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Amazon Refuge

The Amazon is a vast region that encompasses some 1.7 billion acres in nine different countries in South America. Eighty plus percent of the Amazon is covered by tropical rainforest. The majority of the Amazon Rainforest is in Brazil, with 60%, followed by Peru with 13%, Colombia with 10%, and with smaller percentages in Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia, Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana. The Amazon Rainforest is the single largest remaining tropical rainforest in the world and is home to a remarkable diversity of wildlife and more than 30 million people. According to the World Wildlife Fund, one in ten known species in the world lives in the Amazon Rainforest. Huge numbers of species of birds, freshwater fish, insects, amphibians, reptiles, mammals and plants live here, including endemic and endangered flora and fauna.

The Amazon Wildlife Conservation Refuge is a crucial protected area of the Peruvian Amazon Rainforest. Since it’s founding the Refuge has hosted and provided local expertise and logistical support to visiting scientists, birders, photographers, students, volunteer groups and nature lovers from around the world. It is built on 100 acres of primary rainforest between the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve, Peru's largest preserve, and the Tamshiyacu Community Reserve, a 1 million-acre protection zone owned by local Indians. The Refuge ecosystem is biologically diverse and includes flood plains, rivers, streams, lakes and upland primary forest. With the cooperation and support of the San Juan de Yanayacu Indians 100 acres of their land was granted to the Refuge for the construction of a research and conservation center. The mission of the Refuge is to strengthen the rainforest ecosystem of the Yanayacu area by facilitating sound conservation practices, supporting protection of the community reserve and providing employment for the local people so they may live productive and sustainable lives, in harmony with nature.

The Refuge lodge was built by local Indians using local materials. It is a complex of eight structures including a dining hall, kitchen, staff housing and five bungalows. Buildings are interconnected by covered walkways. The main entrance extends from the dinning hall across a covered bridge with an observation platform. The walkway continues to the bungalows. The thatched-roof bungalows are completely screened and each one has a private bathroom and hammock porch. A solar power system and generator generate the 110 and 220-volt electricity for outlets, lights, fans and refrigeration needed for creature comforts.

From the Refuge lodge, my homebase in the Amazon rainforest, I went on wildlife-spotting hikes in the jungle, ventured up the Yanayacu River, a remote tributary of the Amazon River, visited local Indians and was lulled into a peaceful sleep by the jungle after each day's adventure.

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Amazon Rainforest