Peru's Amazonian Eden: Manu National Park and Biosphere Reserve

by Kim MacQuarrie

MANU BIOSPHERE RESERVE, the largest tropical rainforest biosphere reserve on earth lies at the furthest tip of the upper Amazon River in the remote southeaster region of Peru. Only 100 miles (160 kilometers) from the spectacular Inca ruins of Machu Picchu, Manu is unique in that it protects three, highly-distinct the Puna-a high-altitude, tundra-like area characterized by pale yellow ichu grass, isolated blue lakes and tassel-eared llamas; the cloud forest-a mysterious world bathed in constant mist and inhabited by brilliant- red Cock of the Rocks, Spectacled Bears and score of dripping tree ferns; and the lowland rainforest-home of the giang Black Caiman, Giant Otter, 13 species of monkeys and over 1000 species of brids (10% of the world's total). Although invaded at different times by Inca Indians, Spanish Conquistadors and Victorian rubber kings, Manu Biosphere Reserve has largely been protected through the centuries both by its remote location and by the presence of hostile native tribes. Manu currently supports four native ethnic groups-two of which are still uncontacted-and protects 4,646,564 acres (1,881,200 hectares) of land. Almost half the size of Switzerland, Manu is perhaps the most species-rich protected area to be found anywhere on Earth.

Hardcover

First published December 1, 1992

About the author

Kim MacQuarrie is an award-winning author, a documentary filmmaker, and an anthropologist. He’s won multiple national Emmy awards for documentary films made in such disparate regions as Siberia, Papua New Guinea, and Peru. MacQuarrie is the author of four books on Peru and lived in that country for five years, exploring many of its hidden regions. During that time, MacQuarrie lived with a recently-contacted tribe of indigenous Amazonians, called the Yora. It was MacQuarrie’s experience filming a nearby group of indigenous people, whose ancestors still remembered their contacts with the Inca Empire, that ultimately led him to investigate and then to write his book, "The Last Days of the Incas". The book was selected as a "notable book" by the Kiriyama Prize Committee in 2008 and as an "Outstanding Title" by CHOICE (Current Reviews for Academic Libraries). It is currently being made into a 13-part dramatic series by the FX Channel has been published in eight languages.

MacQuarrie's latest book, "Life and Death in the Andes: On the Trail of Bandits, Heroes, and Revolutionaries," is due out on Dec 1, 2015 with Simon & Schuster. In his latest book, the author travels from Colombia 4,500 miles down the length of the Andes to the tip of Patagonia while investigating such disparate characters as Pablo Escobar, Che Guevara, Charles Darwin, Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid, Thor Heyerdahl (of Kon Tiki fame), and even an Incan "Ice Maiden," sacrificed more than 500 years ago on top of a 20,000 foot volcano, but still perfectly preserved.

Reviews

[Debdolittle · Rating 5 out of 5]

A bat poo covered coffee table book in the Manu Leaning Centre where I lived and worked for four weeks. Written in both Spanish and English. It is a rare and beautiful work.