Allpahuayo-Mishana National Reserve, Nature reserve in Maynas Province, Peru
Allpahuayo-Mishana National Reserve is a vast forest area east of Iquitos that contains seasonally wet lowlands and higher ground with sandy soils. The different soil types across the landscape support different plant communities and create distinct habitats throughout the reserve.
Peru established this protected area in 2004 to safeguard the diverse forest types and water sources that supply the city of Iquitos. The creation was part of efforts to ensure drinking water and biological diversity would remain available for the region's future.
Local communities practice hunting and plant gathering within the area while maintaining practices that help protect the water sources and plant life that sustain them.
The reserve sits roughly 23 kilometers from Iquitos and can be reached by road, with basic lodging available near Nueva Esperanza and the Research Center. The driest months offer the easiest access and the most comfortable conditions for walking through the forest.
Scientists have measured the highest tree species diversity on Earth here, finding around 500 different tree types in a small area. This exceptional concentration makes this forest patch one of the richest in species found anywhere on the planet.
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