Zárate Forest Reserved Zone, Protected forest reserve in Huarochirí Province, Peru.
The Zárate Forest Reserved Zone is a protected area in the Huarochirí Province that spans multiple elevation bands from lower slopes to higher ridges. The forest contains a mix of vegetation types adapted to the moisture and cooler temperatures found at these altitudes.
The Peruvian government established this as a protected zone in 2010 and assigned it to SERNANP for management. This designation marked an important shift in safeguarding the forest and its natural systems.
People from nearby villages have deep roots in this forest and visit regularly for their daily needs. They follow seasonal patterns that have shaped how the land is used and cared for over generations.
You need to get permission from both SERNANP and the local community before entering this reserve. The main way in is through the La Capilla entrance near San Bartolomé, where staff can advise on current trail conditions.
This reserve is home to rare tree species like Barnadesia blakeana and Myrcianthes quinqueloba that grow only in the cloud forest conditions here. These plants are found nowhere else and represent a key reason why the forest receives protection.
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