Serra do Divisor

Serra do Divisor National Park protects remote Amazonian rainforests and unique geological formations in Acre state, western Brazil, along the border with Peru. Covering approximately 837,000 hectares, it is one of Brazil's largest national parks, preserving intact forests, mountains, and river systems of exceptional biodiversity. The Serra do Divisor range rises dramatically from surrounding lowlands, creating diverse elevational zones with distinct ecosystems. The park harbors extraordinary wildlife including jaguars, tapirs, spider monkeys, harpy eagles, and countless lesser-known species. Unique geological features include steep mountains, cliffs, and rock formations uncommon in the Amazon basin. The park protects headwaters of multiple river systems and forms part of an extensive transboundary conservation area with Peru's Alto Purús National Park. Indigenous communities maintain traditional territories adjacent to the park, with cultural and subsistence ties to forest resources. The park's remoteness has preserved pristine conditions but also creates management and access challenges.

Serra do Divisor National Park was established in 1989 to protect one of the western Amazon's most ecologically important and biodiverse regions. The area remained largely isolated from development due to remoteness and difficult terrain, preserving forests in near-pristine condition. Indigenous groups including the Nukini and Nawa have inhabited the region for generations, maintaining traditional forest management practices. The park's creation recognized both biodiversity values and the importance of protecting indigenous territorial rights and traditional livelihoods. Management has faced challenges from limited access and resources, though the remoteness has also reduced threats compared to more accessible Amazonian areas. International cooperation with Peru on transboundary conservation has strengthened protection of shared ecosystems and wildlife populations. Scientific research has been limited by access difficulties, leaving many areas biologically unexplored. Recent years have seen modest improvements in management infrastructure and increased recognition of the park's importance within Brazil's protected area system. The park represents a critical conservation area in the southwestern Amazon, protecting ecosystems and species found nowhere else in Brazil.

Serra do Divisor National Park is one of Brazil's most remote and difficult-to-access protected areas, located in far western Acre near the Peruvian border. Access typically requires traveling to the town of Cruzeiro do Sul by air or multi-day road journey, then undertaking boat trips of several days up the Moa or Juruá rivers to reach park boundaries. No developed visitor infrastructure exists within the park, with access requiring expedition-level planning, specialized guides, and complete self-sufficiency. Visits must be coordinated with park authorities (ICMBio) and are generally limited to researchers, documentary teams, and occasional specialized ecotourism expeditions. The park's mountains, rivers, and pristine forests offer exceptional wilderness experiences for those able to undertake the challenging access requirements. Wildlife observation opportunities are outstanding in this undisturbed environment, though the dense forest limits sightings of larger mammals. River travel provides the primary means of transportation within the region, with trails informal and limited. The dry season (May to October) offers relatively better access conditions, though the region receives significant rainfall year-round. Visitors must be prepared for hot, humid conditions, abundant insects, and complete isolation from services and communications. The park is best suited for serious naturalists, researchers, and adventure travelers with significant expedition experience.

Serra do Divisor National Park's conservation strategy benefits from its extreme remoteness, which has limited threats from deforestation, mining, and other extractive industries impacting more accessible regions. Primary conservation challenges include limited management presence due to access difficulties, potential future threats from infrastructure development or resource extraction, and climate change impacts on forest ecosystems. Park management works with limited resources to conduct patrols, monitor for illegal activities, and maintain cooperative relationships with indigenous communities in surrounding areas. Transboundary cooperation with Peru's Alto Purús National Park creates a massive protected landscape supporting wide-ranging species and maintaining ecological connectivity. Indigenous territorial rights and traditional management practices in buffer areas complement formal protection, creating de facto conservation areas surrounding the park. Biodiversity monitoring, when possible, documents populations of threatened species including large predators and primates that have declined elsewhere. The park protects crucial watershed functions, with pristine forests regulating water flow and supporting river systems used by downstream communities. Climate change research examines drought impacts, shifting species distributions, and forest resilience in relatively undisturbed conditions. Long-term conservation depends on preventing infrastructure projects that would increase access and associated threats, maintaining adequate funding for management, and continuing partnerships with indigenous communities. The park represents a global conservation priority as one of the Amazon's last extensive wilderness areas with near-pristine ecological integrity.