Machiguenga Communal Reserve, Communal reserve in La Convención Province, Cusco, Peru

Machiguenga Communal Reserve is a protected area of 218,905.63 hectares in the Echarate district, La Convención province, Cusco region. Created on 14 January 2003 by Supreme Decree No. 003-2003-AG, it was recognised by UNESCO in 2021 as a core zone of the Avireri-Vraem Biosphere Reserve. It is co-managed by Sernanp and the reserve's contract executor, which brings together 14 indigenous communities, one rural settlement and three indigenous organisations.

The area gained official protection status in 2003 and was designed to safeguard both natural resources and indigenous territories across the Amazon region. This designation marked an important recognition of Machiguenga rights and their connection to these lands.

The reserve is co-managed by Sernanp and the reserve's contract executor, which brings together 14 indigenous communities, one rural settlement and three indigenous organisations. The Machiguenga communities living there speak a language of the Arawak family and may use the area's resources for their own subsistence.

The reserve lies in Megantoni district, La Convención province, Cusco Region, and is co-managed by Sernanp and the reserve's contract executor, which brings together 14 indigenous communities, one rural settlement and three indigenous organisations. It is not a tourist reserve: there are no visitor facilities or guided tours, and the Machiguenga communities use its resources for their own subsistence.

The reserve integrates ecological monitoring programs with the traditional knowledge systems of Machiguenga communities into a single conservation approach. This combination shows how local understanding and modern research methods work together to protect the environment.