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Exploring the Peruvian Amazon: How big is this vast rainforest?
Peruya Amazon, also known as the Peruvian jungle, is part of the Amazon Rainforest, occupying the vast area of eastern Peru, bordering to the Antid Mountains, and the bottom of the border with Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil and Bolivia. This area occupies 60% of Peru's land and has extremely high biodiversity. Peru has the second largest area of Amazon forest, after Brazil. The ecological and environmental properties of this rainforest are amazing and worth exploring in depth.
The Peruvian Amazon rainforest is one of the most biologically diverse regions in the world, encompassing almost all the characteristics of a tropical rainforest.
Area and Distribution
Most of Peru's land is covered in dense forests, but in fact, only about 5% of Peruvians live in this spectacular rainforest. According to the Peruvian Amazon Research Institute, the Peruvian Amazon can be divided according to the following criteria: approximately 782,880.55 square kilometers according to ecological criteria (occupying 60.91% of Peru's territory), and 96,922.47 square kilometers according to hydrological criteria (occupying 75.31% of Peru's territory). This shows the immense size of the Peruvian Amazon and its importance in the entire Amazon Basin.
Ecological regions and climate
The Peruvian Amazon is traditionally divided into two main ecological regions: lowland rainforest and upland rainforest. The lowland rainforest is the largest ecological region in Peru, with an altitude between 80 and 1,000 meters, an average annual temperature of 28°C, a relative humidity of over 75%, and an annual precipitation of approximately 260 cm. The highland rainforest is located in the eastern part of the Andes, with altitudes ranging from 1,000 meters to 3,800 meters. The climate at various altitudes makes the biodiversity here richer.
This rainforest is not only home to countless species, but also home to many indigenous tribes.
Biodiversity
Peru’s Amazon rainforest is one of the most biologically diverse regions on Earth. Peru has the largest number of bird species in the world and ranks third in the number of mammals. This rainforest is home to 44% of the bird species and 63% of the mammal species. In addition, the butterflies, orchids and other creatures here are also very diverse.
Population and Culture
Although Peru Amazon is the largest area of Peru, the population here is the least, and only about 5%of the population lives here. Many of the indigenous peoples, such as Aguaruna, Cocama-Cocamilla, and Urarina, still maintain a relatively independent lifestyle.
The history and challenges of the Amazon region
Historically, the Amazon Rainforest of Peru has faced many challenges, including illegal logging and gold ore mining. In recent decades, illegal logging has become more and more serious. According to the estimates of World Bank, 80%of Peru's wood exports in 2012 came from illegal logging. These behaviors have a profound impact on the environment, including destroying biological habitats and promoting climate change.
For economic benefits, the habitat of countless precious trees and wild animals is constantly disappearing.
Challenge: illegal mining and oil and gas mining
In addition to illegal logging, illegal mining and oil and gas extraction also pose a threat to the Peruvian Amazon. Especially in the Madre de Dios region, the rise of illegal gold mines is due to the soaring price of gold, and on the other hand, it has become a serious environmental problem because of lack of legal supervision. These activities not only damage local ecosystems, but may also have long-term impacts on surrounding communities and the lives of indigenous peoples.
Protection and the future
As an important area of global biodiversity, the protection of the Peruvian Amazon is vital. With the attention of the international community, the Peruvian government has also tried to regulate through some environmental protection agreements. However, the effects of these measures are still limited and facing many aspects of challenges. How to strike a balance between development and conservation has become an ongoing issue that needs to be addressed.
For this mysterious and beautiful Peruva Amazon, we should think about how to protect this precious source of life in the trend of global development and environmental protection, so that the future generations can also witness its magnificence What about abundance?
