Nature

The Peruvian constitution of 1993 recognised the natural resources and ecosystem variety of its country as a heritage. In 1900, the National System of Natural Areas protected by the Peruvian Government (SINANPE) was created, along with a map of protection and preservation of historical cultural heritage and nature.

This map has forty-nine natural areas (13% of the country surface) comprised of:

• 11 reserved zones
• 8 national parks
• 8 national reservations
• 6 national sanctuaries
• 6 protection forests
• 4 national forests
• 3 historical sanctuaries
• 2 hunting enclosed lands
• 1 communal reservation

National Parks

National Parks are places where the wild flora and fauna are protected and preserved, and natural resources exploitation and human settlements are forbidden.

• Cutervo, created in 1961 and located in Cajamarca, is the oldest Peruvian National Park. Among many other caves, the San Andres Cave is a home of the endangered guacharo (oilbird).
• Tingo Maria is located in Huanuco. Its principal attraction is the Cueva de las Lechuzas (Owl Cave), another guacharo habitat.
• Manu is located in Madre de Dios and Cuzco. It is most representative of Amazon biodiversity. In 1977, UNESCO recognised it as a Reserve of Biosphere; and in 1987, it was pronounced a Natural Heritage of Humanity.
• Huascarán is located in Ancash. It was also pronounced a Natural Heritage of Humanity and recognised as Reserve of Biosphere. Peru's highest snow-covered mountain (6,768 m) is found here, also named Huascarán. This park is the habitat of the Puya Raimondi, the Cougar, the Jaguar, the Llama, the Guanaco, the Marsh Deer, the Peruvian tapir, the Peruvian Piedtail, a hummingbird species and many kinds of ducks.
• Cerros de Amotape (Amotape Hills) is located in Piura and Tumbes. It has many dry-climate forests and endangered species such as the American crocodile.
• The Abiseo River Park, another Natural and Cultural Heritage of Humanity site, is located in San Martín.
• Yanachaga-Chemillen, a tropical forest preservation zone at 4,800 m, is located in Pasco. The Palcazu river, Huancabamba river and Pozuzo river flow through this National Park. Some native communities still live in here. There are also some archaeological fields from the Inca and Yanesha cultures.
• Bahuaja-Sonene is located in Madre de Dios. It contains Puno's tropical forests, the Heath Pampas and part of the Tambopata-Candamo Reservation Zone.

National Reservations

• Pampa Galeras ? Barbara D'Achille is located in Ayacucho. It is the habitat of the vicuña.
• Junin was set up to protect the ecosystem and biodiversity of Lake Junin.
• Paracas is located in Ica. Its main purpose is to preserve the sea ecosystem and protect the historical and cultural heritage of the area.
• Lachay is located in Lima. Its main purpose is to restore and protect the ecosystem of the Lomas de Lachay (Lachay Hills).
• Pacaya-Samiria is located in Loreto. Its main purpose is to preserve the ecosystems of the Omagua Region and to promote the indigenous towns.
• Salinas and Aguada Blanca are located in Arequipa and Moquegua. Their main purpose is to preserve flora, fauna and landscape.
• Calipuy is located in La Libertad. Its main purpose is to protect guanaco populations.
• Titicaca is located in Puno. Its main purpose is to preserve Lake Titicaca's ecosystems and landscape.

National Sanctuaries

• Huayllay
• Calipuy
• Lagunas de Mejia ('Mejia Lagoon')
• Ampay
• Manglares de Tumbes ('Mangroves of Tumbes')
• Manglares de Vice, found in the Sechura Province of Piura Region (the southernmost mangrove swamp system in the Pacific region; smaller than the Manglares de Tumbes National Sanctuary)
• Tabacones Namballe
• Historical sanctuaries
• Chacramarca
• Pampas de Ayacucho ('Pampas of Ayacucho')
• Machu Picchu

National Forests

• Biabo Cordillera Azul (Biabo Blue Mountain Range)
• Mariscal Cáceres
• Pastaza?Morona?Marañon
• Alexander von Humboldt

Protection Forests

• Aledaño Bocatoma del Canal Nuevo Imperial ('Aledaño Intake of the New Imperial Canal')
• Puquio Santa Rosa ('Santa Rosa (Water) Spring')
• Pui-Pui
• San Matías-San Carlos
• Alto Mayo
• Pagaibamba

Communal Reservation

• Yanesha

Enclosed Hunting Lands

• Sunchubamba
• El Angolo

Reserved Zones

• Manu
• Laquipampa
• Apurimac
• Pantanos de Villa (Villa Swamps)
• Tambopata?Candamo
• Batán Grande
• Algarrobal El Moro
• Tumbes
• Güeppí
• Chancaybaños
• Aymuru Lupaca
• Listo Sifaca