Adolfo Ducke Forest Reserve, Protected forest reserve near Manaus, Brazil

The Adolfo Ducke Forest Reserve covers 10,000 hectares of Amazon rainforest on the outskirts of Manaus. It lies where the Amazon River and Rio Negro drainage areas meet. A grid of 25-square-kilometre plots, with 250-metre permanent survey lines, structures the forest for long-term research.

The reserve was established in 1963 to honor entomologist Adolfo Ducke, whose work focused on studying local plants. The site was chosen as a research facility to protect the unique ecosystems of this Amazon area.

The Museum of the Amazon within the reserve shows the diversity of the region and teaches visitors about the rainforest. You can learn about local plants and wildlife through the exhibits.

The reserve lies on the northern outskirts of Manaus, in the Cidade de Deus neighbourhood, and is reached by road from the city. The botanical garden occupies 5% of the reserve, along its southern and western edges; the Museum of the Amazon, installed in 2009, occupies 1%. Trails are walked with local guides, and the forest is humid, so bring waterproof gear.

Researchers monitor permanent study plots here to track how undisturbed rainforest changes over time. This long record of data makes the reserve a valuable location for understanding Amazon ecology.