Alto Mayo

Alto Mayo Protected Forest encompasses 182,000 hectares of montane cloud forests and tropical forests in the San Martín region of northern Peru, protecting crucial watersheds and exceptional biodiversity in the eastern Andean slopes. Established in 1987, the protected area ranges from 800 to 3,500 meters in elevation, creating diverse habitats for endemic species including the yellow-tailed woolly monkey, one of the world's rarest primates. The region's perpetually mist-shrouded forests harbor exceptional concentrations of orchids, bromeliads, and tree species, making it a global biodiversity hotspot. The protected forest supplies water to agricultural communities in the Mayo River valley, providing essential ecosystem services to thousands of residents. Despite protected status, the area has faced significant pressures from agricultural colonization, particularly coffee farming, leading to innovative conservation programs that balance protection with sustainable development.