Peru
The Peruvian Amazon
July 2004
The Peruvian Amazon extends from humid forests on the eastern slopes of the Andes to the lowland forests of the Amazon Basin. Amazonian forests cover more than half of Peru, giving the country the second-largest area of Amazon forest after Brazil.
Two broad geographic zones are commonly recognized. The selva alta, or high forest, includes montane and cloud forests along the eastern Andes, where elevation produces cooler conditions and varied habitats. The selva baja, or low forest, occupies the warmer lowlands below approximately 1,300 feet (400 meters). Its landscapes include upland forests, seasonally flooded forests, wetlands and river systems. Soils vary considerably; many upland soils are nutrient-poor, while periodically flooded areas may receive nutrient-rich sediments.
These connected environments support exceptional biological diversity, including thousands of plant species and extensive populations of birds, insects, amphibians, reptiles and mammals. Peru’s Amazonian territories are also home to numerous Indigenous peoples whose cultures, livelihoods and knowledge are closely connected to the forests and rivers.
Current Context
The forest documented in 2004 remains under pressure from agricultural expansion, road construction, illegal mining, logging and other land-use changes. Peru’s Ministry of the Environment recorded approximately 67.7 million hectares of remaining humid Amazon forest in 2023, with 132,216 hectares of forest loss during that year.
