountain streams, the Manu River flows through lowland forests before joining the Madre de Dios River in the south.
As demonstrated by Inca and pre-Inca ruins and petroglyphs, there is a long history of human presence. The legend of Paititi, which according to chronicles and legends was a hidden Inca city somewhere in the Peruvian Amazon jungle, has attracted researchers and adventurers.
Manú National Park contains a wide range of ecological conditions and evolutionary diversity of many species and communities (Criterion (ix)). Plant diversity ranges between 2,000 and 5,000 species distributed across various ecosystems, habitats, and niches. There are over 200 species of mammals, 800 species of birds, 68 species of reptiles, rare species such as the giant armadillo, 77 species of amphibians, and an impressive number of freshwater fish. More than 1,300 recorded species of butterflies, insects, and hundreds of identified tree species (Criterion (x)).
Integrity. The property benefits from natural protection due to its location and is considered one of the original areas of the Peruvian Amazon. It is part of a conservation complex composed of various protected areas and indigenous communal areas, including Alto Purus National Park and Megantoni National Sanctuary. Functional corridors extend to the Brazilian and Bolivian Amazon. Direct human use and interference are minimal and limited to a small number of indigenous residents.
Protection and management requirements. Geographic isolation and protection have favored Manú National Park compared to changes in other parts of the Peruvian Amazon. The formal conservation history began in 1968 when Manu was declared a Natural Reserve. In 1977, Manú National Park was recognized by UNESCO as the core zone of a larger biosphere reserve.
Both the national park and the biosphere reserve fall under the authority of the National Service of State-Protected Natural Areas (SERNANP), dependent on the Ministry of Environment. The park contains several zones: the largest is the Restricted Zone, mainly undisturbed forests dedicated to conservation with restricted access for researchers; smaller zones include the Special Use Zone and the Service Zone around the Cocha Cashu Biological Station. There are also two Recreational Zones, a Cultural Zone, and a Recovery Zone covering Andean areas affected by livestock and fire-related use.
Both farming communities and indigenous residents have a localized but manageable impact. However, there is concern about new roads being built through the Andes and the impact of the Camisea gas field exploitation.
The Manú National Park is located between the Madre de Dios and Cusco regions, a meeting point of the Tropical Andes and the Amazon Basin in southwestern Peru. It is one of the most important natural reserves in the Amazon region, covering more than 1,000,000 hectares with significant biological diversity ranging from 150 to 4,100 meters above sea level.
Thousands of varieties of plants, bird species, mammals, amphibians, insects, and rare species coexist here; for this reason, Manú has become a place of research and study for scientists from around the world.
It is an extensive hydrographic basin, geographically and economically isolated, difficult to access and thus relatively untouched by human impact. Fed by numerous mountain streams, the Manu River flows through lowland forests before joining the Madre de Dios River in the south.
As demonstrated by Inca and pre-Inca ruins and petroglyphs, there is a long history of human presence. The legend of Paititi, which according to chronicles and legends was a hidden Inca city somewhere in the Peruvian Amazon jungle, has attracted researchers and adventurers.
Manú National Park contains a wide range of ecological conditions and evolutionary diversity of many species and communities (Criterion (ix)). Plant diversity ranges between 2,000 and 5,000 species distributed across various ecosystems, habitats, and niches. There are over 200 species of mammals, 800 species of birds, 68 species of reptiles, rare species such as the giant armadillo, 77 species of amphibians, and an impressive number of freshwater fish. More than 1,300 recorded species of butterflies, insects, and hundreds of identified tree species (Criterion (x)).
Integrity. The property benefits from natural protection due to its location and is considered one of the original areas of the Peruvian Amazon. It is part of a conservation complex composed of various protected areas and indigenous communal areas, including Alto Purus National Park and Megantoni National Sanctuary. Functional corridors extend to the Brazilian and Bolivian Amazon. Direct human use and interference are minimal and limited to a small number of indigenous residents.
Protection and management requirements. Geographic isolation and protection have favored Manú National Park compared to changes in other parts of the Peruvian Amazon. The formal conservation history began in 1968 when Manu was declared a Natural Reserve. In 1977, Manú National Park was recognized by UNESCO as the core zone of a larger biosphere reserve.
Both the national park and the biosphere reserve fall under the authority of the National Service of State-Protected Natural Areas (SERNANP), dependent on the Ministry of Environment. The park contains several zones: the largest is the Restricted Zone, mainly undisturbed forests dedicated to conservation with restricted access for researchers; smaller zones include the Special Use Zone and the Service Zone around the Cocha Cashu Biological Station. There are also two Recreational Zones, a Cultural Zone, and a Recovery Zone covering Andean areas affected by livestock and fire-related use.
Both farming communities and indigenous residents have a localized but manageable impact. However, there is concern about new roads being built through the Andes and the impact of the Camisea gas field exploitation.